Comparing institutions

The most evident similarity between NME and Q magazine would be the colour scheme used, both magazines use a colour scheme that mainly consists of black white and red but the main difference between the magazines is that NME has an informal layout whereas Q magazine has a formal layout. As a result this makes the magazines not look like each other although the same colour scheme is used.

Both magazines use well known celebrities where neither magazine have a set genre so each artist used on the front covers would not be from the same genre each week the magazine is published. 

Both magazines include the main codes and conventions in their magazines, which makes them successful, they both have a distinguished name and logo for their magazine as well as including a large main image of the artist, main story line, cover stories and flash news. These are used in order to show what is inside the magazine to get the reader to buy the magazine to read the articles.

Annotations & typography of front cover

The masthead of NME is bold and red, it is always placed on the top left hand side of the magazine. The colours used in the masthead are black, white and red which are distinguished colours that are always known to be related to NME magazine therefore is recognizable for the readers.
The main image used on the magazine front cover is not directly in the center of the magazine as it a little to the right of the thirds rule which makes the composition more interesting. Anchorage text is used many times on the front cover, it is text that are underneath the smaller images. This text attracts the readers to read the inside stories.
The main text on the front cover is "Broken man?" which entices the reader to read the story to go with the caption, this text is in a different colour to the rest of the text on the front cover, it is white text on a black background which makes it stand out.
In the flash news, it follows the same colour scheme although the colours used are mixed around meaning the white text on the red background can be found nowhere else on the front page.
the cover lines are are poisitioned either side of the main image which give an insight to what the other stories inside the magazine are about. these are not as imoportant as the main story, this is shown as they are smaller sizes and are not the main focus of the magazine front cover. the colours used are still part of the main colour scheme where they make the magazine as a whole look more professional and recognisable.

My school magazine flat plan

A mock layout for my school magazine.

Front cover.

Contents page.

Audience Research

Layout draft for my music magazine

Layout draft of music magazine

Front cover draft

Contents page draft

Double page spread draft

This is my flat plan for what my magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread will look like. The language I will use throughout my magazine will be well spoken English, although not too formal that the reader will lose interest.

For my front cover, I decided for the main focus of the magazine to be a main picture of a single celebrity so the focus is solely on them and their story alone. I will also include inside and exclusive stories and little bits of information that can be found if you read inside the magazine. My masthead is big and therefore will stand out so it is eye catching to the audience, I will also include strapline, top and bottom strip and the barcode, date, issue number and price on my front cover which are the codes and conventions you expect to find.

On my contents page I will include pictures of the artists which relate with the stories I will have inside my magazine, which will be listed on my contents page. I will write the features of what you can find inside the magazine and the regulars which can be found inside every issue of my magazine. My main picture will be of my celebrity as they are the main focus of this issue of my magazine, I will put 'new album' next to the picture as well so it is clear that the artist is the one with the new album.

From researching double page spreads in magazines it is common to have one main picture of the artist on one A4 side of the magazine to gain the attention of the reader as it is a large image. I am doing this on my double page spread as it is a common feature used. On the left hand side of my page I will have the title of the article, followed by a quote from the artist, then the starting of the article in a larger bolder font, then I will continue the rest of my article below. Throughout my article I will have pictures of my artist and her album. My article will be an informative piece of writing about a new release of the album and where you can buy it etc.