My NOISE front cover- first draft

Inspirations from DPS research.

I have decided, following the research I carried out on magazine double-page-spreads, that my image should be the main focus of the two pages, to assert both the dominance and importance of the model to the magazine. The title should be bold and stand out against the background, which in itself, should be relatively blank. The writing should be as small as possible, to ensure as much can be fit onto the two pages, but also big enough to actually read. The model should be dressed according to the colour scheme of black, white and red.

Link to Flickr- first photographs

Here are the links to the first photographs I took for Media.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/104186552@N02/10154953296/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/104186552@N02/10154920066/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/104186552@N02/10154733184/

Re-planning photoshoots

There was a change in my model and locations when coming to the photo-shoots. My friend Victoria was initially going to model for the cover and DPS, but was I had to reschedule, due to a faulty camera. I eventually borrowed one form school and asked my other friend, Katie, to model for the cover and DPS instead. I eventually did get pictures of Victoria, which I am going to use in my contents page.

Mock up of DPS

Although we are producing the same magazine, we are both working on different issues. We decided the house style of the DPS could differ in each issue, as it is a different model and interview being used each time. This is the potential draft of my DPS.

Mock up of contents page

Here is our first draft of a house style for a contents page in NOISE magazine.

Mock up of front cover

Here is our first draft of a potential cover house style for NOISE magazine.

Link to Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/104186552@N02/10993277864/

The link to my first idea for a photograph for a cover.

Q Double Page Spread Analysis

This is a double-page spread from Q magazine. This DPS is different to the others, in that the picture is smaller. Adam is still looking directly into the camera, for a more personal feeling. The quotation above the title, "NOBODY COULD HAVE STOPPED ME" is intriguing and would make people want to read on, to discover what it is he's talking about. He's dressed according to the colour scheme of the page, and magazine in general. He's posed to purposely show his tattoos and jewellery, to assert the genre of his music.

HAMMER Double Page Spread Analysis

This is the DPS for HAMMER magazine, which is featuring Metallica. There is a reoccurring theme in heavy music magazines, for using a contrast of light and dark colours in the colour scheme.
There is a design on the right page, which I think was put there to avoid white space, and make the page look fuller.
The font on the title has flicks under the first letter of every word, which I think gives the font a more "heavy-metal" approach.

KERRANG! Double Page Spread Analysis

This is a double-page spread from Kerrang!. The main image takes over half of the whole of the two pages, making it clear, dominant, and quite powerful.

The colour scheme of the page matches Gerard's (lead) outfit, which I think emphasises the fact that he is the lead, "Most important" member. This is also why he is in front of Frank, Ray and Mikey in the actual picture.

The two pages are very neat, with the text in a large box out, to make it stand out against the striking image of the band.

Target Audience questionnaire- conclusions

Overall, I have decided that NOISE should be aimed at 15-20 year olds, and slightly higher. The colour scheme should be black, white and red. The models should be posed with vacant and sometimes aggressive expressions. The interviews are more likely to persuade someone to buy the magazine than anything else. The magazine should be priced between £2 and £2.50. it is important to include gig info, interviews and upcoming bands in my magazine, to suit everyone's interests. Teens and students are most likely to be interested, with the occasional parent and most importantly, people have noticed a gap in the market for a grunge/indie magazine.

TA Research Results

I surveyed 10 people from different ages and backgrounds. Here are my results.

Overall, 70% thought the magazine should be aimed at 15-20 year olds.
50% thought black, white and red were the best colours for the magazine.
40% thought models should have vacant expressions and another 40% thought aggressive.
50% would be encouraged to buy the magazine because of interviews.
60% would be willing to pay £2-2.50 for the magazine.
50% thought gig info, interviews and upcoming bands should all feature in the magazine.
80% thought either students or teens would be interested in the magazine.
70% thought there was a gap in the market for a grunge/indie magazine.

Target Audience Research- blank questionnaire

 

This is my survey regarding my magazine.

Photoshoot illustration- Cover

This was an idea for the pose, model and location of the photo for the cover of my magazine. SInce drawing the illustration, only the model changed.

Photoshoot illustration- Double Page Spread

Here is an illustration of my first idea for a photo for the Double Page spread. Since drawing this, my model changed, but the pose is still the same.

