TARGET AUDIENCE 2.

I have decided that my target audience for my music magazine will be Indie-Pop. I chose this genre because I think the music is current but not overly mainstream, I have a lot of knowledge of Indie-Pop artists because I listen to Indie Pop music a lot. When deciding between Indie-Pop and Country I chose Indie-Pop because when I researched both types of magazines, I was more drawn towards Indie-Pop whereas, country wasn't the look I was going for. 


The photography on the Indie-Pop magazines are something I would like to try, as I am a photography student but I don't do much photography around  people as I prefer still life and landscape. However, I am really excited and I have many ideas I want to try. 


I haven't got a specific colour theme in mind yet, but colours I am considering are dark or light grey's, shades of green, orange and mustard yellows, and blue. I've thought about current fashion trends and colours which are 'fashonable' at the moment to keep my magazine current and maybe make it more desirable for people to buy.


For my main image I want a single individual in a medium shot, I will probably use a girl as they are more easy to style for this genre also, I have a couple of friends who are amateur models who have the Indie-Pop style I want for my magazine. I'm not sure if I want an action shot of her singing or playing an instrument or just her sitting staring at the camera. I'll try many different ideas and chose the one that I think will look the best. 

TARGET AUDIENCE

My definition:
The specific audience that you want to target, usually determined by age groups, gender or marital status.


Definition from the internet:

Particular group of people, identified as the intendedrecipient of an advertisement or message. Also called target population.

Companies, especially magazines, consider in great detail their specific target audience, because it helps chose the theme, colour, all-round look of the magazine to  target that audience and make them want to buy it because it looks like something they would be interested in. 


Genres of Music:
Rock;
Indie Rock
Grunge
Symphonic Rock
Arena Rock (often referred to as "Hair Rock," as a reference to the associated hair style of many bands)
Metal:
Heavy Metal
Punk
Ska
Alternative Metal/Nu Metal
Dance:
Electronic Disco
Electro
Electro-funk
Garage
Disco-rock
House
Dubstep
Jazz:
The Blues
Big Band
Free Jazz
Country 
Soul
Hip-hop:
R'n'B
Rap
Pop:
New Wave
Bubblegum Pop
Traditional Pop
Power Pop
Pop Punk
Indie Pop
Pop Rap
Acoustic Pop


I have narrowed it down to two genre styles that I am considering as the genre for my music magazine, which are Indie Pop or Country music. I have thoroughly researched artist which are within the genres of country music and indie pop music.
Country Music Artist:
Shania Twain
Taylor Swift
Billy Ray Cyrus
LeAnn Rimes
Dolly Parton
Faith Hill
Colbie Callait
Jason Reeves
Lady Antebellum
Indie-Pop Artists:
Alphabeat
Arcade Fire
Florence and the Machine
Goo Goo Dolls
Gym Class Heroes
Gregory and the Hawk
Hellogoodbye
Kate Nash
Keane
Jack Penate

FRONT COVER AND CONTENTS

Here is my front cover for my Student Magazine. I like the set-up with the different sizes of fonts which makes the text stand out. I like that I've used different colours to catch readers attention and to make it stand out against other magazines. I like the image but for improvement I wouldn't take the photo against such a busy and detailed background, because it makes it hard work to find a font style to stand out against the background. I chose the colours to match her coat to keep the colour theme together and I chose the green to match the grass but also contrast against the white, blue and red.

This is my contents page, I chose the same colour theme to make the contents and front cover match. And I put the relative photos to the stories.

Photography

For my main image for my student magazine I needed to take some photographs of an individual person who looks like a typical student. I took about 10-13 photos all together and picked out the best ones. In this blog I have included my favourite photos and ones that didn't work, and I'm going to evaluate why they didn't work.
I had to consider many things when taking my photos, the photography HAD to be a medium shot of the person and I had to consider the composition, the students positioning, had o be aware not to cut out the students arms or chop of their head in the photos. And I had t remember to leave enough space about the individuals head to have space for a masthead. Also, I had t be aware of leaving space on the left hand side for coverlines. 

