Evaluation
I had been asked to create a new magazines font cover, content page and a double page spread. I did a lot of research before making the magazine. I had a look at other girl’s magazines such as ‘InStyle’, ‘Vogue’ and ‘Now’. I had created a questionnaire to ask about the audiences opinions on how the magazine should look and what it should include. After coming to final conclusions, I created a design plan for the front cover, content page and a double page spread.
The magazine I have created is targeted to females who are teenagers and adults. However it would attract women who are interested in fashion or TV series. I think that the magazine I have created has reached to the target audiences expectations as it informs them about the latest fashion and about new TV series that would be coming up soon. The magazine is made for entertainment purpose. It includes many tips for life, bright and attractive colours and readable font. I believe that my magazine has reached its expectations. It would entertain the readers and it would inform them about fashion and life. They would also come to know of new TV series in the double page interview with the main character in the show.
My magazine consists of title, puffs and anchorage text, image of the artist and the barcode and price. I used a usual layout and details of a normal girl’s magazine. I have made sure that the front cover includes many puffs and an anchorage text. The images are suitable for the audience and the text is readable by the reader. The font I have used is readable even though it is italics. The font size is quite big. The anchorage text has the same font size as the puffs. The buzz word is small. The puffs would help the audience know what topics would be inside the magazine. The anchorage text would tell them about the double page spread based on the artist on the front cover.
The artist’s image on the front cover is giving a direct mode of address. It would seem as if the image is directing the text to the reader. This would attract the audience as she is engaging eye-contact and the reader would feel attached. The colours I have used are constant throughout the whole magazine except for a few images. I have used a mid-shot image for the front cover as it will catch the attention of the audience. The artist is a famous celebrity so the image should be big and clear so it would catch the attention of the audience. This way the reader would know who the magazine is based on. The reader would know it is a fashion magazine because the celebrity has a flower on her hair and has her hair out. This gives her the stereotype of ‘The Fashionista’. They would also know by the title ‘Glamour Diva’.
The content page has the image of the front cover and two images of the internet. The text and background colour is the same as the front cover, as I have mentioned above. It consists of two columns on what is in the magazine. Few topics are also mentioned on the front cover as puffs.
The double page spread is an interview with the artist. The image on the first page is of the artist, facing away from the audience. She is giving an indirect mode of address. This could make some of the audiences/readers believe that the artist is really arrogant and they would not like to read on. However some might only read the interview and move on. This is the only image which has revealed the clothes the artist has worn. She has dark clothing on which is the opposite of the bright colours used in the magazine, except the text. The clothing’s are simple which would tell the audience that she is just like them. On the other hand, the background could prove this belief wrong, because she is standing in a photo studio. On the second page the artist in the image is giving a direct mode of address, which again would make the audience feel included in the magazine. This will draw them back after the little break up they might have had due to the image in the first page.
My magazine would be published in local stores such as Tesco’s or Sainsbury’s and would be sold at bookstores such as Waterstone. My magazine is a weekly magazine because it would be issued every week. However, I would keep updates of the latest fashion tips on the online website every three days. This way the audience would not be bored and would keep them up to date with the info. The audience would also have easy access to the updates which they would enjoy.
The images in my magazine are mixed. I have images of my own at least on each page, but I do have images taken that are not mine. The ‘Copyright Law’ would not be such a concern as it is a fashion magazine. I would have to take images which are related to fashion designers and their clothing’s.
The PCC (Press Complaints Commission) allows the audience or readers to make a complaint against anything they found offensive or unsuitable in the media. If there is some kind of offensive text/ image or anything that is wrong they could make a complaint. One of their ‘Codes of Practice’ is Accuracy. The information I have given in the magazine is all true and not a single bit is made up. The interview is not edited after I had taken it. All the information is written down after a lot of research, and made sure that the information is reliable.
To conclude, my magazine has many strengths as it has all the code and convections a mainstream magazine should have. It meets the criteria of the target audience. The magazine is readable. The magazines weaknesses are the images. They could have been more focused and clear.
Annotations