Photoshoot plan, Double Page Spread

Photoshoot plan, Cover

Photoshoot plan, Contents page

Photoshoot illustration- Contents page

This is an illustration I drew as an idea for a photo for the contents page of my magazine. The model and pose changed since drawing it.

NME Double Page Spread Analysis

This is a double page spread from NME. It features Sergio Pizzorno (Kasabian). His image, like that of the My Chemical Romance boys in the Kerrang DPS, takes up most of the two pages, asserting his status as musical legend and importance to the magazine. The white space behind Serge is more-or-less hidden with details on the wall he is stood in front of. He is looking directly into the camera with his hand against the wall, in a kind of posing fashion. Although he is posing, he looks casual.

Possible accessories mood-board- Celtx

I think grunge, although it is quite simplistic in style, requires some accessories to give a more defined look. The look is supposed to be lazy and laid-back, while also looking trendy.

Possible outfit ideas mood-board- Celtx

These are my potential outfits for a grunge photo-shoot, which I think are laid-back, and combined with the hair and makeup would make for a very "grunge" look, which is supposed to imply that the person wearing the clotehs doesn't care about what they look like.

Possible make-up styles mood-board- Celtx

I think the makeup is a very important part of the grunge look. through this research, I have discovered that the skin should look as pale as possible, with darker shades around the eyes. The lids and underneath of the eyes should both be the same dark, or pink, colour. The features of the face, especially the eyebrows, should be defined. I think it makes them look ill and combined with the hair, could create a grunge superstar.

Possible hairstyles mood-board- Celtx

This is my mood-board for possible hairstyles for my photo-shoots, which I produced on Celtx. As the magazine I am doing specialises in grunge and indie music, I am trying to make the hair of my model especially "grungey". Grunge hairstyles are usually quite lazy and natural, yet are effective in that they are simplistic. They are supposed to give an impression that she doesn't care. 

Recreation of Contents Page- Kerrang!

Here is my copied contents page from Kerrang!. I tried to make it as similar to an actual contents page from the magazine as I could, following the fonts, pictures, colour theme and house style.

Evaluation of Key Skills- Magazines

Lastly, I have learnt about magazines. The editors of the magazines do everything deliberately. Even the smallest of details on a page was planned carefully and intelligently. The masthead of the magazine itself is usually at the top of the front cover, to ensure people can find it, even if it is at the back of the shelf in a shop, stacked behind others. The masthead is usually bold, to also ensure the audience can locate it in a store. The photography used on the cover is always relevant to the genre of the magazine and will usually include a well-known person, to ensure people become intrigued by it. If the front cover features someone who the audience is particularly interested in, they may buy it out of habit, rather than the magazine they would usually go for. The model usually promotes the magazine itself. Especially if they are popular.

Evaluation of Key Skills- Adobe

Adobe Elements 11 can be found on the "Finder" icon on the bottom left hand side of the screen. Once clicked, access "Applications" on the left side and find Adobe Elements 11. A photo can be opened onto the program by clicking "open" on the top left side and finding the photo you want form the Mac's files or a memory stick. The photo can be manipulated on the program, such as teeth-whitening, spot-healing and text can also be added. If the end result is saved as a "psd" file, this means it can only be opened on Adobe programs, as no other software can support it. If it is saved as a "jpeg" file, it can be opened nearly everywhere. Saving a manipulated photo from Elements 11 as a psd file will save the layers the picture is made up of, for example, the picture itself, the writing, the spot healing, so they can be changed later on. If it is saved as a jpeg file, it will be flattened as one layer, and will not allow further manipulation of existing features, for example, you would not be able to change to text on the picture.

Evaluation of Key Skills- Cameras

I've learnt that every camera is different. They all have similar functions, yet the buttons and features are in different places. An expensive camera is not necessarily needed to ensure good quality photographs. 

