In what ways does your media product use,

develop or challenge forms and conventions of

real media products?

Harri Evans

Front CoverThis is the final version of my music magazine cover - RIFF. I used an official Q Magazine cover as a template, however I did make some modifications to make my cover original. I really like close up shots on magazine covers, so I thought that this was a good one to copy.

RIFF - Masthead

I chose the masthead, “RIFF,” for my music magazine because not only was it the top choice on my online survey, but it reflects the rock/metal genre of the magazine.I decided go for the Times New Roman – looking font because it was the closest to the font on my first draft, and it is a font that is often used for magazine mastheads. The guitar neck that I used to replace the ‘I’ was my own original idea, and was not inspired by anything that I had scene whilst researching music magazine covers, however I am happy with it, and although it is unusual, in my opinion, it works well and almost brands he magazine. The colour of the masthead was not planned. Originally I was going to have a plain black masthead, however after inserting the main image, and adding the background colour, it did not stand out as much as I would have liked, so I therefore thought it would be interesting to try various colours and gradients. The red and yellow combination worked best, so I decided to stick with it, and after I added an outline to the text, to really make the masthead eye catching.

Main Image

This main image was inspired by the Q Florence Welch cover, because when researching, it was my favourite cover. The composition of the shot is pretty much the same, except for some obvious hand poses. I initially had photographs in snow, which I was very happy with, although due to technical difficulties, such as pixilation when inserting images into InDesign, I had to retake the photos. However, I am happy that this happened, and I feel that using an image similar to a real magazine is a safe way of creating a professional looking amateur magazine.I removed the background in Photoshop, which wasn’t too complicated as it was a simple procedure, and I had had a lot of practice.

A lot of magazines that I researched, the actual name of the artist was often used as the main coverline. Therefore, for my own, I decided to do the same. This was actually inspired by the Q Magazine Lady GaGa cover, that I actually used to create a mock up. I really like the layout of having a large text for the name, and small text above that leads into the name. The phrase, ‘Go Through The Looking Crystal,’ I used to go along with the Alice in Wonderland theme of the feature story, and I changed ‘glass’ to ‘crystal’ to fit with the drug addiction of the artist, ‘Rachael Morgan’.

The other coverline I decided to use because it is actually news that is happening at the moment, and it is a perfect story to include in the magazine. The fonts and sizing of this coverline was also inspired by the Florence Welch cover.

I created two bannerlines for my cover, one at the top and one at the bottom. For the first bannerline I wrote, “ Voted Best Metal Magazine of 2012,” as this was something that I frequently saw when researching music magazine covers. It also shows the promotional aspect of my cover.

I then added another bannerline at the bottom of the page, which I used to add extra information about the content of the magazine that I couldn’t add as a coverline. The “PLUS!” idea is something that I’ve seen on a lot of issues of Kerrang!, and the artists that I have listed further reinforce the rock/metal genre of RIFF.

I then added a flash, shaped like a star, that gives information about a competition in the magazine. It is quite obvious that RIFF is based on Kerrang!, as I saw this technique used on various front covers. This idea also reflects my target audience, as these sorts of competitions are more likely to be seen in rock magazine aimed at teenagers.I decided to use the black, white and yellow colour scheme again for this, however I added some blue, to mix it up a bit, and make the overall cover more colourful. I really like the the colours, and I think that they compliment each other well.

I decided to add another flash to my cover, advertising the free posters inside RIFF. Initially I was not going to include subsidary images in my magazine, however I had space on my cover that could be used up, and I thought that advertising the free posters would be perfect, as this is often seen on covers of Kerrang! Magazine. Two out of the three images I was not going to actually use in my magazine, so I am happy that I found something to use them for.

The Contents PageThis is the final version of my

contents page. The page was inspired by a contents page I saw in Kerrang!, however I did not put as much information into my version. I thought that the main success of my cover was because I based it on a real cover, so I thought I should do the same thing for my contents page. A small

image of the issue’s front cover is often seen on contents pages, so I used my own.

I’ve gone for the same colour scheme in my contents page as my cover, as I feel the combination of colours works really well. I also decided to use the stencil font, that I used on my cover, because I feel that by using similar fonts throughout the magazine, it gives it a personality and originality. I also think that the stencil effect works really well with the music genre, as well as the target audience. The ‘Issue No,’ and the ‘Cover Date,’ are things that were in the contents pages that I researched, so I felt that I had to include them for the professional aspect of the magazine.

