Journalism

Here are some examples of journalism/blogs presentation techniques that I like, am inspired by, and don't want my magazine to be like.

Perez Hilton is one of the most famous celebrity journalists today, he is known worldwide for being hot on the heels of celebrity gossip and disliked by most of Hollywood for it. His website/blog is very crowded and information is not laid out easily for readers, the design of this website is an example of how I don't want my magazine to look or feel. The reader needs to feel relaxed and in control, not searching frantically for the next bit of information worried that they'll miss it.

Here is an example of newspaper Daily Express' celebrity news section called Day and Night. I regularly skip to this part of the newspaper (in paper format) and I like to tone it is written in, the images are appropriate, and the news is interesting and not just celebrity gossip. They write about upcoming film news, popular music updates; celebrity gossip without the cheap opinions. The writers are able to speak in a way that isn't patronising but does engage you.

Another column from the Daily Express I enjoy reading is Vanessa Felts'. No matter how she has appeared on TV as a celebrity, when reading her articles she comes across very real and just like the rest of us. It's very re-assuring to have that in a writer, to empathise with the reader without patronising them. My magazine will need to connect with the reader to gain their trust and support in the magazine as a brand.

Drawn Flatplan

This is a drawn flat plan for my magazine, it shows the name and slogo I have chosen and the layout for the images and article names etc. My front page main image is yet to be decided but some ideas I have so far are;

• Using an image from the photo shoot with my band
• Reflecting on the slogo and choosing a model to showcase an unusual talent; mime? (could incorporate fashion.) Circus performance? (clown, trapeze, juggling.)

Magazine Presentation

Magazine presentation

View more presentations from Katrina Stapleford.

Flat Plans

This is my front cover plan. This will act as the template for my magazine front cover.

Fonts

These fonts are going to help me to draw up my own font for my masthead. The first font is called Queretarotaro and is stratchy and emphasises on one letter; 'T'. The second font, Tschich, is more clear cut and again emphasises the 'D'. I want a font which pulls attention to one letter or makes one letter larger than the others, I would also like to use a font which is soft and uses curves, like font two, as this would soften the colourful front page. The first font would not be a very font for my front cover as it is too sharp and messy and would only confuse the page. The font Tschich is a good example of what I want to design.

Colour Scheme MoodBoard

 

These are two quick sketches of my front colour layout to show colour co-ordination. The first is full colour, the colours are bright, and too clashing, to tone down these colours I added a black and white copy of the image and changed the opacity of the image to 50%, this gave me the second image. It appears much more toned down now, the colours are more complementary to each other and are not too blinding.



Chosen House styles, Names and fonts etc.

Chosen magazine name; Distinct.

Chosen slogo; Being different gives you a voice.

Chosen house style; I will use bright coloured images, text boxes, words, logos etc against a dull background. The colours however will be toned down using the opacity tool on photo shop which I have shown earlier.

Photo shoot; For my bands photo shoot I will being taking the theme of famous music images but with an original re-imagining. I will try to re-create the flaming guitar but using a guitar soaked in water, paint, or mud, this could be done using photo shop or for real. I would also like to do coloured face-paints inspired by Kiss and Robbie Williams but using inappropriate colours and very un-rock related designs. The very much copied guitar smashing pose could be recreated by smashing one into a pile of soft feather pillows, with feathers thrown in front of the camera as well (in added in post production). My final photo shoot idea is a Slash impression with an ideal wig and clothes but with changes to the face; perhaps a comedy mask, disguise face or comedy glasses.

Magazine Names, House Styles etc

Potential Names and Slogos

• Friday; because no one gets the Monday feeling. - this is one of my favourites and I'm instantly drawn to this name however it may make the magazine out to be focused on clubbing and more leisurely.
• Tomorrow; because it's your world. - this would enhance the idea of the magazine being targeted at aspiring musicians and shows it aims to inspire and not scrutinise young people.
• Runner; get there quicker. - this is better as it suggests the audience can benefit from the magazine, as if the magazine is offering some much needed help. The only problem with this name is the context, as it does seem more like sports magazine without having further knowledge of its content.
• Zone; get in it. This may seem a little like a games magazine name, but it suggests focus and seriousness. This is the magazine which could help artists find their way.
• Stadium; Play to the masses. This is a good name as it represents what I am aiming to put across, it suggests live music, real artists, and instruments, this is a music magazine for professional serious musicians.
• Distinct; find a different path. This suggests something different, a new way of looking at something, a way of infiltrating the gap in the market. It would seem aimed at the minority.

Potential House Styles

• Very colourful. Plain white/cream background with splashes of colour in text boxes, cover lines, title, photos - this seems the better option as it reflects how the target audience feel about their music; they are passionate and in your face.
• Black and white, glossy grey colours, tones down - this could also work but from a different perspective, the audience are mature and intelligent, they will want to read more formal material that is taken seriously.

This may become too dull however, so I may create a mixture of the two by using lots of colours but drain it and make it seem washed out.

Photo shoot Themes

• Classic images from music - This theme would be having the band re-create some classic images from the music world such as the flaming guitar, black and white face paint and the smashing guitar. However the images will be re-imagined such as the flaming guitar becoming a guitar drenched in water or paint, or the smashing guitar being launched into a pile of pillows. This is the theme I think could work best as it looks at real classic music but makes it fun and interesting and not a copycat shoot.

Unique Selling Point

The aim of my magazine is to suit the needs of musicians, or upcoming bands. The magazine should be contemporary but be aimed at young people who take music seriously and want to enter the music bussiness.

Photoshop Example

This a photoshop trial to show the techniques; gaussian blur, marquee tool, and text to create cover lines.

Once the text and rectangle were in place I linked the layers to secure their alignment with each other.

This is an example of opacity change. The layer is duplicated and turned black and white, then the layers opacity is edited to let a certain amount of colour in. This technique could help me with my house style as I want to use toned down colours.