Keeping that in mind, I'd say the lighting, model's make up, clothes, pose and location are what makes a good photograph. The Rule of Thirds is also an important factor in taking good quality pictures. If you were shooting for a music magazine that specialised in punk rock, having a girl in a pink floral dress with ribbons in her hair would make no sense. Dressing the model to complement the style of the magazine is important, to make the picture relevant and also to advertise the magazine itself, allowing people to see which genre is inside. The same goes for the make-up. It tends to look more natural in a pop magazine, for example. The location is important too. What's the point in having a picture of Justin Bieber surrounded by guitars? Or Slipknot in a pre-school? It wouldn't make sense. The model and location have to complement each other and have relevance to the magazine. The lighting needs to be appropriate also. Whether the picture is dark or bright is up to the photographer, however, using a light background in a pop magazine would make more sense than using a dark one. Everything in a picture is a representation of something else. For example, using a black background in a photo shoot would suggest the magazine genre is heavier than one with a baby pink background. However, the face must be lit so the audience can actually see who it is, and also to get a clear photograph of the person. Following "The Rule of Thirds" can also create a good photograph. I have learnt what the "rule" actually is. On some cameras, the screen can be split into nine small squares, 3x3. If the main focus of the photograph lies on on of the intersections of the lines created on the screen, it follows the rule. It is more of a guideline than an actual rule in photography, but it makes pictures look "right".

Inspiration from Front cover analysis research

I think my cover needs to be busy, yet professional-looking, like that of Kerrang! or HAMMER. The pictures on the covers of those magazines, which I feel relate closest to NOISE generally have quite powerful models in them, who assert their dominance through pose, clothing and expression. As K! and HAMMER are alternative rock/heavy metal magazines, the models will probably be infamous for their style (for example, Billie Joe Armstrong -GREEN DAY- with his shirt, tie and sticky up hair, and Corey Taylor -SLIPKNOT- with his mask) and would need to look aggressive, to match with the magazine's genre. My picture needs to be of someone who could be admired and have a recognisable and distinct style.

Initial ideas- house style

The house style of my magazine needs to be relatively clustered, as the magazines which dealt with heavier music are generally very bus, to match both the genre of music they represent and also the lives of the young people who read it.

Inspiration from Contents page analysis research

I have been inspired, by both Kerrang! and HAMMER to use red, amongst dark colours as my theme, and also to try to create a cluttered image in my contents page, as rock and roll is heavy, unpredictable and busy.

My NOISE pitch to IPC Media

IPC Media,
We'd like to offer you a concept for a new magazine, aimed primarily at young people- aged between 15 and 20. We have noticed that there is a gap in the market for both grunge and indie magazines. While magazines like NME deal with popular music in general, no one magazine deals only with grunge and indie music. We think, although the two genres are understandably different, they complement each other and would make for an interesting read, especially for young people who specifically enjoy grunge and indie music.
The magazine is called "NOISE", as young people who buy the magazine are probably used to hearing older relatives or friends calling their music "noise", plus, it isn't genre-specific.
We think the magazine would sell more successfully in the UK than in the States, as their culture is definitely different to ours in the UK. I think, although grunge music was founded in America, we have more of a "grunge culture" in Britain at the moment. Plus, reporting on events and upcoming bands from our area is a lot easier to do than report on bands and events in Seattle.
We think there is definitely a gap, in which other magazines don't tend to.
Please consider our offer.
NOISE magazine editors,
Abbie-Rose Booth and Alisha Evans

My decision in publishing

I think that, overall, IPC Media would be most interested and appropriate for NOISE magazine, as we would only have NME (whose genre is vague) to contend with in their own market. IPC are very successful, which is always a bonus. I think the magazine would be more successful if sold in the UK, as our culture is very different to America and also, "local bands" are not local to the Americans. With Bauer, we'd have too many music magazines to contend with, especially Kerrang.

Magazine Publisher research- Time Inc

Time Inc is an American publisher for magazines. They are a branch of Time Warner, who currently own DC Comics, HBO and Cartoon Network. Time Inc are one of the most successful in the States, selling around 130 different magazines to the largest consumer country in the world. I think Time Inc would be appropriate for NOISE, as it doesn't sell any grunge/indie magazines aimed at teenagers. However, the American market would probably demand different articles about different bands than Britain. It's easier to report on things that are happening around you, for example, upcoming grunge bands from Manchester.

Magazine Publisher research- IPC Media

IPC Media (International Publishing Corporation) are the UK's leading magazine publisher. They were founded in 1958 and are very successful today, selling over 350 million copies of magazines each year. If I were to choose IPC to publish NOISE, I would have to contend in the market with NME, as that is a magazine they publish. This in mind, I don't know if they would take NOISE on because of that. However, while NME deals with a wider range of music, NOISE only deals with indie and grunge, making it differ to NME.

