Institutional Research

Magazine Institutional Research from Thenz801

This slideshow presents the institutional research about the leading publishing companies internationally and/or in the UK.

By having this research created, I have found out the image and representation given by each company to their magazines and how they prioritise their audiences in picking out the topicality of each magazine issue. I have also found out a bit of historical information about the founding of each company and what kind of magazines and audience they have.

Kerrang! Double Page Spread Analysis

Kerrang!’s 21 September issue features Sleeping with Sirens, an American post-hard core band who will have a concert in O2 Academy Brixton in three weeks’ time. This suggests that the target audience for this particular section of the magazine are the fans and devotees of the band. The audience might be also those who are interested in rock and may want to listen to the music of the featured band. Since the band’s frontman, Kellin Quinn is the one being interviewed, along with a few words from his band members, this shows that target audience may want to know about some revelations about the vocalist.

The article uses informative language wherein it notifies the audiences about the band’s controversies and plans in their upcoming concert. The language used is also chatty and quite comfortable because the interviewee – Kellin Quinn is talking about his personal life and his family affairs with the magazine such as about his daughter, his father and the bands the he has rivalry with. This is evident in the lexis such as “… and poppy diapers, man”, “My dad was annoyed about it at first.” And “I don’t have anything against Oli Sykes.” These languages used by Quinn are very personal which conveys that he feels comfortable and intimate in doing the interview between the magazine and their fans.

The colours that are used are purple, bright pink, white and yellow. This is because Sleeping with Sirens fans are mostly female. The colours that were used adhere to the dominant target audience of the featured band. Purple and yellow are contrasting colours which makes one stand out that the other. It also makes the page complimentary and pleasant. The use of a neutral colour like white simplifies the contrasting colours and makes it more enticing and attractive to the readers, especially for the dominant female audience. However, it doesn’t disrupt the magazine’s house style as it also uses one of the magazine’s main colours which is yellow. This shows the connectivity between the magazine and the featured article. Also, by using purple, which is not adherent to magazine’s colour house style; this shows emphasis to the featured article because it’s different from the rest of the given article highlighted in the magazine.

The double page is laid out in such a way that the image of the featured band is located at centre and the description and title at the upper right and left corner of the featured image. The article is situated in the lower right hand side of the page. This shows that the emphasis is on the image of the featured person or band – in this featured article’s case, it is an image of Sleeping with Sirens’ frontman Kellin Quinn. On the other pages which are a continuation of the article, the images that were featured was Quinn and the rest of the band. This is so because the interviewee is the frontman, Quinn. In the six-page featured article, the pictures are dominating the articles itself. The fonts that the article used are quite small and white in colour which might not show emphasis but is still noticeable. There is an enormous image of the band in each page which creates emphasis to the band appearance.

The tone that the magazine used in this particular interview is that of a ‘close friend’. This is because of the use of swear words such as “f*cking* without any sensors. This conveys that the interview is set in the tone a very close friend because if it was formal, the interviewee would not use such vulgar words and the interviewer would not tolerate it as well.

Relevant to the image, the band is presented to the audience as strong and noise bunch of people because of the mise en scene. For example, the prop used is mostly megaphones which connote attention and loudness. Also, all of the band members are wearing tattoos which represent them as strong and confident people. Shown in their facial expression is that of a person who is shouting or yelling comprehends that the band wants attention from the audience and from the rest of the band members as well. In short, the band is represented as people are confident and loud which catches people’s attention.

The article demand prior knowledge when reading the featured article. For example, the bands mentioned such as “My Chemical Romance” (currently disbanded) and Fall Out Boy which have taken a mainstream position in the rock-genre world. Quinn refers to his band as not a “MCR” or not a “FOB” which conveys that his band is not mainstream yet but he just wants to make “awesome music”. Another example is his rivalry with Oli Sykes, a member of the Bring me to Horizon which is a UK based band. In the article, it doesn’t specify who Oli Sykes is, only that he is a member of a band and he is a musician as well.

Analysing Kerrang!’s Contents Page

Kerrang! uses images in their contents page and this is to engage the audiences more in looking up the topics that are available in this issue. The images are constructed and layout in an orderly fashion – one image is in the upper centre and the other two are squeezed in the contents listing. This is so because the images they used are entertaining and they also are used to engage the audience into reading the articles that are presented.

The images support the initial findings regarding the magazine style which is individualistic and creatively rebellious. In the contents page, the images are presented in a way that one image stands out from the rest. This image shows a man with a lot of tattoos in his arm and is enjoying singing. This again correlates to the stated findings which are creatively rebellious.

