Use the tick boxes to make sure you complete all the elements
Magazine Production
a. Research (10 Marks)
Create a Word documents and outline the codes and conventions of magazines which are like the one you want to produce:
1. Describes the type or Genre of the magazine
2. Design and layout: Cover
How the front cover is typically laid out to construct and attract its particular target audience.
What image anchors the cover?
What is the masthead like and comment on use of font and colour.
How many pictures are there: the dominant image and how many others?
How is the reader's attention drawn to features inside the magazine?
3. Design and layout: pages
Identify the look of the magazine: how are pages typically designed and laid out
How/what images are used and why? (Photographs)
How/what graphics or illustrations are used and why?
How/what text/font is used and why? What connotations have the fonts used?
How/what colours are mainly used and why? What connotations have the colours used?
Is each page different or are their similarities between them?
Are pages set out in regular columns or is there a more innovative design pattern
4. Content
Outline the range of features typically covered in this magazine—from contents page to back page- real life stories, problem page , star celebrity, interviews, horoscope, fashion, reviews: music, cinema, videos, special features etc.
Look at the balance between editorial (words) and pictures and illustrations.
What kind of language is used- are colloquial words of everyday speech ( e.g. ‘matey’ teen speak) used and mixed with a more formal register to attract a teen audience? Is the language peculiar to a niche audience? E.g: -music, wrestling, games, skateboarding, hiking, etc similarly used to construct and attract a niche informed audience
5. Advertisements
What kind of products and services are advertised and what kind of advertisements are used? What does this say about the target audience?
Are there any advertorials (These are advertisements posing as editorial - a page that may look like a feature page, say, on "assessing fashion products” but is actually advertising them)
b. Planning (10 Marks)
Hand draw a rough version of what your front page might look like
Hand draw a rough version of what your contents page might look like
Hand draw a rough version of what your double page spread might look like
Transfer your ideas to computer and use Microsoft Publisher, Fireworks or Photoshop to create a mock-up of your proposed front cover.
c. Magazine Production (50 Marks)
Create A4 documents in your chosen programme and create the following:
Front page, including:
One dominant image that covers the entire page (ideally your own photograph)
Tagline
Barcode
Price
Web address
Double Page Contents, including:
A column structure
Images with anchorage, including some of your own photos
Similar fonts and colours to the front page to define house style
Page numbers and sections for an entire magazine (even though you are not producing a full magazine)
Double Page Spread, including:
A column structure
Images, including some of your own photos
Similar fonts and colours to the front page/contents to define house style
Page numbers and web address as a footer
Section Header (e.g. Features or Interview)
Single Page Article, including:
A column structure
Images, including some of your own photos
Similar fonts and colours from your previous pages to define house style
Page numbers and web address as a footer
Section Header (e.g. Features or Interview)
d. Evaluation (10 Marks)
Create a word document and write 500 words on the following:
Design and layout: Cover
How is the front cover laid out to construct and attract its particular target audience?
What image anchors the cover?
What is the Masthead like and comment on use of font and colour.
How many pictures are there: the main image and how many others?
How is the reader's attention drawn to features inside the magazine?
How does YOUR cover compare to the ones you originally analysed?
Design and layout: pages
Does your magazine follow the conventions of the magazine genre you have chosen? (Identify the look of the magazine: how are pages designed and laid out)
How/what images have you used and why? (Photographs) Are these images following the conventions of the magazine genre?
How/what graphics or illustrations have you used and why? Are these graphics following the conventions of the magazine genre?
How/what text/fonts have you used and why?
What connotations have the fonts used? Are these fonts following the conventions of the magazine genre?
How/what colours are mainly used and why? What connotations have the colours used? Are these colours following the conventions of the magazine genre?
Is each page different or are their similarities between them ? Does this comply with the magazine genre?
Are pages set out in regular columns or is there a more innovative design pattern? Does this comply with the magazine genre?
Content
Outline the range of features typically covered in your magazine—from contents page to back page. Explain why you chose them referring to Target Audience and the conventions of this type of magazine
Look at the balance between your copy (words) and pictures and illustrations. Is this the same as the real magazine you analysed..if YES then you have followed the codes and conventions. If NO, then why have you broken the codes and conventions?
What kind of language is used- are colloquial words of everyday speech (e.g. ‘matey’ teen speak) used and mixed with a more formal register to attract a teen audience? Is the language peculiar to a niche audience? E.g.: -music, wrestling, games, skateboarding, hiking, etc similarly used to construct and attract a niche informed audience. Is this following the codes and conventions of this type of magazine?
Advertisements
What kind of products and services are advertised in your magazine and why?
Are there any advertorials in your magazine? (These are advertisements posing as editorial - a page that may look like a feature page, say, on "assessing fashion products but is actually advertising them)
Conclusion
How have you used convergence within you magazine (e.g. the importance of having a website to help with cross promotion and any ideas such as music magazines now having internet based radio stations)
What have you learned?
How easily were you able to define your USP (Unique Selling Point – what elements make your magazine different from other titles in a very competitive market?)?
What are you pleased with?
What could you improve? | 