Initial Ideas- name

I am working with Alisha Evans to produce my magazine. We are creating the same magazine, but different issues. It is a grunge/indie magazine, as those are our combined favourite genres, plus, there is no magazine out there which deals with grunge and indie specifically. Our magazine is called "NOISE", and is to be aimed at people our age (15-20). The reasons we decided on NOISE were that it is effective in that, young people who buy the magazine might recognise parents or older relatives calling their music "noise" and it isn't genre specific. The last one is particularly important for our magazine, as it specialises in two completely different genres.

Magazine Publisher research- BAUER MEDIA GROUP

Bauer Media Group is owned by the Bauer family and has been since 1875. It's HQ is in Hamburg, Germany. If I pitched my magazine to Bauer, I would have some legends to compete with. They currently publish Kerrang, Q and even Mojo. I think my only real threat would be Kerrang, as it deals with a similar music genres as mine. However, both Q and Mojo are successful magazines, and could affect the sales of my magazine. Bauer is a globally successful company, selling over 38 million magazines a week. Although I think Bauer would be successful in marketing my magazine, I don't think they would take it, as it is a grunge/indie magazine and could be seen as being quite similar to Kerrang.

Evaluation of Key Skills- Using the Macs

What I've learnt so far...
In AS Media, I've learnt about Macs, cameras, photography, Adobe Elements 11, magazines and I've also learnt key words useful for the subject.

I used a Mac for the first time while doing Media, as I've grown up with PCs. I had no idea of even how to turn a Mac on, but now I am comfortable and confident in using them independently. The "on" switch is behind the screen on the left side and is a flat rounded button. It takes a while to turn on, so patience is needed. Once logged in, there are icons along the bottom of the screen, for example; "Finder", which is a small face and opens your documents. "Safari", which is a small blue compass is the internet and the "W" is Microsoft Word. The Macs are sensitive and over-clicking can confuse them. In this case, the computer will stall and freeze temporarily. When connecting a memory stick, there are three USBs to choose from. There is one on the left underside of the keyboard and there are two behind the monitor. Once the stick is connected, it will appear as an icon on the top right corner of the screen. Ejecting the stick must be done with care, as removing it without ejecting it from the computer could corrupt files. Dragging the icon to the bin on the bottom right hand of the screen will eject the stick properly. To log out, there is the Apple logo in the top left corner, when clicked, options appear underneath. "Log out" is at the bottom of the list. 

 

HAMMER Contents Page Analysis

HAMMER

The contents page of Hammer appears to be visually busy. Rock and heavy metal is known for being unpredictable, loud and busy, which I'm assuming is why the contents page of Hammer magazine is so clustered.

The masthead of the magazine itself is included above the contents title, I'm assuming this is to take up some of the white space at the top left-hand side of the page and keep the cluttered image.

The colours used are dark, which is appropriate, keeping the genre of the music the magazine specialises in in mind. You wouldn't use light colours, like pink and yellow for a heavy-metal magazine, because it would make no sense whatsoever. 

NME Contents Page Analysis

NME

The title of the page is bold and stands out by itself. It is black, large and bold with a serif font. There are seven secondary leads on this page, which in a way, advertise the articles further along inside the magazine.

At the bottom, near the middle, is a small box which has topics and the pages those topics can be found on. For example, "features" can be found presumably between pages 38 and 41. "Features" itself means exclusive, it's only going to be found in one place.

The pictures on the page draw the potential reader's eye to themselves. If someone was interested in, say, My Chemical Romance, upon opening the magazine, they would recognise the lead singer- Gerard Way and straight away would also notice the page number. This is deliberate.

I think Way's hair is a representation of the band's new album at the time, which was seen as much "less emo" than "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love", "Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge" and definitely "Welcome To The Black Parade", which was the album that arguably defined the band and their image in the music world. The picture shows Gerard wearing all black, but with red hair. Bright red hair. I think it shows that they are still the same band, but they have a new approach to music. Old, but new.

The fonts on the page are nearly all serif fonts, giving a professional, classy, yet friendly and trustworthy feel.

Overall, the contents page of NME looks very un-clustered and controlled. There seems to be a part of the page for everything featured in the magazine.

Q Contents Page Analysis

Q

Largest image is of Damon Albarn's "Gorillaz" cartoon character, "2D", indicating the main story is of the band.

2D has been drawn as a kind of weapon, with a gun's barrel coming out of his mouth, shooting bullets and notches on his upper back and arm. I think this is a representation of, possibly the songs "Dirty Harry", or "Clint Eastwood" by the band. I think it also ties in with the surreal image the band displays.

