Analysis of School Magazine

By observing and analysing what seem to be successful sixth form magazines, I believe that the process will affect my final piece positively. Below, there is an example of such magazines: King Edward VI School's "The Sixth Form Journal".

The Sixth Form Journal Magazine

I find this to be a particularly effective magazine cover because it is direct and eye-catching. This is beneficial to it's success as it attracts the audience and makes them want to read on.

Masthead: Due to the masthead both being bold and taking up about a quarter of the cover, it attracts attention. As a result of the font all being very similar, if not the same, the subject viewing the magazine would be able to recognise the journal.

Main Cover Line: Once again the main cover line is bold and large which would catch the viewer's eye and hold their interest. Furthermore, the use of humour ("The F-Word") and a rhetorical question ("Who's afraid of feminism?") draws in the audience.

Cover Line: By using interesting titles, such as "The Price of Art", it sparks interest which once again makes it effective and of course a successful sixth form publication.

Cover Image: The "We Can Do It!" poster was used during the the second World War and has been used ever since to symbolise the importance of equality. The American graphic was produced as wartime propaganda as a form of inspiration which would in turn push worker morale. 

By using such a widely known illustration the audience will automatically be able to deduce what the main article is about: feminism. The entire layout of the piece more or less resembles that of the original poster, as a result of this many connotations will form from the reader whilst still maintaining an inventive quality.

 Opinion 

The Sixth Form Journal's cover remains youthful and fun the but also features a rather professional layout/ appearance, possibly reflecting the maturity of the target audience or the general approach of the students. To conclude, I really like this cover as I think it's bright and bold; appealing to the eye; as well as artistic. Influenced by this I think I may utilise some of the features that I have mentioned for when I make my own sixth form magazine.

The Seven Areas of Representation

The seven areas of representation is a method used by the media in order to make their product appealing to their target audience. The seven areas include gender; age; ethnicity; sexuality; class and status; physical ability or disability; as well as regional identity. 

So, what do the terms really mean?

media

noun
the main means of mass communication (television, radio, and newspapers) regarded collectively.

representation

noun
the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented.

target audience

noun
a particular group at which a product such as a film or advertisement is aimed.

stereotype

noun
a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

So, they are really quite simple and obviously comprehensible at the same time. As you can make out from the definitions above, the media's view of people is also rather simple too, People are labelled with being "athletic", "posh" and so on, which may be controversial to some but quite simply makes it easier to reach out to the select group (target audience). For example, if you were to take the following magazine covers it is evident that they each have a target audience. However, with saying that people who fit into the Clash audience may also be interested in the NME magazine. Whilst they all feature different genres, and therefore appearances, the seven areas of representation have enabled the publisher to keep a clear theme.

Clash:
Running for 11 years, the magazine has proved to be a success with printing monthly copies which has featured the likes of Florence & The Machine; Kanye West; DJ Shadow; and The Horrors. Alternating between modern bands and hip hop artists, Clash also promotes a wide variation of themes. From music and fashion, to film and technology, the magazine is aimed at a younger audience who want something more than just a music exclusive magazine.

Q:
Originally sub-titled "The Modern Guide to Music and More", it's first issue was published in October of 1986 and his gone on to launch a Q television channel and a yearly awards ceremony called the Q Awards. Prior to the final decision for the name, it was thought that the magazine would be called "Cue" (in terms of cueing a record) but the title was changed after the possibility of the magazine being confused with a snooker magazine. The target audience seems to be young and knowledgeable, drawn in, and attentive to popular music. Furthermore, the use of bright colours, stylish fonts and fashionable glasses suggest that the majority of the audience are in fact adolescent or in the 20's.

NME:
The British music journalism magazine, New Musical Express (NME), was first published in March 1952. Publishing issues weekly, it is largely associated with genres such as rock, alternative and indie. By looking at the cover its plain to see that the audience will be educated in musical icons/history; would also be frequent readers ("60 Years of NME"); and are more interested in the articles than the appearance of the cover. Although it does stand out from other magazines, due to the black and white colour scheme with the eye catching yellow, the cover is very minimalist which reflects the audience who are attracted by the content.

BBC Music Magazine:
Publishing 13 per annum, the magazine's first issue was in June 1992 which was soon followed by a North American version 9 months later. Primarily devoted to classical music which also highlights other genres (jazz and world music), it revolves around BBC Radio 3's broadcast output. With each issue having an audio CD of BBC recordings or full-length works the magazine has proved to be a success whilst exploring other uses of media in the product. Typically, classical music is aimed at the older generation who may not care for loud music but something more relaxing.


Overall, the seven areas of representation affect the styles, fonts, photos used and so on, in the magazines. With saying that, the strategy is not based on fact and is merely an ideology which assists the publisher's decisions. 

Skills Audit

In order to perform well in media it is important that I am aware of my skills. Why? As it will ensure that I consistently work at that level and also allow room for improvement. Having decided to list my skills below, I think it is equally significant to include the equipment and software that I have to hand.
- I'm good at editing videos/film, I'm particularly skilled at using Windows Movie Maker as well as Adobe Premier Elements 11.
- I am adaptable when it comes to using technology and believe that I can learn fairly quickly.
- I have a knowledgeable perspective of the media, and an understanding of it's importance in today's society.
- Equipment that I personally have includes a Nikon D5300 DSLR; Sony Handycam; 2 tripods; a white backdrop and a green screen with a backdrop stand; Adobe Premier Elements 11 video editing and photoshop software; and Windows Movie Maker.

Hopefully as my skills improve I will be able to add on to this list.

Abraham Maslow: Hierarchy of Needs

Born on 1st April 1908, Maslow was an American psychologist who proposed the Hierarchy of Needs. The theory shows how members of the public can further develop themselves in order to progress and achieve success in life. Also, the theory is represented as a pyramid which is divided into 5 sections. Essentially, Maslow believed that by creating the system people could gain an understanding, and acceptance for where they stand in the hierarchy. Furthermore, it enables people to strive for advancement in both their professional and private lives.

So, a subject may find themselves fitting into the love/belonging section; whilst acknowledging this they can further push themselves to fulfill certain goals. Eventually, the subject should reach as high as they possibly can on the graph to become a well rounded and developed member of society.

Although, the subject should begin at the bottom and build their way up, it is most likely that they would be unconscious to the fact that there is such a system. Even though it may be a more credible way of going about the hierarchy, I suppose it may not always be practical. In spite of this one must satisfy the lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs.

After this, one may go on to to reach the highest level, being self-actualisation. With this in mind everybody is capable and should have the desire to move up the pyramid. On the other hand, it may be a failed attempt to build one's self as there may be events halting their progression. Such events may include:

- Divorce.

- The loss of a job.

- The loss of a loved one.

As unfortunate as these predicaments may be they would cause the individual to fluctuate between the levels of the hierarchy. Maslow personally noted that only one in a hundred people go on to establish themselves as fully self-actualised. To conclude, the psychologist also stated that human motivation is based on people seeking fulfillment and change through personal growth (1943, 1954). Self-actualised people are those who were fulfilled and doing all they were capable of.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs

Introduction to my Media AS Coursework

Welcome to my media blog, where I will be posting my coursework throughout the rest of the academic year. My coursework is to research magazines, in particular ones of a musical and academic background, as well as develop an understanding for the world of the medium. Once I have done this and therefore formed an appreciation for the industry, I am to produce my own versions.

Inspired by the magazines I will have researched, I hope to have created two magazines that are not only appealing to the target audience; but also push the limits by having made something somewhat unique.