Task 6: Proposal and Questionnaire

Before you start your questionnaire you should write a brief proposal for a magazine. Include the following information:

• chosen genre
• chosen audience (age, gender, interests, location)
• why you think this type of magazine is needed (gap in the market)

You then need to create a questionnaire designed to find out as much useful information as possible. Remember that this is going to be a NEW magazine and so you need to find out exactly what your target audience wants. Some hints:

• you already know who your target audience is so you don't need to ask questions like 'what is your age' or 'what is your gender'
• closed questions are easier to analyse
• if you are going to ask what price you should charge for the magazine make sure that you provide real options. For example don't say £1-£2, £2-£3 etc. What would I select if I wanted to pay 99p or £2? Do you see the problem?!

You can also use the blog to create surveys but make sure that you invite your audience to participate!

NME - My Chemical Romance

Another example...

http://www.slideshare.net/guest182225/nme-front-cover-analysis-2563457

Example of NME cover analysis...

Mojo - Jimmy Page

Kerrang - All Time Low

Q- Cheryl Cole

Task 5: Analysing Title Blocks

Example

Task 4: Analysing Magazine Covers

Use these questions to analyse at least 2 magazine front covers:
What type of magazine is it?

From the front cover what kinds of issues/articles are going to be inside?

Who is the target audience for the magazine? What particular age group? What are their interests?

Look at the central image. What mode of address is the mag using?What does this tell you about the type of relationship it wants with its reader?

Who is on the front cover and why?

What does the anchorage text say? What does this imply about the artist?

What overall message is the artist giving?

Are any groups being represented? How does the magazine represent them?

Are there any ‘buzz’ words? What effect does it have on the reader?

What does the design of the title block tell you about the magazine?

What does the title of the magazine tell you about
1. the readership
2. its image
3. its style

What do the ‘puffs’ suggest will be inside the magazine? What does this tell you about the type of audience the magazine expects to get?

Is there a slogan? What does it tell you about the magazine? How does it help to attract readers?

What colours are used? What atmosphere is created?

What fonts are used and why?

What strategies does the magazine use to attract the audience?