Magazine Features

Magazines share a group of features to match them to a standard magazine layout/format. These features can range slightly between different magazines and publishing companies, however most use them for a familiar reading experience for the consumers.

On the front page, the following features are most common:

• One main image that takes up all of front page
• This attracts the readers attention
• Usually ties in with the main feature article to attract readers 
• Studio photographs usually in medium close-up or mid shot. A studio is used for the environment to be more easily controlled (lighting, background etc.)
• Usually uses direct address (looking directly at you) to draw readers into buying magazine.
• Title (Masthead)
• Trademark, unique font to make it recognisable to readers
• Usually one or two words for memorability. 
• Fills the width of the cover, or is in the top left corner to stand out on cover
• Positioning statement (strap line)
• Puff - offer something else to the magazine such as free giveaways
• Buzz words - Usually with the main feature article. Used to attract attention e.g “Exclusive, free, plus”
• Barcode - This will be positioned at the bottom right, or up the right side.
• Cover line and main cover - Advertising contents etc.
• Strip - across the top or bottom containing lists of items which feature in the magazine so readers can find out whats inside at a quick glance. 
• Colour - small amount used with a simple colour scheme that can vary per issue - often to tie in with the cover shot. This keeps the cover interesting and visually appealing.

• Read - Leads the viewer to tell them where to start reading. Usually shown in large, bold font. 
• Drop capital is very popular with magazines and is used to tell the reader where to start reading from
• Pull quotes, sometimes large to stand out on page
• The name of the article writer
• Usually another photo shown among the text
• Sometimes there could be an icon of some sort to make it noticeable that it is regular content.
• Facts and upcoming important information 
• The headline is the biggest text on the page to attract attention of reader and describe the subject of the article
• Sometimes the double page spread will have an insert
• Quotations within the article

Election Connection

Research is the gathering of information needed for a product/type of media. There are many different types of research, all used for gathering different types of information.

• Secondary Research
• Research already compiled and organised for you.
• Primary Research
• New research carried out to answer a certain question.
• Audience Research
• Information about the audiences lifestyle & economy
• Market Research
• Research to gather information about target markets
• Production Research
• Research to determine what you will need to release the product at end of production

Examples of these are:

• Secondary Research
• Books, Internet, Magazines, Previous polls/questionnaires
• These methods make it easier and faster to gather information, however sometimes cannot be reliable.
• Primary Research
• Questionnaires carried out yourself
• Slower gathering of information, more reliable than secondary research, however questionnaires can sometimes be unreliable (due to people not answering honestly)
• Audience Research
• Questionnaires asking people about their lifestyle and economy
• Useful information about target audiences lifestyle, however shares the same cons as primary research.
• Market Research
• Looking at competing products in the market
• Useful if product is not unique, if product is too similar to others could lead to copyright issues.
• Production Research
• Certification, copyrighting,recce’s, risk assessment
• Needed to legalise product/type of media, can take time but is compulsory.

All of these different types of research have different uses, these are some of the main ones:

• Secondary Research
• Find out information to reach target market/audience
• Primary Research
• Find out information to reach target market/audience
• Audience Research
• To find out about target audience to base product on their needs
• Market Research
• To find out information about competing products to compete against them and meet audiences wants/needs
• Production Research
• To release product legally and safely. To create a satisfactory product for the market

Media/product producers need to carry out this research in order to reach a target market more easily, to compete against competition and to make money.

Genre Research

Presentation Link

VICE

Presentation Link

Pink Analysis

Identify four of the characters that are represented throughout.

How are the representations constructed?

What are these connotations being used?

What statement is the video making?

1. Little girl
2. Rapper girl
3. Gym girl
4. Driving girl

1. Stereotypical girl with ponytails. Watching tv and being influenced by what she sees. Realisation at end of clip and returns to stereotypical girl with her toys after watching tv. Same camera shot throughout in a sitting room. Angel and devil on shoulder situation.

2. Girl with rapper dressed in short skirt etc. Stereotypical for rap music video. Urban background with low angle shot.

3. Running machine girl in sports outfit. Watching other woman in gym and feeling self-conscious. Comparing herself to woman. Set in gym background. Range of shots and angles. Depth of field used to highlight the expression on pinks face.

4. Girl driving whilst on phone. Bags of shopping next to her. Stereotypical rich american teen. No care for others around her. A close up of her face and a mid shot showing some of the car are used. Designer outfit with coffee in hand and phone in other.

I feel that these connotations are being used to portray “stupid girls”. Slight element of comedy as all characters are obviously a mick take. I feel that the video is trying to make a statement about how stupid some people are. Pink wants to be a role model and doesnt want people to think that she is one of the “stupid girls”.