Audience Profile of Mixmag magazine

Mixmag (Dance magazine)

Title- Mixmag

Price- £4.20

Title Connotation- The title of the magazine suggests that the magazine is a mixture of different events and stories based around the genre of dance.

Inducements- This magazine includes a free music CD. Chances to win a VIP trip with famous artists and tickets to a party.

The cover

The genre, dance is contrasted through the front cover by images, text, colour, font and the inducements.

There is a main image on the magazine of two male men dressed in animal costumes which links with the main story of the magazine, which is written in big bold text in the middle of the cover. This helps with the eye catching image of the magazine to the readers and holds a simple layout which is not crammed and unreadable.

The wording of the page indulges the reader into the magazine by the different sizes, fonts, colours and effects the text contain. The big, bright, bold orange title for example stands out from the rest of the cover. The heading for the main story is also in a bright orange colour but is placed in the middle of the cover and overlaps the image. The rest of the information on the cover is dotted around the sides of the page, using black, white and orange to keep with the 'theme' of the magazine. All the use of colour and bold text helps with the magazines image and applies a sense of attraction to the reader.

The use of colour on the front cover is based on bright, bold and strong colours. As I mentioned above the black, white and orange are contrasted well in order to create attention to the reader's eye. I also find that these colours stand out well from the grey background.

The font used for the magazine varies from the different "story or information" being told on the front cover. The bolder the text, the more 'important or exciting' the information is. The font is simple but yet effective on the front cover of mixmag.

I think the magazine goes well with the genre being portrayed. I think the message being sent to the reader is be wild, enjoy the music and have loads of fun clubbing. Overall all aspects of the magazine links well with the genre of dance. It's very attracting by the colours and is the best selling magazine in the UK of this genre.

Textual analysis of NME

1. Look at how the audience is attracted through;

a- Design (Front cover/Inside ect.)

b- Promotion (Freebies/Adverts/Gigs, Festivals invites ect.)

c- Content (Articles/Interviews/Posters/Text.)

d- Language (Informal/Formal/Slang ect.)

We were also asked to examine how the details are linked to the targeted audience of the magazine.

1a. They are attracted through the design by;

By the front cover; this is portrayed by both the dark and light colours. It is a contrast of red, white and black. This is the same colours used for the title of the magazine. It uses a big picture of a single male, probably from a band which makes the magazine more eye catchy. There is a big bold heading of the main story and the rest of the text is medium sized but still bold and standing out. The colour theme may be linked to the genre of the music 'style' of the target audience. Another attraction could be the simple layout as it is understandable and not crammed.

For the inside of the cover; it's also attracted by the bright, bold colours just like the front cover. Some may like the idea of crammed pages with overwhelming text rather than images but much concentration is needed to understand the articles on the other hand this a downfall because

a lot of readers may not find the magazine intriguing. This is linked to the target audience by the simple use of colours and large image. This makes the magazine more interesting for those who are rock lovers and won't astray from the magazine.

1b. They are attracted through promotion by;

This is done by a variety of different adverts including adverts for; music, fashion and technology. The use of adverts for Gigs, Festivals and Concerts and competitions are done for the promotional use and to invite the lovers for that type of music genre to the upcoming events. This is linked to the target audience by the cleverly use of inducements which is all in the interest of the reader of the magazine.

1c. They will be attracted through content by;

The different text, articles and interviews that consists in this magazine. The variety of articles on many festivals, gigs, concerts and lots of bands will interest and links with the readers of NME magazine's. The interviews included on different artists and bands grab those who enjoying finding out more about their favourites. Although the material included is catching the text is found far too small.

1d. They will be attracted through language by;

The use of the language in their articles may attract these readers as they are in this style of music lifestyle. NME is not that straight forward as Kerrang but still uses some inappropriate language. They also use slang and short term words in these articles which hooks these readers. This links in with the target audience because the rock lovers are seen to be quite 'rude' and loud in the speaking. So the magazine will be easily understood by it's upfront readers.

Analysis of NME and Kerrang magazine

Our task was to analyse and compare two music magazines of roughly the same genre. This was rock and Indie.

NME

Layout:

-Big picture across the cover. (A medium-close-up shot of a man)

-Title of the magazine is on the top left corner.

-List of contents of consits in the magazine is at the top and bottom of the page.

-Barcode on the middle-right of the page.

-Red, white and black house style, follows the title.

-Price of the magazine under the title.

-Big bold font of the main story- stand out to the reader.

-Most text on the left and mainly bold.

-Dark/Bright look is simple but effective.

-Message; Outspoken and linked to the genre.

Audience Profile:

-Age; Teenagers to young Adults (15-25)

-Gender; Mainly male but targeted to females too.

-Occupation; Students mainly, music lifestyle.

-Interests; Music, gigs, festivals, hardcore music.

How are they targeted?

1. The style of the magazine

2. Range of bands

3. Price of the magazine

Inside the magazine:

1. I think it does fulfill expectations of the front cover as it contains the stories and content of the aimed genre. It has articles of gigs, festivals, bands and other intrests that attract the readers of the magazine.