I used 'Rule-of-Thirds' to consider where the persons eye-point would be and how much of the photograph they would take up. I used the intersection points on the cameras settings to make sure the composition of the photo was what I wanted. 

This would be a good photograph to use for my front cover however, the background is too blank and would look very 'set-up' and not the college/university setting I was hoping for. 

This photograph was another option I was considering as my front cover image. I like the composition of the photo, and the horizontal lines created by the bricks is really interesting, they make the viewer follow the lines of the bricks.

I wanted some photographs taken outside to get the autumn colours in the photo, to go with the season. However, in this photo i cut half of the persons face and body out, which made this image un-useable and I took more photos using the same settings, but being more aware of the persons whereabouts.

This is the image I used on my front cover, I took the photograph on a higher place so it's looking down on the person. I managed to not cut out any part of the persons face or body, and i kept a space above the head, enough room left for a mast head. And I like the colours f the leaves and the overall composition, giving a lot of detail but still being able to keep the colours subtle enough to have a colour theme. 

PROPOSAL

I am aiming to target my Student magazine at 16-23 year old students who are attending college or university. I will not be aiming my magazine at a certain gender i want my magazine to appeal to men and women. My magazine will be about helping students with money problems, how to save money tips and put local job vacancies in the magazine. I also want to interview students about college/university life for people who are thinking about attending and want a students perspective. 


I have thought of a few relevant titles for the magazine, one is
SL. Which stands for 'Student Life'
UNI. Which stands for 'University'
COLLEGE  life
I think these titles are good examples because they are relevant to the contents that will be in the magazine and, they are simple but to the point. 


I am going to use the font 'Georgia' I also like the fonts 'Verdana' I like these fonts because they are simple but stand out when they are bold. I would publish the magazine once a month, and I would make the magazine relevant to the time it is published, like in April/May I would make the magazine feature revision tips and how to revise features.


I have considered having a student as the main image on the magazine, the photography will be mid-shot of the student in a college or university environment either reading or studying or even smiling at the camera. I would like the mis-en-scene to be quite boring, plus I don't want to capture any unwanted signs or other people in the background. The dimension of the magazine will be A5 size like small magazines so it is easy to fit into handbags and is more easy to store. 


I have considered a number of colour themes for the magazine, I like black, grey and light blue. I have also considered the colour theme changing throughout the different seasons, as in autumn, I would use oranges, burgundy and mustard, to match the colours associated with autumn. I would have the colour scheme on the front cover to match the colour scheme of the contents page. 

Mind Map

Student magazine:
TITLES

• SL (Student Life)
• UNI (University)

COLOURS

• Black
• Grey
• White
• Mustard (autumn colours)
• Orange/Burgundy (autumn colours) 

PHOTO

• Mid-shot/Medium
• Uni/college student (no uniform)
• Have the student reading/studying (not noticing the camera)
• Have the student smiling or noticing the camera

COVERLINES

• Revision Techniques
• Saving money
• Jobs
• Interviews with students
• Surveys 

PLUG/PUFF

• Free things with magazine
• Sports
• History of the College (Halloween special - ghost stories.)

Skills Audit

At the start of this lesson I didn't know how to bluetooth files onto a Mac. I googled how I would be able to do it and I found a website which taught me how.
[1]http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2318

Resolution[1]

To send a file using Bluetooth to a computer running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, you must enable Bluetooth Sharing in Sharing preferences. By default, Bluetooth Sharing is turned off in Leopard.

1. On each Mac OS X 10.5-based Mac, from the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
2. From the View menu, choose Sharing.
3. Check (click) the "On" box next to Bluetooth Sharing.
4. Close the Sharing preferences window.

Another thing I was unable to do on the Mac's was how to use Powerpoint. I googled this again and also looked at powerpoint on the Mac and tried to teach myself from previous experience of using powerpoint on other computers.

