Magazine Research and Planning Task List

You need to complete the following (use Martha's work as a guide):

• general magazine x1
• specialist magazine x2
• genre conventions
• moodboard(s)
• magazine analysis (cover, contents, double page spread) x3
• colour palettes x6
• fonts (including descriptions) x8
• audience profile (male & female - as applicable)
• UK Tribes audience profile
• questionnaire and questionnaire feedback

GCSE MEDIA: Analyse a Magazine Examples

GCSE MEDIA: Analyse a Magazine: Analyse a cover, contents page and double page spread from an existing title within your genre.  Use the examples below to help with your ...

Magazine Research by Martha Causier

GCSE Media Studies Magazine Production from LouiseDownie

Magazine Glossary

Masthead – The name and logo of the magazine.

The Lead – the introductory paragraph of an article. Usually written in bold or capitals.

Body copy - refers to the text of your written articles, which should be produced as a printed presentation to accepted industry standards, e.g. correct use of language, font size, word limits etc. Usually written in columns.

Serif font – fonts like Times New Roman, or Baskerville Old Face, which have little bars (serifs) on the end of the letters.

Sans serif font – fonts like Impact, or Agency FB, which do not have little bars (serifs) on the end of the letters.

Drop Capitals – Really big letter, which start off an article.

Cross Head – Small sub-heading used to split up a large block of text.

White Space – white parts of a page other than text or pictures.

Mode Of Address – How the magazine talks to the audience.

Sell Lines – Text on the cover that helps to sell the magazine to the audience. Kerrang!’s sell line is “life is loud”.

Banners – text, which stands out because its on a coloured background.

House Style – a magazines distinctive design that distinguishes it from its competitors.

Borders – the gaps at the edges of the page.

Gutters – the gaps between the columns of text.

Leading - the space between lines of text.

Kerning - the space between letters.

Strap Lines – a smaller headline, printed above the main headline.

By-lines - name of the person who wrote the article. Picture Credits - where did the photos come from, or who took them.

Anchorage – The way in which text helps to pin down the meaning of a picture and visa versa.

Magazine - Research and Planning Task

Genre choices are:

• music 
• fashion
• sport

Today's work:

1. Decide on your genre
2. Research magazine titles within that genre. Make a list of existing titles. Remember, you can use some of the research you completed before the summer break. Simply add to this piece of work and present your ideas using your chosen software.
3. Collect images of as many different covers as you can. Group by title e.g. Vogue, Wonderland, iD (all fashion titles).
4. You may look at magazines across the international market, but be aware that they are not produced in the UK.

Unit B324: Production Portfolio in Media Studies

Unit B324: Production Portfolio in Media Studies

This is a controlled assessment unit, 25-30 hours, internally assessed and externally moderated.

120 marks, 30% of the total GCSE marks

Candidates can either work individually or in groups to produce a major practical production from

a selection of set briefs. 

Within this, each individual produces their own evidence of research and

planning alongside an individual evaluation of their finished product.

The Production Portfolio offers candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in research, planning, production and evaluation and their understanding of the following media key concepts:

• audience
• institutions
• media language
• genre.

The brief:

An extract from a new magazine aimed at a specific audience, to include the front cover, contents page and a double-page spread article, using some original photography.

• If candidates are working in a group, each group member must produce at least one double-page spread article.