Underneath the picture is a huge "44", meaning the article about Gorillaz is on page 44. The number is large to ensure the audience sees it straight away.

The colour scheme is clearly white, black and red, plain, with a splash of colour to grab the eye. The "CONTENTS" heading is in red banner, to make it stand out form the rest of the page. It extends across the double-page spread and includes the issue number on the right-hand side.

The page number of each article is included under the picture related to each article, so if someone sees a picture of an artist they particularly like, they can see the page they'd need to turn to straight away.

On the left-hand side of the page is information, showing where different articles are inside the magazine. The fonts are a lot smaller than, say, the title of "Contents". Once the reader has realised that they are at the contents page, they can start to dig further and find what they are interested in at the side of each page. I think one of the main reasons the fonts are so small on this page is so that people actually have to pick it up and study it in order to read it.

Overall, I think the contents page of Q magazine is controlled and organised cleverly. The size of different fonts on the page is intelligently displayed.

HAMMER Front Cover Analysis

AMMER

Unlike the other magazines, which generally display the cover with the majority of the information at the sides of the page, Hammer have displayed the info at the top and bottom of the cover. I'm assuming this is so not as much of the main image is covered.

There's a large tag at the top, which is also a banner, as it is a coloured box with bold writing over it to catch attention. It advertises free posters, stickers and a sticker album inside the magazine, which may encourage people to buy the magazine.

The colour scheme of the cover seems to match with the others, in that it's generally dark colours, like black and grey, with a random splash of colour to grab the attention of potential readers. The colour scheme itself appears to be black, white and yellow. The yellow being the "splash" of colour that makes a part of the cover stand out from the others. The editors of the magazine would use the yellow to draw the eyes of the reader to a part of a magazine they want them to pay certain attention to. For example, Corey Taylor (lead singer of Slipknot) has his name in yellow, or gold as it appears, to draw attention to the fact that he is on the cover. It's model credit, making his name on the cover large, central and bright.

NME Front Cover Analysis

NME

This edition of NME is a tribute to The White Stripes, who broke up in 2011 due to divorce. The masthead is behind Meg's head, putting her forward. It shows the importance of the band being on the cover. It gives an exclusive look. 

The colour theme is red, white and black, which, to fans who know the band, are iconic colours for The White Stripes. 

The font is simple, in capitals and is bold against the red background. The word "RIP" has been coloured black in the title of "THE WHITE STRIPES" to show the edition is based around their split. 

The left-side third shows the type of information a reader would find about the band and their separation inside the magazine. 

There is no writing at all covering Jack and Meg, which again emphasises their status, whereas other artists might have had writing across them. The edition is all about them, which is why there is no writing covering them. The titles are almost moulded around Meg, like they are shaped to be behind her, rather than in front of her. The writing looks almost to be in the background. 

the only thing overing any of Jack and Meg is the pug, which contains the barcode, website, price and edition number.

Q Front Cover Analysis

Q

Masthead has been presented differently to its iconic and usual form. It's been shattered to add to the image of Matt Bellamy (lead singer of MUSE) smashing a guitar against it, in a stereotypical rockstar fashion.

I think the image is quite effective, as it shows a rebellious side to Bellamy and fits in with the idea that Q reports on musical legends.

The main cover line is very bold and striking. It's "MUSE" in a white, bold, san-serif font. It's large and draws attention to it through the colour and size. Plus, the fact that it is in capitals emphasises the importance of having Bellamy on the cover. The main cover line also includes "MATT BELLAMY IS OUT OF CONTROL", meaning he's becoming more and more successful. This also ties in with the front cover, which gives the idea that he's gone crazy with power. The line underneath says "BARMY ARMY" which also relates to the concept of craziness and tantrums.

This is a sub-story, which is also bold and catches the eye. The Beatles were and still are very popular. Half of them are dead, so 200 new things to learn is intriguing to fans of the band. 

The entire cover follows a colour-theme, black, white, grey and red. The colours of the cover itself match Bellamy's clothes and guitar, giving it a professional and alternative look, which fits with the genre of music MUSE falls under. 

KERRANG! Contents Page Analysis

KERRANG!