Initially, I was going to feature to other stories in this space, however due to lack of time, and the fact that I would have to take more photos, I decided to make it a section specifically to promote the free posters. This was also another opportunity to use the photos. I based this on the adverts about subscription, which I would have done, but because I only have one front cover of RIFF, it would look unprofessional.

I then added the main image to my contents page. This was the image that I was going to use for my front cover, however I was unable to use it because it was not practical and didn’t fit the codes and conventions of a professional music magazine front cover. Although I am happy that I didn’t use it, as I think that it works really well on my contents page.I then inserted the page number of the feature, and then added the caption, “Rachael Morgan – Curiouser and Curiouser.” I used this caption because if goes along with the Alice in Wonderland theme, and is a good phrase to use on the contents page to make the reader want to read on. At first I was apprehensive because I was worried that a white text box would not work with the white image, however I think it makes it very subtle, and looks more professional than using a completely different colour, because it so crisp and clear.

I then added the main list onto my contents page. I titled the list, “THIS MONTH,” similar to Kerrang!, and then categorised the magazine, sectioning it up into, “NEWS,” “ALBUM REVIEWS,” “FEATURES,” “POSTERS,” “GIG GUIDE,” and “LETTERS PAGE.” This makes the page look a lot more professional, and it is the sort of technique used in Kerrang!. I started by listing artists and albums of the rock genre, before coming up with some main features, most of which are relevant to music news today. I also made a section for the posters, which was inspired by a special poster section that I saw in an issue of Kerrang!. The ‘GIG GUIDE’, is also relevant to news today, as Reading is an upcoming festival, and is something that would be featured in RIFF Magazine.Finally, I wasn’t sure what to add at the bottom of the contents list, but then I thought that a Letters Page would be perfect, as they are seen in a lot of music magazines to help them understand what the target audience wants, and they can therefore feature stories that the readers have asked for. I also decided that RIFF would be a multi media platform magazine, so I mentioned the idea of ‘RIFF Radio.’I decided to colour the page numbers red, because I feel that it works well with the other colours, and adds a bit more variety to the page, which would attract the target audience.

Double Page Spread

I did not really base my article on any double page spread that I had seen before, but I was influenced by this 2 page article from the American music magazine, Revolver. I really like the structure of the double page spread, however I didn’t just copy it, I used it as inspiration to come up with my own layout idea.The title of my double page spread, “Rachael in Wonderland,” obviously fits in with the Alice in Wonderland theme. The reason there is an Alice in Wonderland theme is because one of the songs by ‘Rachael Morgan,’ follows the story, however it is metaphorical, in the sense that wonderland is meant to represent her drug addiction, and when she was high. I explained this is the article itself, as if I was the artist. I chose the font, ‘Earwig Factory,’ for the title because I think it is perfect for the theme, but was inspired by an article I saw in NME that featured Lily Allen.

I then typed up my article on Microsoft Word, before inserting it into InDesign. Then I could edit the text, changing fonts, colours etc. I was initially going to have black text on a white background, but the yellow text did not stand out very well, so I gave the page a black background, which really makes the yellow eye catching, as they compliment each other really well. I also prefer white text on black, as I think that it is more crisp, but also more interesting to look at.I then added small versions of the RIFF masthead at the bottom corners of the pages, as well as the page numbers in the same yellow

colour. This was heavily influenced by many double page spreads I had seen in Kerrang! whist researching. I also inserted the phrase, “Subscribe at www.riffmagazine.com, which is often used at the bottom of double page spreads, and helps make the article look more professional.

This is the second page of my article. Like the, ‘Sweet Sacrifice,’ double page spread, I decided to use a whole page for one image, as this is my favourite layout for an article. The composition of the shot is meant to engage the reader, as if they are entering ‘Wonderland’ with the artist. I was very lucky to be able to take photographs in the snow, as this just adds to the effect of the theme.I added a quote from the article, “Six months later and I was hooked on heroin,” which I have seen done in many articles. Magazines often enlarge stand out – quotes, that are used to entice the reader, and provides the shock value, making the audience want to read the article. I used a yellow colour to stick with the colour scheme, however I think it works well with the mise en scene of the image.