Plan of masthead

I used adobe illustrator to make a plan of my masthead. In my opinion don't enjoy using the software, as you could see by my creation that it didn't come out to plan. However, I do believe the software is very useful when it comes to creating things. I used a tool to make the e on my express curved.

Distribution of Magazines

Distribution of magazine 

Online 
A magazine such as XXL would use social networking to promote their magazine, as networking is becoming more common globally. Website such as snapchat and facebook allows targeted audience to get fully involve. As facebook may have a web page specially dedicated to magazine readers; this would create community of fans. This would appeal to people in early teen 16 to mid 20s. Social networks meets the need for the targeted audience as it provides updates from the magazine, giving the glimpses of what is in stock, and they carry out the advertisement by making it unavoidable as it being on social media would automatically catch the attention of the reader.  As it's a music magazine it is likely to be presented on apps such as Spotify and deezer, this could be added to a person playlist and if the person favourites that particular song, they are likely to enjoy reading the content of the music magazine and this would lead them to making a purchase.

Regular readers of magazines are likely to subscribe to a number of issues, and this would make magazine be posted to them, and this usually at a discounted price. This is easier for the audience, and ensures a regular readership for the magazine.

Shops
Local shops and supermarkets are the most common form of magazine distribution as the magazine are placed on shops shelves. Magazine are usually bought in newsagents and high street shops like WHSmith and Foyles. Magazine are publishers are likely to make their magazine front cover and contents page vibrant and different as their would be many other competitive magazine publishers

Apps 
Technology has become one of main priority- Magazine could promote their magazine using apps within phone, laptops and tablet this would mostly be target at teenagers as apps is modern and is a good resource to promote and magazine and also publish. Publisher could create an app on app stores that could be downloaded to make sells. This is a benefit for publisher and the consumer as the publisher saves money printing out copies and earns money from downloads, and the magazine is portable and  everything would be in one place. XXL company would see a major rise in young people reading magazine and also see an increase in their salary.

Media Content Page

Incomplete Media magazine

Not completed

Kendrick Lamar XXL media kit

This is the media kit for the XXL magazine, from this survey we can conclude that male read the XXL magazine more than female. This could be because celebrities Like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna are shown pictured on the magazine exposing some of their skin which is likely to attract more male readers. This could also be because the Hip-hop genre is mostly male and males are likely to relate with the same sex doing something their enjoy. The Majority of people that buy the magazine are 25-29 year old from the African-American ethnicity. This is because the magazine mostly include the black ethnicity and this would make them feel proud of the achievements. The reason their is a high percentage of higher reader is because they are likely to able to afford the magazine as they might have a higher income  than the younger readers. The percentage stated is 21+ is 83%. The other reason why it may be older readers as the magazine contains explicit images.  The income for the magazine is High and this could conclude is what is making the business carry on.

XXL magazine Kendrick Lamar

Front cover analysis

The XXL 'in my own words' magazine is a close up of the artist Kendrick Lamar who dominants the magazine covers, the mast head is bold and highlighted with a vibrant white with a red background. The background is contrasted with a purple background . The contrast between the colours purple and green, makes the image of Kendrick stand out as it make eye catching, the photo is presented with the artist Kendrick Lamar who is capture from front motion; this makes eye catching for the reader. The font of he masthead is basic and sophisticated will attract the readers. The colours scheme for this magazine is unique to magazine , the front page has a four colour scheme. Even Though the colour is different from usually magazine, as the blend of the green and purple work very well with the main image. The main is representative of a spotlight. The range of colours cold be beneficial for a wide range of readers as the purple could attract a wide range of readers as the purple could attract the younger readers as well as the older readers. The costume of the white shirt which is worn to fit the magazine diversity of colours. Lastly, the image is a close up shot to demonstrate the facial expression on the artist face.

Content page analysis

The contents page is presented with a header which is located to the left of the magazine, the colour that is used is white and the font is enlarged bold and typed in caps lock. The fact that it is caps lock it creates and exciting vibe for the reader, as it an effective way of grabbing the readers attention as its the initial thing the reader sees. The image is captured in a long shot and clothing that is worn is black and white and this contrast with what the text. The text is formatted onto one column, this makes it look organised and classy and also the numbers are in chronological order, the fact that it is neat it doesn't lose the readers attention. The article uses direct address as one of the subheading says "pay attention" this would make the audience feel involved. The xxl magazine has two contents pages, the A sides and B side which could refer to records as they have two sides.