[2]http://www.microsoft.com/mac/powerpoint 

I found a website which lets you do a powerpoint yourself to help you learn how to use 

powerpoint.

[3]http://www.microsoft.com/mac/interactive-guides/powerpoint/default.html

I have never used InDesign on a Mac before so I wrote in google how to use it and I found a useful website which gives you advice, pictures and text on how to use it with a step-by-step guide.

[4]http://www.learnindesigntutorials.com/

Background Information about the Industry

1.103 Billion magazines were circulated in 2008.


There are 6 kinds of magazines:
1. Consumer magazine - sold in newsagents which are most commonly known and bought.
2. B2B - for people at work, there are magazines which are specifically associated with the work place.
3. Customer publishing - magazines are produced for organisations to give to customer to boost marketing. 
4. Part works - a set number of issues which builds up into an 'encyclopedia' on a specific topic.
5. Newspaper supplements - magazines which come free as part of  daily or Sunday newspaper.
6. Academy journals - for university - level discussions of all sorts of topics.


The UK produces 3,409 types of consumer magazines
The total circulation for consumer magazines in the UK is now at 46 million
69 new magazines were launched in the first 6 months in 2010, and they were successful
A combined annual consumer spend of £1.6 Billion.


The most popular magazine which circulates over 1 million is TV Choice.
The reasons this magazine might be the most popular is because it is all about a TV guide for the next week or 2 weeks which includes soap gossip which gives hints into what is going to happen over the next week. Generations might of bought it before and have got into a routine of buying it. And it is very cheap compared to other magazines.


Glamour is the most popular woman's magazine which circulated 489,461 magazines. The reasons glamour may be the most popular woman's magazine could be its price is affordable (£2.00) compared to other woman's magazines which cost around 3-4 pounds. Also, Glamour is in a compact size, making t easier to fit into bags. 


NME is the biggest selling music magazine, but last year circulation was down by 14.6%, due to technology taking over. For the younger generation, they are starting to get used to technology being an everyday part of life with phones, iPods and computers. NME is online so younger generations are more likely to access the NME website rather than going out and buying the magazine. Plus, on the website all the information is free. However, technology isn't great all the time, computers and laptops can sometimes be unreliable and the internet might not always work when you want it to. The website might be harder to readers to follow and might not have the same layout as the magazine did. And not everyone will be able to access it, some people may not have internet or a smart phone they can use. 


The number of people who read magazines will always be higher to the number of people who buy magazines. Most people share magazines with each other, not mainly to share money but just because they are there and people read magazines when they're bored or find the look of a friends or someone else's interesting. 
9 out of 10 people read magazines with an average read of 50 minutes. And the average person in the UK buys 22 magazines a year.

Essay - To what extent should magazines be held responsible for the social ramifications of the representations they offer?

Magazines which are aimed at young girls aged 12-15 are not always advertising the best example to show girls of that age. Magazines aimed at woman/girls involve sex, stories about 'how they should look' and only material things girls shouldn't be worrying about. 

Girls are influenced to being 'pretty' from a young age, even before reading magazines there are television adverts advertising make-up, hair dye/styles, clothes etc.  which gives girls the impression that they have to be like the beautiful, perfect woman who is on the adverts. And when they do start to read magazines there are printed advertisements for clothes, perfume everything girls are interested in, with another beautiful, perfect model which makes girls think that if they buy this product they'll look like her, which is just the start of how the media influences young girls. 

A common story in most magazines is about weight, how to diet, exercise, staying thin.  Girls should want to be healthy but with all the young, thin pop stars in their skimpy outfits on the cover of the magazine they're buying, they're setting an example that you should look like that, which has backfiring effects of girls having eating disorders or bulimia, because they aren't being taught to diet properly, and that dieting takes time and patients. Whereas young girls just want to be thin straight away, and take drastic measures to make themselves thin, fast. 

