DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA & FILM STUDIES AS Media Studies

Foundation Portfolio Production Brief (G321) Main Task Music Magazine

Contents Page Statement of Intent Guide

Image

WHAT layout will you be using for your contents page (This

relates to the use of COLUMNS and GRIDS in planning your Contents Page layout) and WHY?

Image

Editors talk

I have decided to have my contents page in this way because I really found that this design was very simple. I also choose this design because it challenged the typical convention of a vibe magazine contents page. I wanted to keep the magazine simple that’s why I chose to only use two columns, and no grids. I didn’t want to over power the contents page. I have also decided not to have any colour on the contents page again to make it simple. I wanted to also challenge this magazines contents page by also adding an editors talk to the magazine, which will allow the reader to connect directly to the editor. I found it will give the reader an insight into the magazine before they actually read the magazine.

TEXT

WHAT codes and conventions will you be using from your CONTENTS PAGE RESEARCH and WHY

This article breaks the rules of codes and conventions; it uses a feature well, which is a mixture of articles, and information which feeds off information from the front page. In this contents page, they have used two columns. One consisting of text and the other consisting of a singular image. This isn’t the normal way in which magazines do their contents page, they would normally stick to three columns, one column will be a comment from the editor, images usually central and articles left. I have decided to break the norms of codes and conventions and copying this way of presenting a contents page. I have decided to manipulate this codes and conventions instead of one image; I have decided to use various images, similar to this magazine. With text on the right and images on the left. I have also decided to add an editors talk to the contents page. Again breaking the typical codes and conventions in magazines.

Will you be using for your Contents Page and WHY will they appeal to your potential target audience?

It will appeal to my target audience who are late teens to mid twenties. I have researched on my target audience and found out that the prefer simple contents page, with a variety of images, and some also said that they liked the contents page to have a comment from the editor, which will break the fourth wall. So in my contents page I have included all of these things, to again pin point my target audience. It will appeal to them because the articles which are featured on the contents page, all consist of gossip, fashion and personal articles of celebrities. This will create a relationship between the celebrities and the readers. The target audience of the magazine are very simple females, that’s why I didn’t over bear the contents page with too much colour or images. Which doesn’t make the magazine less appealing, or less eye-catching. It is rather straight to the point. My contents page will consist of a four shot types, extreme close ups, close up, cut in’s, this will be useful when I am trying to show off certain images for my which will relate to my article.

WHAT stories will you be including in your Contents Page and

HOW will they be related to the images?The stories that will be included in my contents page are articles about the kind of instruments which are popularly used within the RnB genre. It will also feature an article targeting the female audience about how to create your own glamorous look from home. Which most females are eager to do, with a very cheap price tag with it. There will be a ‘peak’ of how to create this look, luring the female audience into the article. This will be related to the image because there will be a medium shot, of a glamorous photo-shoot which will feature how the final look is created. In the article it will give step by step advice on how to create this look. Another article which will be featured in the magazine will be an article about a young RnB superstar who has made it to the top. This will attract readers who aspire to be RnB superstars; it will give them an insight to stardom. With words of wisdom directly from the celebrity. This will be related to the image, because it will be an image of the celebrity. The mock up on the right is something I want to follow, if not completely the same, I would like the images to take this format. Also I will indicate above the image the number of where the article can be found above the image, making a direct link

1 image of glamour shoot

2Image of a Celebrity in the studio

4Image of another glamour shoot

3Image of Ebonie playing the piano

Editors talk

T EXT

WHAT do you want these images to tell your audience and WHY?I want the images to tell the audience a mini story; I want it to give previews of what the articles will be about. I want to describe to the audience visually about what the magazine will be about.

I want the images to reflect what the articles are about. I also want the audience to be able to connect to the images on the contents page. I want the images on the contents page to also

reflect what kind of magazine it is. I want the images to inform the reader about the genre of the magazine they are reading. Through the VIBE magazine I have decided to follow, there aren’t any instruments featured on the contents page, I plan on challenging this typical convention of

VIBE.

3Image of Ebonie playing the piano

Editors talk

T EXT

In this image I have decided to place an instrument, which will allow me to break the typical conventions of VIBE’s contents page layout.

WHAT colour scheme (shades, tints and colours) will you be using and

WHY?

I will be sticking to a very plain colour scheme of black and red, which will mainly be seen in the format of text. I will like to keep the colours very simple, so it will not distract the audience from the articles or to make the contents page to look too clumsy. As I will be following the VIBE contents page layout it uses simple colour schemes for the contents page, sticking only to a black or white occasionally which can be seen in the above contents pages. I feel that this is very effective because it doesn’t allow the image to be too dominant, but shares the power between both the image and the contents page. It creates a balance between both the image and the text. I will also be sticking to a simple white background, I didn’t want to over bear my contents page with so many things at one time. As I will be using various images inside my contents page, I thought about adding colour to the background, but decided not to, because it will be to distracting, and as my target audience prefer a much simpler magazine, I thought no colour will capture their desired effect. I only broke the normal convention when I added pink to the text to create a much feminine vibe to the magazine.

WHAT essential information will be included in your Contents

Page e.g. Features, reviews, commentary and WHY?

The features that will be included in the contents page which I see as essential information are the most important articles in the magazine. I will number them so that it will be easier for the reader to find the article in the magazine. The editors talk will also be essential information because it creates a sense of friendship between the reader and the editor. The gossip articles I also see as essential information, when I asked my target audience they complained that other magazine didn’t really give them the dirty gossip, I would like to please my target audience, so I have decide to make this a key feature in my magazine.

HOW will you be arranging the information on your contents page and WHY?

I will be aligning the text to the right, and place the information on the right column of the contents page, similar to the magazine below, I don’t really like the fact the magazines name is very small. So I have decided to make the masthead, ‘The Rhythm’ medium sized at the top of the contents page, followed by ‘contents’ underneath. So the name of the magazine will be remembered by the reader. It will create a house style for the magazine, in all the contents page to follow the contents page will take this format. I have decided to follow the way in which the VIBE magazine places the text on the right because it is the magazine I wish to copy.

TEXT

All the information will be on this side of the contents page, with very clear headings and also show the page number, to indicate where the reader can find the article in the magazine.

HOW will you make your Contents Page easy for your audience to find the major cover story or other stories?

I will make it easy for my audience to find the major cover story on the contents page, by making the text of that article bigger and bolder than the rest of the other stories. I have also decided to keep it consistent with the front cover, which also make the main article bolder than the rest of the cover lines. I have also decided to indicate using a page number where the article can be found in the magazine.

Ebonie ‘My rise to the top’Pg. 5 <Candae>How to create your glamour look for less Pg. 7

By doing this the reader will be able to find the main article quicker. It is bolder than the rest of the other articles in the magazine

<Marques>Brawl in night clubPg. 11

By doing this using page numbers in the article it will be much easier for the reader to find the article in the magazine. rather than flicking through aimlessly. It will point out where the article can be found.

WHAT type of fonts and font sizes (style of lettering used) will you be using for your Contents Page and WHY?

I will be using various font sizes in the magazine, a medium sized font for the masthead and strap line. Larger font for the main article, with smaller font for the other articles in the magazine. I will also be sticking to a simple colour scheme of red and black, with a slight touch of pink, to draw in that feminine aura to the magazine, this will act as my soothing colour, in order not to bombard the reader with alarming colours. It will keep the contents page simple, because I will not be using a background colour therefore I will like the contents page to be colourful regardless. This will be breaking the typical convention of the VIBE contents page, I wanted to challenge this contents page, to see whether my target audience will be pleased with the final outcome.