The double page spread is missing a title, however the article is clear it is about Kendrick as the page shows a full body shot of him. The garment worn of Kendrick includes the show of socks which shows him a casual person. Also the full body image is to reveal the whole facial attitude and body gesture The article begins with bold text " a lot of times in interview" which could mean that he wants a say in something and he wants to be heard and its a way of getting his voice out. The font size remains the same throughout the article this could be done to keep it neat and presentable. However the font size at the beginning was larger than the rest of the text, as the into is more important. The fact the intro is larger it will attract the audience and the larger writing represent a contrast between smaller and bigger text. The background for the photoshoot, one side differs from the other; one side is green and the other is pink and their is no relationship between the two colours, however the colours used could attract both male and female. Lastly, the language of the text is formal therefore this is directed for mature readers of the XXL magazine.

College magazine plan

This is my college magazine plan that I will be following, I will be creating my cover page on Photoshop and my contents page on in design.

Photoshop magazine

Today, I learnt how to use the basic tools on Photoshop. I learnt how to add an image and stretch it out onto A4 page, and I also added a simple masthead-  and I added a cover line at the bottom and a simple barcode. However, my photo shop magazine is still incomplete, and I still need to edit and add a few things for example the date, issue number and price and I also need to make the font bigger.

Media Double page spread

Double page spreadsheet

The long shot image of celebrities takes up the middle of the, drawing the readers eye to them. The fact that the image is placed in the middle indicates they are the focus of the page. This also makes the reader have a glimpse of the artists, as the artist are numbered to description, therefore the reader can choose who they want to read on about. In the image it differs from the front cover as the celebrities are no longer wearing white and their is a range of colours from red to blue.  The facial expression shown varies and goes from being smiley with teeth shown to being serious with a chilled- relaxed look. This could intrigue the readers, as this look of magazine could symbolises  uniqueness.

The mid angle shot gives a clearer view of the artist faces which helps to identify facial expression and also brings of direct interaction feeling.

XXl placed their website link on the bottom right hand corner, next to the page number and the date. This so readers could have access to their web page.
 The Layout of the text is neat and in one column, this layout fits perfectly with the image placement. The text is labelled with a heading of the celebrity name in red and is placed with a description in black underneath.

Media XXL - The new wave

Media XXL
The  New wave
The shot type for this magazine is a wide shot and it capture the music artist full body. The lighting is pulled further away this produces a bold lighting and captures the faces of the music artist and the lighting goes elegantly with the shade they are wearing this emphasis the whole  group image. The clothing is  casual white clothing, this goes well with the whole magazine back cover image. The props that they used in the image is a lot of heavy gold chains and watches which is creates a image of power and wealth. The magazine shows a sense of individuality, as the artist are captured with their own unique poses and their hair style differ from one another.

Front cover Analysis

The main image has direct eye contact with the audience to attract them to the magazine. The music artist dominates the whole page. The main colour scheme is White, blue and black. The colours used clashes with one another.  The 'XXL' logo is featured top left on the page, intentionally, this is maybe done because everyone reads from the left to the right. Therefore this will be the first thing the reader would see, the logo is also bold with a vibrant red and white colour which dominants the magazine.

The magazine also list featured artist name on the right of the magazine, this to promote the magazine, as this is more likely to attract a wide range of people. Readers are likely to buy the magazine knowing that favourite artist is feature inside, so they can know more about them.

Content Page Analysis

MastHead: The main heading of XXL content page 'the A-SIDE' this is the name XXL gives their content page.  The magazine gives the magazine two contents page the second content page is know as the B-side. I will only be analyzing the A-Side magazine, as the A- side is the main content page, that contains the pages for most important information. The fact the magazine labels it content pages,  shows XXL uniqueness.

Crosshead: The content page has a bold subheading which highlights what the magazine features. The subheading is numbered this informs the reader what page their on and where to go to find what they are interesting in. The description underneath gives a summary of what page contains.

The XXL logo: This has been place on the left of the magazine in red and white to stand out and remind the readers what magazine they are reading.

Image: Is of group of popular artist posing, which is the largest image on the magazine, which would allow the magazine to attract their fans. The image shows a mise en scene of gangster look from the celebrities with all of them wearing huge gold jewellery.

Media Kit

Publisher: Town square media
Editor-in chief: Vanessa Sattern
Managing Editor: Dan Rhys

In 2011, XXL magazine claimed to be NO.1 selling on magazine with 103,617 single copy sales. In 2008 XXL had a survey to find out more about the target reader on their magazine.

                       

Monthly  vistors :
1,014,085

Monthly page views:
5,281,435

XXL Magazine mission is to a mature, and intelligent approach to hip-hop, with an feeling on the music and lifestyle that are heart and soul of the music culture. XXL keeps up to date with Hip-Hop energy and targets the trendsetter who live for modern music.