Sex is another problem in magazines. Because there is no age limit on women's magazines, 14 year old girls can buy cosmopolitan magazine which almost always has stories about sex or sexual related things. Allowing young girls to buy these magazines with sex related stories and 'how to look and feel sexy' articles is pushing young girls to be more sexually interested to things they shouldn't even be thinking about yet. I think magazines with these articles have a part in the rate of teen pregnancies. Girls read these articles and think they have to act and be older than they actually are, to be considered as 'cool' or better than everyone else because they've had sex under age. Which is wrong because girls under 16 should not be thinking about sex, unless it's learning about where babies come from and at learn how to use contraception.

I understand cosmopolitan is a magazine for woman aged 18-25 but I think an age limit should be set to refrain young girls from buying the magazine and being exposed to stories and articles which are too young for them to read. And in magazines such as bliss, more, teen vogue etc. should involve more stories which teach girls that being 'thin' and acting 'sexy' isn't all there is to life. They should involve stories of real inspirational woman who have had eating disorders because of what they had been exposed to at a young age, and how they completely change and ruin your body and life. And maybe stories of teenage mums and how hard it is to look after a baby especially at such a young age. The magazines should teach girls to steer away from this 'perfect' look and exploring sex at a young age, in stead of pushing it upon them.

These magazines aren't just making teenage girls concious, it is also having an effect on older woman, who feel that the women representing the younger generation make them feel old and unattractive, and they also feel pressure to look good for their age using anti-ageing creams (which are mostly fake products, but women believe most of them) and are being tricked into thinking women have to have a certain 'look' which is the perfect model, body, face and hair. 

Men and young boys are getting affected by teen magazines as well, there is a certain 'look' which pin points how men should be, its the muscular, bronzed '6-pack' body type which not all men have. But this is putting pressure on young boys to look this way. And young male actors have an influence on boys as well, when a actor who has a big influence on people has a new hairstyle, most boys go and get that hairstyle just because that is considered the certain 'look' for boys. 

The media has a huge influence, especially teen magazines, not just on young girls but young men and older women. These magazines affect how people look at the world and brainwash people into thinking you should look a 'right' way when you shouldn't, you should only consider just being yourself. The media has a bigger influence on people than it should, especially young girls and i think the media should take a step back and just let people find themselves and who they are, instead of pushing on them about how they should be. 

Bibliography.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=cosmopolitan+magazine&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=CiSancEypZj1EM:&imgrefurl=http://danadamato.com/portfolio/cosmopolitan-magazine-writer&docid=SbhSXLF4Ux34gM&w=500&h=672&ei=fHGRTrfkEsGXhQfR1a3xDw&zoom=1

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/4990907/Teen-magazines-are-sexualising-readers-says-watchdog.html

http://www.something-fishy.org/cultural/themedia.php

http://www.crisisconnectioninc.org/teens/media_influence_on_youth.htm

MIZZ

This is a front cover of Mizz magazine, the cover image is of Katy Perry which is a verly influential pop singer who especially influences young girls. The theme of the magazine is pink which may attract young girls especially as there are ideologies that pink is all girls favourite colour. Also, mizz magazine offers girls a free necklace with the purchase of the magazine, which would attract girls to purchase the magazine.

BLISS

Here is a magazine cover of the magazine bliss, which is aimed at 12-15 year old girls. On the front cover is Christine Agulera who is a famous singer and an inspiration to young girls, which would entice girls to buy the magazine. One cover line states 'Shoes you must own in 2008' most girls are interested in shoes  but this also gives an ideology that all girls are interested in shoes, which isn't always the case.

TEEN VOGUE.

Here is a Teen Vogue magazine cover, the main image is of Zac Efron who is an actor who stars in films aimed at young girls and teens. He is well known and girls often fancy him, which would attracted girls to buy this magazine. 


