Here is the first draft of my contents page.

Please click to view a PDF.

Overall, I need to improve this contents page a huge amount. Here are a few suggestions and ideas to experiment with in order to improve it:

• Make the group photo larger and perhaps consider using another photo for the single shot above.
• Experiment with the shapes containing the page numbers in; perhaps I could just outline my stars in the orange colour.
• There is also a lot I need to add to it to complete it like catchy captions for my article headings, social media logos for where to find the magazine online and finally perhaps adding an editors hello.

Before beginning to design my own contents page it was important to do some research into other examples of contents pages in music magazines. A contents page highlights what’s featured in the magazine and clearly lays out what’s where so the magazine is easy to navigate.

Some technical conventions of a contents page are:

• Page numbers
• Hyperbole and superlatives in headlines to get the reader hooked
• Image/s
• Graphic illustrations and designs
• Reminder of the magazine’s name and mission statement
• Fonts and a colour scheme coherent with the rest of the magazine
• The editors hello
• It is most often situated on the page 3 of the magazine and is only across a single page

Below are some ideas for layout designs of my contents page and a few catchy headlines:

Reflecting on the feedback on my first draft of my double page spread I was able to produce a second draft I was happy with.

Please click to view a PDF.

What have I changed?

• I’ve added a standfirst.
• I changed the font of ‘Sonny Rain’ and ‘A New Perspective’ so that it is easier to read, whilst still matching a font from the cover of the magazine.
• I added a byline and photographer.
• I also added another photo to fill the space and make it more interesting.

I think that my DPS reflects the country-folk genre well as the colour scheme includes reds, oranges and yellows which are all warm colours and reflective of the country genre. Also the fonts used are very well-suited to the country genre as they have that western feel, as well as matching the front cover fonts well. This is very important so the magazine feels coherent and themed. Finally, I do think the models costume fits the folk category of country which was what I was aiming for as she looks free, whimsical and very boho-chic.

In order to improve my DPS for my next draft, I need to check the alignment of my article and make sure all of the text is clear and easy to read. I could also consider brightening the spread as country music feels warm and homely and at the moment the white and black seems colder.

Reflecting on my first draft of my double page spread, I recognise I need to add some essential conventions such as a stand-first and a byline. I would also like to make use of the empty space a bit more by perhaps wrapping the text around the triangle with my model in.

Some feedback from one of my peers, Amy Grief:

• I don’t like the font of Sonny Rain.
• Add another quote.
• Add a byline and photographer.
• Fill the black gap to the right of the triangle.

Next I would like to use my own targets and the feedback of my peers to make my magazine more conventional of the genre of country and to make sure the layout is clear so that the article can be easily read.

Here is my first draft of my double page spread:

Please click to see the PDF.

My targets:

• I need a stand-first.
• Experiment with the opacity of the image and flowers separately.
• Check why and make sure the paint lines aren’t out of focus.
• Change the font of Sonny Rain so it’s easier to read.
• Add a byline and who took the photo.

After a day out at a local castle; Castle Cornet, I was able to produce some images I am really happy with from this successful location shoot.

Below are my contact sheets from the location shoot for my magazine. Please click on each one to see a full PDF.

Here are my favourite 5 photos:

I feel happy with the images I was able to capture. They met my aims of being focused, and they were interesting enough to be able to attach a narrative to them. I feel I was able to capture a variety of shots as well, including group shots that I will be able to insert throughout my magazine.

From the feedback on the previous draft I was able to add to my article and improve it. Below is my third draft:

Please click to go to my 3rd draft.

I added punctuation to help the article flow, and clarified at the beginning of the article, who I was talking about. This should help the audience to understand more clearly who I am referring to.

My target for my next draft is to carefully review if the article is appropriate for my target audience and to adapt it so it is the most interesting for them to read.

I drafted the article for my double-page spread. Here is my read-through of the first draft:

From this read through I created some targets for my next draft:

• Add punctuation to make it flow better.
• Check my sentence structure.
• Find some better adjectives and some synonyms for words I repeated.

Reflecting on these targets, I constructed the second draft of my article.

Please click to view the article.

My teacher provided me with some targets:

• Add punctuation to make it flow more.
• Make sure it’s clear who you’re talking about, introduce Tami Cole as a whole.

I have carried out some research into what I should include in the article on my double-page spread of my magazine. From this research I have been able to plan my article. Below is my plan; please click to be redirected to the document in full:

Please click to view the article I analysed.

‘Billboard (June 20 2015), Adam Lambert: Don’t look back’

In order to gain an understanding of articles in music magazines I analysed an interview of Adam Lambert in Billboard magazine. In the article, we are not aware of the presence of the journalist as we only hear from Adam himself.  This creates a conversation-like atmosphere to the article and makes the reader feel like they are closer to the star and more involved and included with them. The interview is written in third person, with quotes from Lambert himself. This helps to remind the audience of his success and star power.

There is a clear structure to the article. The introduction sets the scene for the article as it introduces Adam Lambert as untouchable when it says “ready to kick some ass” and he’s “sauntering through a penthouse” in “Hollywood.” This makes the target audience of teens interested in what he has to say as he is presented as rebellious and powerful, which is something they would look up to. Then we move into the interview which is very honest and real. This makes the audience feel like they know Lambert and can relate to him as he talks about every day things. Finally, in the conclusion Lambert reflects on life and ends with a question which gives us a clear ending to the article. Also the writing helps to communicate the article and its genre as it’s very bold and simple with hints of colour, which fits with the pop genre of the magazine.

The audience is made to feel sympathy for Adam Lambert as he says early on in the article “It’s hard for me to be happy with things.” Later in the article he becomes more positive focusing on the future, which helps the readers to view him as powerful and untouchable after seeing his vulnerabilities.

Overall, I think that Adam Lambert is presented as rebellious, untouchable and successful, whilst at the same time proving to be relatable, real and honest. This is a good use of  Richard Dyer’s Paradox of the Star theory and how we can view these stars as both ordinary and extraordinary.