The colours used are white, black, red and yellow which is the same house style as the cover page. This shows consistency and connectivity throughout the first magazine pages. The fonts, meanwhile, used are in bold and caps lock. Though, the subtitles of the articles given are in small, light fonts giving emphasis to the titles of the articles. This adheres to the house style of the front cover as well because most of the fonts are giving emphasis and solidity just like the genre of the magazine.

The information is organised by giving short description to the article titles. This helps the audience locate the articles they want to read first and also gives a brief definition of what the article is about. This creates the effect of the audience being more engaged as they already have now a brief idea of the topics given in the issue.

“Feedback”, “News”, “Features”, “Shots”, “Lives”, “Albums”, “Gig Guide” and “The Ultimate Goblin Test are the sections which are presented in the contents page. The section title is very straightforward as it doesn’t give a more creative and more enjoyable section title. This shows that the magazine is very straightforward and only wants to deliver information and news straightforwardly, without any sugar-coated words.

The contents page itself is a medium of promotion. With the use of words like ‘introducing’, ‘biggest guitar band in the UK’ and ‘special’. These words are just some of the promotional words in the contents page of the magazine.

The magazine logo however is not present in the contents page. Although this is the case, the title of the page which says “Contents” is designed in the same way as the logo is. This shows adherence to the house style of the magazine.

Kerrang! has a franchise which is an energy drink called “Relentless”. It is also not presented in the contents page however; it has a full page advert of the franchise on the previous page.

Analysing Kerrang's Front Cover

Kerrang! is a UK-based rock genre magazine. In relation to the front cover, the kind of articles that are going to be inside the issue are articles that gives information about bands – UK and American Based. The articles featured are “Sleeping with Sirens: Here to Wake up your town”, “My Chemical Romance Massive Encyclopaedia”, “Revealed! Fall Out Boy’s Secret Album” and “Metallica The Movie: The First Interview”.

The target audience for the magazine are mostly male with 60% and 40% female with age bracket of 15-24 who are interested in rock-based music such as indie, goth, grunge, punk and metal. These individuals also are interested in computer games, media and fashion.

The central image’s mode of address is the direct mode. This implies that the vocalist of the band – Sleeping with Sirens wants to have a personal relationship with the readers and as well as the fans. It also entices the readers because by using the direct mode of address, the central image and the audience can have eye contact with each other which literally means connection.

In this issue of Kerrang!, Sleeping with Sirens is featured. It is an American post-hardcore band which just released their current album last January. It might also be a featured interview because of their upcoming world tour which was announced in early April.

The anchorage text which states “Here to Wake Up Your Town” comprehends a paradoxical pun with the band’s name “sleeping” and “wake up”. This also might be related to the world tour that was stated earlier. This text implies that the band creates music and noise, and is very bold and fun.

The overall message that the band is giving through the mise en scene is that they are very powerful and confident. Also, because of the prop which is a megaphone, it shows that the band is noisy but they are having fun because of the facial expressions of both the vocalist and its members which are standing proudly in the background.

Men in their teenage years to their 20s are being represented as fun, noisy bunch of lads as shown in the central image. They are also represented as confident people because of the facial expressions shown and the props which is a megaphone.

The ‘buzz’ words are “Plus”, “Poster Pull-out”, “Revealed” and “Win!” This entices and invites the reader to but the magazine. It also creates a good impression for the magazine because it gives its fans ‘rewards’ and freebies for the buying the magazine.

Kerrang!’s title block is very bold and is artistically etched to create the effect of being scratched out. This creates a hint of rebellion which relates to rock genre. The title is onomatopoeia for an electric guitar strumming. This tells that the audience is very much interested and devoted to rock. The style of the title also gives a great representation for its audience as it is individualistic.

The ‘puffs’ are “My Chemical Romance Massive Encyclopaedia”, “Revealed! Fall Out Boy’s Secret Album” and “Metallica The Movie: The First Interview”.  This conveys that the type of audience the magazine expects to get are those who likes to get data about the bands.

“Life is Loud” is Kerrang’s slogan which also relates to the magazine onomatopoeic  title. It helps attract the audience because it gives out a sense of rebelliousness. It also entices the readers because it gives out tension and excitement.

The colours used are red, yellow and black which work out very well together. The contrast of colours are very attractive and enticing as well. The fonts that are used are bold because it wants emphasis which also relates to the genre of the magazine.

The strategies used to attract audience are by adding puffs about bands that are controversial, using words such as ‘revealed’ or ‘plus’ makes the audience expect more than what they see in the front cover and by using buzz words as well.