2. I picked out an article that I read. It used some formal language and contained 'slang' such as "Glasto" which is short for Glastonbury. Apart from the above, the article is laid out simply and uses short and straight to the point sentences.

Advertising:

There are mainly adverts for mobiles, trainers, laptops ect. These are the things that this magazine would think that this age group would be focused on buying. It also includes adverts for Gigs, Festivals ect. This goes with the whole 'Rock, Indie genre of the magazine as well as being a music magazine.

Interactivity:

- People's opinion page.

- Invites to Gigs and Festivals.

Kerrang

Layout:

- Big Title in white makes it stand out. Has a font effect.

- Small picture in the top right corner, small bold text links with image.

- Big bold text for main story.

- Pink colour in some areas- to do with Valentines occasion.

- Big picture in the middle of the page.

Audience Profile:

-Age; Teenagers to young Adults (15-25)

-Gender; Mainly both.

-Occupation; Students mainly, music lifestyle.

-Interests; Music, gigs, festivals, fashion (bands).

How are they targeted?

1. The style of the magazine and the idea of the Valentines 'love'.

2. Range of bands and backstage stuff

3. Price of the magazine

Inside the magazine:

1. I think it does fulfill the expectations of the front cover as it is more inclusive and has more brighter themes. (Pink for Valentines).

2. Slightly the same as NME; Honest, upfront, "says what they like".

Advertising:

There are mainly adverts for mobiles, trainers, laptops ect. These are the things that this magazine would think that this age group would be focused on buying. (Like NME) It also includes adverts for Gigs, Festivals ect. This goes with the whole 'Rock, Indie genre of the magazine as well as being a music magazine. It also includes different information on what the bands do on Valentines day ect.

Interactivity:

- People's opinion page.

- Invites to Gigs and Festivals.

Evaluation of school magazine

Our task was to design and create a front cover and contents page for a school magazine. We had practiced using Photoshop before engaging with this task. We have looked at other examples of previous work and compared them on their appearance and layout.

I have used a variety of images that we have taken with cameras in groups. I have manipulated and changed some of the pictures in Photoshop. I have arranged them in a layout suitable to my plan.

I have used the St. Marks title and pasted it on the front cover as this is the title of the school's magazine. I have used a effect on the title, which makes it seem roughed and blended with the background. Under the title I added text saying, "Magazine", this way the reader knows what the product is. I have included the logo of the school as it represents the "identity" of the St. Marks. I then used a picture of a classroom with students, which I used the same effect as the title and slightly decreased the contrast. I then used a picture of the front of school. I used again the same effect as the title and pasted diagonally on the page. At the bottom of the page I placed a picture of a group of students doing P.E. I used a different effect this time. This effect makes the pictures look like it has been blasted into 3D blocks.

I inserted two star speech bubbles on the front page. I have put in a quote of a 6th former and a information piece of the magazine inside.

On the contents page I have placed a big title at the top, created in Word Art. It also has roughly the same colour theme as the background and title. Underneath, there is the list of contents aligned to the middle. Simple, black text and the number of the pages clearly set out. At the bottom of the page I have two pictures. One is of a piece of art by a student at St. Marks. (Bottom-right) and the other is of a 6th form student at a computer. With this picture I have used another effect which makes the picture look cartoonish and slightly faded.

Strengths - Simple layout, colourful, not overcrowded, includes what is expected, variety of pictures, effects used.

Weaknesses - Maybe too simple, little knowledge of the effects available on Photoshop, Not so eye catchy.

I would change the effects I have used, probably the colour scheme but only slightly, use different pictures and insert a bit more text.

From this task I have learn't how to construct and develop a front cover and contents page for a school magazine using a simple program called Photoshop.

Textually analysed magazine front cover

At the top of the page there is black text on a yellow strip, this way the text will stand out to the reader. There is a small picture of the racing car being talked about in the text next to it. Underneath is the masthead which includes a big title of the magazine in white which clearly stands out from the red behind. It also has the date, price and website address. There is a small flag picture attached to the 'A' letter of the title, giving the effect of a racing title. The last thing included under the title, in the masthead is the short words which mentions the stuff that is involved inside the magazine. Underneath the masthead is a big picture of a F1 racing car which links to the main story. This is shown in big 'slang' words in black on the left of the picture. Under that is the name of an article writer and the different points he has written about. All in white which stands out on the red.

In the bottom right hand corner there is the bar code of the magazine. On the left there is text in bold red and some in black. Both are on the yellow colour used at the top. This stands out yet again to the reader, which mentions two other main stories inside. To the left corner is a picture of a rally car which is connected to the story next to it.

Overall I think it's a good front cover, not packed and understandable. It uses a colour house style throughout. I like this magazine's front cover.

Planning preliminary task

Today we had a look at our textual analysis of different front covers from magazines.

I planned my front cover and contents page in my exercise book. This gave me the chance to move about the images and text to my liking.

I think my plan is good and will be starting on my front cover soon.