Main article is clearly about Slash, as the largest picture on the page is of him and is located at the top half of the page, the first place the eye will go when the page is turned.
contents page follows a pattern like the others I have mentioned below, in that the writing the editor wants the reader to notice first is large and bold, whereas writing they want you to take time and read is small. This is genius.
Slash is wearing all black and is pulling his sunglasses down to show his eyes. I think this is a representation of rock and roll. It's what some celebrities do when they are recognised, to prove their identity. It gives him a kind of "Do you know who I am?" look, emphasising his status in the world of rock and definitely the world of Kerrang.
Half of the page is taken up by the picture of Slash, and the large box with writing in underneath contrasts the picture completely, making the page bold and visually intriguing. While the photo is dark in colour, the box is white. There seems to be a pattern arising in the genre of magazines I am interested in, using black, white and yellow as theme colours. The yellow, arguably, is the brightest colour one can find. So, using it against plain colours makes both the page and the titles stand out.
The fonts are very bold and eye-catching. I think they maintain the image Kerrang! tries to display, by looking quite "grungey". They look faded, like they've been damaged.
Overall, I think the contents page of Kerrang! is slightly more cluttered than the others, matching the age-group of their "ideal" audience, who are presumably quite busy with school, hormones, life and teenage angst.

Selection and rejection

The majority of pictures I took the first time around were blurry and in the wrong locations. I re-did my photo-shoot with Jess, and got the picture I used on my on front cover for my college magazine, "Brainstorm". I think the picture I ended up using was the best I took. It's sharp, with good lighting and an appropriate background.

KERRANG! Front Cover Analysis

KERRANG!

Masthead is bold and bright, which is a contrast to the dark red of the background and Frank Iero's clothing. It draws attention to itself. It also appears behind Frank, which shows that people can recognise the magazine without seeing the entire logo.
The image is of Frank Iero, guitarist of former alternative band My Chemical Romance. They split up recently, which would create hysteria amongst the fans. Including Iero on the front cover of the magazine would ensure sales as the topic of MCR's split is very popular at the moment. He's looking straight at you and is both posed and dressed very casually. I can't help but feel his tattoos are being shown deliberately, to tie in with the genre of music the magazine appreciates. I feel that is why Iero is posed with his hands at his front, to show his tattoos. The two on his neck are also visible. His clothes make him look as though he has grown up compared to his MCR days and also suggest that he has moved on and is comfortable in his current situation. The background is just red, to force the focus onto Iero, and also to match the colour scheme of the magazine.
Like every issue of "Kerrang!", there are free posters included, which are advertised on the front cover. Small pictures of the bands are included, which makes people have to pick up the magazine to investigate and see who the bands are. If they pick the magazine up, they are a step closer to buying it.
There is a banner with "FRANK IERO" on it. The banner is bright yellow and the font is large, dark and bold. This catches the eye and forces the attention to his name. They've used model credit on the cover to advertise their magazine.
There are buzz words on the cover. Above the IERO banner, there is "WORLD EXCLUSIVE" written in yellow, which stands out against Iero's dark clothes and also matches the yellow of the banner.

Preliminary Task

This is my front cover for my college magazine. I think it looks quite professional, with a clean-looking font and bold masthead. From my original survey, I discovered that the pupils of Sixth Form thought blue was the most appropriate colour for the theme of a college magazine. The picture is of Jess  holding a guitar, which I think promotes the musical side of the magazine. I think the picture is also quite friendly, so people are more likely to actually pick up the magazine and read it. I put the headings of the cover stories in capitals, to draw attention to them and interest people. I chose the three headings, "Gossip!", "Music!" and "Helpful info!" as when I carried out my survey, those were the top things people wanted to see in a college magazine. By including the most popular topics on the front cover, I would hope that would encourage people to read on. If I did it again, I would maybe have taken the photo of Jess with a different background. Although the dark background forces the reader's attention to Jess and her guitar, I feel that maybe a background with more instruments included would be more appropriate, rather than one with "GCSE" included, which doesn't fit in with a Sixth Form magazine. However, I think the lighting on Jess's face compared to the dark background looks quite impressive and fits well as a magazine cover. As for the contents page, I am happy that it is simple and to the point, however, it could include more. There is a picture of Becky smiling which suggests that both the school and magazine are friendly and helpful. I've included the topics people found important in my survey to ensure everyone's interests are met. If I did the contents page again, I think I would include an actual background to the page to make it seem less bold and bright. Also, the masthead on the contents page differs to the one of the front cover, as I was unsure as to whether it was underlined or not and took a chance. However, I think the contents page and cover go well together.