Analysing Magazine Cover Features

Kerrang! is a UK-based music magazine. According to the front cover, the articles that are going to be inside are about the rock band called “The Blackout”. They had attained to be “the best live band in Britain”. Included in the articles are “20 Greatest Live Bands on Earth”, Rock Star Confessions and more.

The target audience of Kerrang! are within the age range of 13-20 who are mainly male and who has interest with rock/ indie/ metal/ punk/ grunge/ goth music genres. They also tend to go to gigs and band concerts to support the bands they admire.

The magazine used the direct mode of address which conveys that the magazine wants to have a very close or personal relationship between the bands and their fans. Using the direct mode of address, the bands are able to have a direct contact from the readers to the bands themselves.

In this issue of Kerrang!, they have featured The Blackout. According to the band, “We’ve always behaved like we’re playing Wembley…” which hypothetically conveys that wherever the locations for their gigs are, they always play big. (Wembley = an analogy to a big stadium)

The anchorage text also explains more about the artist which says “The Best Live Band In Britain.” This comprehends that the band is very active when it comes to gigs, live performances and concerts. It also implies that they are excellent in what they do and their fans love them.

The overall message the artist is conveying according to the mise-en-scene is that they’re having fun and they love what they do – always playing it big and bold. It also correlates to the anchorage text and a quotation stated.

Men who are in their 15-20s are being represented in such way that they are strong and re having fun. It also represents men who have great interest in rock music as the imageHowsed have microphones, guitars, drums and bands.

The buzz words used “Plus” or “7 Posters from the Pit” entices the reader because it makes the reader expect more than what the front cover offers. It also attracts readers because these buzz words give them a “reward” from buying the magazine.

Kerrang!'s logo and title block has a bold, etched font. This represents rock genre in a way that the sounds are solid and firm, strong and very loud, just like the way the font is laid-out. It also represents the audience being a devote fan to the magazine, the bands and the rock genre.

Kerrang! is an onomatopoeia for the sound of electric guitar strings being strummed. This states that it is a music magazine and it is fully devoted to the genres and the sub-genres of rock. Having the exclamation point (!) also gives out an impact to the audience.

The 'puffs' suggest articles about the bands who made history that week. It also suggests the vocalists or members having shared a confession to the audience. Some articles gives review to other bands. This tells that type of audience the magazine expects to get are those who wants information about bands regarding music reviews, critique reviews, gig session dates, exclusive interviews and what not.

"Life is Loud" is Kerrang!'s slogan. This comprehends that the magazine correlates to the rock-based genre that doesn't have dead airs and has full, surround and solid music throughout a song. It attracts the readers because it gives an aura of excitement, tension and vibrancy because of the words "life" and "loud".

The colours that are mainly used are Black, White, Yellow and Red. The yellow and red colours catches my attention but the black and white contrasts does not really attract or entice me personally. However, having the colours contrasting together makes the magazine pop out and attracts the readers. The fonts used are mostly in bold and in italics because it is understandable and enticing. It also gives an attraction for the simple capitalised fonts used.

The strategies the magazine used to attract the audience are free posters and questions that could only be answered if you bought and read the magazines, i.e. Anchorage text - "How the hell did that happen?"

The Evolution of Britney Spears

In this Rolling Stone April 1999 issue, 14-year old Britney Spears appears on the cover.This image is taken with the medium shot so that the audience can take sight of the model’s position, gesture and the environment she’s in. In this particular case, the medium shot at a high angle was chosen because it wants to give significance to Britney’s body and the context.  Also, it gives the effect of her being submissive and innocent. Magazines that do this kind of shot are mostly music magazine such as Rolling Stones, men magazines and fashion magazines.&Britney’s costumes consist of very feminine - bra, white school shirt and a polka dots boxer shorts. But, it also gives a sexy and daring appeal to the audience. This suggests that even though there is an innocent atmosphere to the image, as she was still very young in this cover, it also creates a very seductive semblance which appeals very well to the male audience which is the dominant audience with 60% for Rolling Stones.

Using the telephone as props, it conveys that Spears is trying to make contact with someone, like a friend of a guy. But since the magazine appeals to the audience, then it is only hypothetically obvious that she maybe calling someone on the phone. This conveys that she is now mature as she is interested in relationships with the opposite sex. Paradoxically, the stuffed toy she’s holding, a Tellytuby, gives the impression that she’s innocent since the plushie is meant for kids. Overall, it conveys both the playful and seductive but very innocent and child-like representation of Britney Spears.

The setting of the image is relative to her costume that she is on her bedroom because she looks comfortable. The light attracts the fuchsia silk, creates lighting and manages to reflect the baby pink colour which connotes innocent and a childish feel whilst the fuchsia, a darker shade of pink connotes a more mature and a more sexual semblance.

