FMP Prososal

FMP Proposal Considering my final major project, I aim to produce a publication in print format, therefore I will produce the design on InDesign. Ambrose and Harris (2008) explain “Print production involves a range of processes that an idea for a design to take physical form”.

I want to produce the publication in print format firstly to broaden my writing skills for print as I have produced a varied amount of online written content previously throughout this course. Producing the magazine for print will require me to use InDesign to layout the written content into a physical form, Whittaker (2008) clarifies “InDesign supported by advanced features such as better transparency options at an earlier stage, and was also compatible with the other designer’s favourite, Photoshop”. Developing my DTP skills is important for the writing industry, Whittaker (2008) notes “it is increasingly important for editors and other journalists to know their way around a DTP package” he continues to explain how it is a useful skill for landing jobs and making amendments to a feature. Another reason why I choose to adapt my final major project for print is because I believe the nature of the magazine will work well with a creative and tangible design as there will be a lot of visuals including art throughout. Ambrose and Harris (2008) explain “Layout aims to present the visual and textural elements that are communicated in a manner that enables the viewer to receive the messages they contain”. I took inspiration from Vice publication, as well as Sofa magazine subscription to analyse the various styles, layouts and paper choices of current print magazines within the market.

BY LOIS WANDLESS

WORD COUNT: 1033

The concept I would like to approach for my final major project is a magazine based on popular culture, however looking at this popular culture in a different way and challenging it. Storey (2018) defines popular culture as a discussion of entertainment and leisure. I will challenge popular culture through opinion articles, profile pieces and interviews with various people, looking at various events or things in popular culture with a different pair of eyes. The publication will include a range of topics from fashion reviews to music reviews and opinion articles on media gossip, the publication will generally contain information on a range of topics within popular culture in present day. The articles included within the publication will be that of feature articles, similar to the content I produced for Spoiled Nation. Adams (1999) explains feature writers to be “entertaining gossips, perspective analysts, eccentric experts, sympathy councillors, bitchy snoops, inspiring guides” which is an accurate representation of the content my magazine will contain. I have decided to produce feature articles as my content because this style of writing is preferred for me and I believe it is the best way to display my writing skills, as well as this it will be beneficial to my writing portfolio in the future. Considering my future writing portfolio, I aim for my magazine to include a range of different feature articles, for example, as previously mentioned, I will include interviews, profile pieces, opinion articles and reviews as well as list articles. Pape (2006) explains that commercially feature articles are valuable and followed well by readers, especially if the features are consistent from the writer. Using a varied range of article styles will enable me to display my written skills however will also add variation to the content within my magazine. As my final major project will be a magazine covering a lot of different topics throughout our current pop culture, I wanted the title of the magazine to reflect this mixture.

CREDITS:

The title which I have chosen for my magazine is “Blend” which is a synonym for verbs like mix or combine, I chose the word blend as it is simple while being a statement. I did not want to adopt a long or wordy title as I believe the title Blend does not tie the magazine to any certain genre or target readership.

In terms of readership, after analysing Vice’s media kit, I understand that Blend will have a similar age demographic of readership which is 18 – 35-year olds (Vice 2016).

Blend will have this similar age readership because it covers current and modern issues, like that of Vice, and will be written in the style of a younger person which older readers may not find interesting or enjoyable. Blend will aim to target both male and female readers will aim to cover topics that are inclusive and interesting to all genders. As blend will cover a range of different topics and issues the range of the target readership will be broad in terms of social backgrounds, however the main demographic will be students. Due to the target readership being a younger age range and the genre of the magazine holding an informal tone I aim for the layout and style of the magazine to reflect this. I want the magazine to maintain a bright but soft colour scheme and contain graphics and text of 90’s style. The imagery and artwork will also reflect a bright and fun theme as I believe this will help to attract the younger target readership. The use of eye-catching imagery and artwork throughout the magazine is important for me, Frost (2003) explains how text and images are used to grab the reader’s attention and hold it which in turn makes for an enjoyable reading experience.

As well as producing the print magazine for Blend I also plan to produce a social media page on Instagram for the magazine. Smith and Anderson (2018) note that social media is most popular among the age range of 18 – 24-year olds and this means that Instagram is a useful platform to target this age demographic. The magazines Instagram page can be used to create attention for the magazine and is also a place where readers can connect with the magazine and share their thoughts and opinions. It is not uncommon for publications to operate on social media platforms for the main purpose of being able to connect with their audience, Tuten (2014) explains “Every day the influence of social media expands as more people join online communities”.

Bibliography Whittaker, J. (2008) Magazine production. London : Routledge Pape, S. and Featherstone, S. (2006) Feature writing. [electronic resource] : a practical introduction. London : SAGE, 2006. Available at: https://go.openathens. net/redirector/leedsmet.ac.uk?url=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost.com%2flogin.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26db%3dcat00621a%26AN%3dleeds.556966% 26site%3deds-live%26scope%3dsite (Accessed: 13 December 2018).

Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris (2008) The Production Manual: A Graphic Design Handbook AVA Publishing John Storey (2018) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction Routledge Hicks W, Adams S, Gilbert H (1999) Writing for Journalists London Routledge Vice Media Kit (2016) Vice Chris Frost (2003) Designing for Newspapers and Magazines Psychology Press Aaron Smith & Monica Anderson (2018) Social Media Use in 2018. [Online].

[6 January 2019]. Available from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social-media-use-in-2018/

CREDITS:

Tuten, T. L. and Solomon, M. R. (2014) Social media marketing. [electronic resource]. Harlow, Essex : Pearson, [2014]. Available at: https://go.openathens. net/redirector/leedsmet.ac.uk?url=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost.com%2flogin.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26db%3dcat00621a%26AN%3dleeds.542014% 26site%3deds-live%26scope%3dsite (Accessed: 28 November 2018).