Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Preliminary task- Contents page mock up

Preliminary task

First draft of contents page

In today's lesson, we had to design and create a mock up of our contents page for our magazine, but following the codes and conventions of a contents page.

Regular content:
- Charity events
- Puzzles and activities
- Teachers interview
- Up coming events

Featured articles
- A-Level results
- GCSE results
- Welcome to our new year 7's
- Weatherhead T.V
- Beauty and the Beast
- Ice Radio on air
- CC4G
- A-Level Italian exchange
- Extra curriculum activities
- YALA
- CSLA

Images used on my contents page
- In the top left hand cover there will be a smaller image of the front cover.
- The main image used, will be of a student holding their GCSE results. This corresponds with the main story.
- Image of Beauty and the Beast.
- Image of the Italian exchange.
- Image of a T.V to represent Weatherhead T.V.
All of the images will have a page reference and a caption below them. This is so the reader can automatically turn to the right page, without having to flick through the magazine.

My contents page will consist of of having a constant font used throughout, this will be a clear and easy to read. The font will be approximately size 11. However, the page number will be a different colour and may even be bigger in size, this is they stand out to the reader. Also, my contents page will be set out in columns. However, they will be fragmented into two different sections: regulars and featured articles. At the bottom of my contents page there will be the magazines website and contact details e.g. email address.

Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Preliminary task one

Preliminary task one

Ideas for titles: - Fact
                       - Review
                       - School times
                       - WHS

Chosen title for my magazine: WHS.
I chose WHS as my title because they are the initials for our school, this is less formal then having "Weatherhead" as my title, so this will appeal more to my target audience because colloquialism is used.

Mise-en-scene; On the front of my magazine i will include a medium close up of a student, holding their GCSE/A-Level results.

Cover lines which will appear on the front cover of my magazine:
- "Best ever GCSE results"

- "A-Level results have reached sky high!"
- "Weatherhead T.V."
- "Welcome to our new year 7's"

Sunday, 26 September 2010

Camera Shots

In Thursdays media lesson, we were given a task, in which we had to complete a sheet on different types of camera shots. The images used were of different camera angles and positions. We had to match the image to the name and then produce a description of the camera shot. For example: extreme shot, consists of the eyes and nose.


After completing the task sheet, we were put into groups and each group were given a camera and a task sheet. The task sheet included a description of several different camera shots in which we had to produce ourselves. For example: an extreme close up of time. After capturing the images, we uploaded them onto the computer through a USB cable. We then uploaded them onto a blank word document, where we then labelled each one with a description.

Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Codes and conventions of contents pages

Codes and conventions of contents pages

In today's lesson we analysed a hand full of varied contents pages and worked out how each of them followed and deviated the codes and conventions.

- Most magazines consist on having the masthead at the top of the page.  Followed by " Contents ", this is always featured at the top of the page.

- Contain a main image which corresponds with the main story featured inside.

- The main image and smaller images contain page references and a caption beneath the image.

- The colours used are continuous from the front cover. There are normally 3-4 different colours so its easy on the eye.

- There are generally 2-3 columns.

- Each column contain page numbers for each different article. The page numbers are normally a different colour to the text along side it.

- The first column is normally the featured articles from the front of the magazine.

- The same font is used so its easy on the eye.

- Some magazines, but not all consist on having an editors letter on the contents page, which generally contain information on what is in the issue and to generally welcome any new readers.

- The date and issue number are on most contents pages.

- A contents page generally consists of no more then 10 images. If there were more then the page would look to crowded.

- There are 20 regulars and featured articles.

- Towards the bottom of the contents page there are subscription details, were people can subscribe to the magazine if they don't have time to go out and buy the issue.

- Contact details are placed on the contents page, for readers to get in touch via email, telephone, letter or fax.

- Credits are normally at the bottom of the page for the photography on the front cover and contents page.

- Normally the very last thing on a contents page, is the magazines website, it is normally in the bottom right hand corner as it is the least important. 

- The page numbers alwyas come before the text, followed by a few words e.g. the artists name or an ambigous text to intrigue the reader in either bold capitals.

- The subline is after this, this tells you a more specific detail about the article, in smaller and roman font.

Tuesday, 21 September 2010

Research: Codes and conventions

Codes and conventions of magazine covers
In today's and yesterdays lesson we discussed the codes and conventions on magazines, and generally on music magazines they include similar features, because set rules have to be taken into consideration during the manufacturing of the product. These rules are the codes and conventions. 

- The positioning of the Masthead is always in either the top left hand corner or across the top of the page, running from left to right. If the magazine is well known then the masthead can sometimes be covered up by the central image.
- Generally, the central image used on the front cover is of a band or a singer.

- The background is normally plain, and the colours used generally consist of around 3-4 different colours so its easy on the eye.

- There are normally 5-6 cover lines on the front cover. One being the main cover line, and this is generally cohesive to the central image.  

- The central image is normally a close up or a medium close up. But if the featured article was a band then sometimes long shots were used.

- The smaller pictures around the edges of the central image, correspond to the cover lines or featured articles inside.

- The cover lines are generally in the same style font.

- The age range is different depending on the genre of the magazine.
- There usually is a "puff" to promote the magazine and to attract the reader.

- The text on the front cover of the magazine anchors the images.

- A buzz word is used to promote the magazine and to interest the buyer and to also grab their attention. For example: "Exclusive..."
- The bar code is placed at the bottom of the magazine front cover, along with the price and date.

- The positioning statement is normally above or below the masthead.

- Direct mode of address.
- A slogan is used on every issue as a memorable motto or phrase.
- Music magazines are usually priced more than a gossip magazine.

- The font used is clear and easy to understand.