“Inside the Heart, Mind & Bedroom of a Teen Dream” This inter textual references being made to the name Britney Spears clearly explains the cover image and its context. This connotes her deepest secrets as the text explains that Britney will be exploring what’s “inside” her heart, mind and bedroom – which may refer to her life before she got famous, what she thinks about fame and what her bedroom is like, perhaps her fashionable items and closet.

           In this issue of Rolling Stones, December 2003, Britney poses in an almost bare naked pose. Just like the first image or cover photo, the type of shot that was created is a medium shot. This is because the magazine wants to convey a fully mature Britney and as a very sexy and very fit figure.

            Britney’s costume in this cover is very daring as she is only wearing a pair of white panties. She is posed in a way that she is pushing her breasts forward and her lower body outward. With this pose, she probably wants to have a playful and seductive with the readers. Also her facial expression is inviting and pleasant which attract the readers which are mostly male since the target audience of Rolling Stones Magazine is mostly male.

            The lighting that was used is a high key lighting and this is very significant because since Britney has a very inviting gesture, the lighting should be enticing as well. The lighting had also been used to emphasise her bodily curves and this attracts the audience as it also creates a refreshing feel because given that white is a pure and neutral colour; it also provides a fresh atmosphere and semblance to the cover photo.

            The colours that are used are mostly white because it gives the attention to Britney’s body and to Britney herself. It also conveys purity, vibrancy and innocence which is quite paradoxical because her body language is the opposite of what the colours convey.

In this issue of Rolling Stone February 2008, Britney is portrayed in black and white. This image has been chosen – close up shot because probably Britney wants to convey a more personal relationship with the reader. Also the use of black and white is very important in conveying this message because stereotypically black and white colours convey sadness, longing or drama.

The image has been cropped in a way that Britney’s face occupies the whole cover leaving no background or white spaces. This also adds to the statement earlier which gives the impression that maybe she wants something personal and intimate with the reader – a secret or a confession.

            The relationship she wants to have with the audience is relevant and supported by the anchorage text “Inside an American Tragedy”. This is because people don’t usually talk about tragic events that had happened in their lives so Britney coming out with a story gives a more personal and intimate feel to it.

Conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

Music Magazine Cover Page

Magazine Used: Kerrang!

These are the important part of a music magazine cover: Title Block of Masthead, Central Image, Headline, Anchorage Text, Buzz Words, Price, Barcode, Puffs or Cover Lines and Graphic features such as speech bubbles.

By analysing the cover page, we can easily point out the topics and subjects that is cover within the magazine. Also, the cover page is what attracts and entices a reader so it has to be properly organised according to the target audiences' preferences.

By identifying the convention of a cover page, I can also apply the same layout, format and techniques used in an existing music magazine to appeal more to the audience.

Preliminary Task: Contents Page

College Magazine Contents Page

Earlier, we were asked to do a cover page for a college magazine. Now, using basic media skills, we were asked to create a contents page in relation to the cover page.

Media Used: Adobe Photoshop CS6
This is the preliminary task I made for the contents page wherein it is a double page contents page, featuring a model at the middle of the two pages so that its has an equal presence on both pages. By using the Elliptical Marquee Tool and the Rectangular Marquee Tool, I selected chosen photos to be presented in the double page in a creative and fun way.

Preliminary Task

10 September 2013

College Magazine Cover Page

In this preliminary task, we were asked to produce a title page for a college magazine. We should have included basic media skills in either Adobe Illustrator or in Adobe Photoshop.

Media Used: Adobe Photoshop CS6

This is the front cover I created for the preliminary task which includes a a cover model, masthead/title block, an anchorage text, slogan, bar code, puffs and date of when the magazine is released. By using quick selection tool, the cover model overlaps with the masthead to promote both the model and the title. By using the text tool, I added some texts to stand for the puffs and explain to the audience what they are about to expect in the magazine. I duplicated the anchorage text to make it look like it has a shadow and differentiate it from the rest of the puffs given so that the audience will know which and what the main article is about.

Introduction

Hello! My name is Athena Ashley Rosales. I am 17 years old and I study in Bishop Chalooner Catholic Collegiate Sixth Form. I currently study the courses Maths, English Literature and Language, Art and Design, and Media Studies.

I study Media Studies because I am interested in film, journalism and animation. Media Studies also provide skills that can help in my future career. It is an essential subject for me to help me in my university. Plus, I also enjoy media! Playing aroung Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is fun.

I aim to finish this coursework before the deadline and I want to finish it with the best of my abilities.