Teen Vogue has similar stories to other magazines aimed at girls with styling themselves, new fashion trends they should follow. However, this magazine has stories which show young girls what could happen if the media and celebrities and the 'how you should look' stories get into young girls minds. One story says 'Attack of the clones, why more teenagers are going under the knife' showing girls that it isn't right o try and change your body especially at a young age. 

GLAMOUR.

Here is Glamour magazine, Glamour magazine is aimed at girls aged 15-20 who enjoy reading about celebrities, fashion and boys. 

The main celebrity image is of Lady Gaga, who is a very controversial female artist. Lady Gaga has a huge influence appealing to young girls and does set a good example that its OK to be different and just be yourself. But she doesn't always set the best example, especially by what she wears which are sometimes very revealing and inappropriate and sometimes just very strange. 

Her pink hair in the image above gives an ideology towards young girls, as girls are stereotyped to believe pink is every girls favourite colour, which isn't always the case. Also, the main coverline is in a purple font which may also be associated with the 'girly theme' in this magazine. 

The main coverline reads 'no risk, no fun.' setting an example that young girls should take a risk (which could be a bad one) and is setting an example that you shouldn't follow the rules, which could have a back firing effect and lead the girls who read the magazine go against rules they may have been set be parents or even in school.

The other coverlines aren't in english but there are similar words like 'make-up' and fashion and trends, which are similar to what are on usual other girl magazines. 

Magazines and Audiences

Here is an NME magazine cover, NME usual target audience is a range from 15-20 year old who are into music and going to concerts. I think this front cover will appeal to men and women, men find her very attractive and women would aspirer to look like her. Although she isn't doing a raunchy pose or wearing seductive clothing, her intense catches your attention and it is like her eyes are looking straight through you. Also, her vibrant, red hair catches your eye and your immediately drawn in. One coverline states '2 of 10 special edition covers.' which makes readers interested to see what artists are on the other front covers. the 'left third' doesn't have much on it but there is a quote from the celebrity on the cover from an interview NME did with Florence which if Florence readers saw this and read the quote, would probably buy it. The theme is simple but attention grabbing, the only colour is Florence's hair and the text is in simple black and white. NME use serif font for the masthead and coverlines, but with quotes and small font text, they sometimes use sans serif font. The magazine has its dateline and price in the top left hand corner. Plus, at the top of the magazine to the right it says 'introducing the new NME which could attracted new readers but could also have a back firing effect, if the readers who used to buy the old style NME's don't like the new layout.

Glossary of terms

• Sans serif font (Sophisticated/traditional typing font, usually found on older magazines.)
• Serif font (Modern font type, usually found on younger magazines.)
• Masthead (The title of the magazine, at the top of the magazine cover.)
• Left third (Stories which are associated on the left hand side on the magazine, it's the busiest part of the magazine because its the part which is on show for customers.)
• Dateline (Shows the date of the magazine.)
• Ideologies (powerful ideas/ dominant beliefs)
• Coverline (Main story heading usually in the middle or below-middle on a magazine.)
• Plug/Puff (Adverts advertising free stuff or % off of things.)
• Theme ( The colour scheme of a magazine.)
• Price (To show the price of the magazine, usually next to the barcode and date line.)
• Niche (Specific audience to relate your magazine to.)
• Numbers (To catch the readers attention.)

Getting to know Blogger

'Things you can do with a blogger'

• All the information you record in your blog is all within your blogs, so it's easy to access. 
• You can easily upload any text, photos or videos you want on your blog, then write about them.
• You can create your own backgrounds and layouts to make your blog site look professional. 
• It's free and its an easy way to voice your views and opinions. 

'How I think a blogger will be useful for my coursework'

• You are able to keep all of your work in order by keeping up a blog and writing everything you do. 
• You can look back at previous posts if you forget something or need to refer to it. 
• You are able to have all of your written, photographic and annotated work on your blog.
• It keeps all of your work in order, from the date of which you wrote each blog.
• Easily accessible.
• It saves using loads of sheets of paper, which you're more likely to lose.