Main Task

 Introduction

In this post I will be detailing what I would've done differently for my main products if it weren't for the COVID-19 pandemic making it so I couldn't use proper photographs for my final pieces. 

Magazine Cover 1 - Women at Work

In this cover I used a prototype image I took as practice to gain ideas for the final product I wanted to make. The clothing used was the same as it would've been- semi-formal business attire one would find for a businesswoman. I would've, however, used more a mid-long shot rather than a long shot to create more of a difference between that and the image used for the contents page. It would also be more personal, alluding to the interview of a personal nature, as it would be closer, whilst still leaving room for anchorage texts, the barcode and other text used. The colour scheme would have stayed the same as I feel the orange compliments the coat and presents the balance between professional and fun Dennis Publishing strives for. However the background would've been in a city rather than the local area, as to more befit a business story. In terms of intertextuality, I referenced Lean In's 'Ban Bossy' video campaign in quoting "I'm not bossy, I'm the boss" and included the link to my website to encourage audiences to visit, which in turn has links to our social media to encourage conversation. The border and grey motif is meant to allude to and intertextually reference Time Magazine and invoke a similarity to it and it's connotations of sophistication and class.

Magazine Contents Page 1 - Women at Work

Whilst I was mostly pleased with how this turned out in particular, I would change the background as to be a professional city environment- such as London which I had intended to use for both photoshoots (see Planning Task 4 - Location). I believe this would work better as London is a place where many people go to work in the country (as it is the capital) so readers, especially middle and upmarket audience, would identify with such a setting more and connect it to business and professionalism. Here, I've tried to mimic the photographic style of Pamela Hanson, using muted colours, direct address and props (the coat) (Task 6 - Directors). I would've also used my own, similar, picture for the 'Mental Health' story too, the placeholder one who inspired my ideas below and would be in place of the orange square (labelled 'Image 1'). Again, I've included the link to the website and encouragement to subscribe to introduce elements of intertextuality. I also added a hashtag to encourage like-minded individuals to introduce conversation online and generate conversation about our magazine. 

Magazine Cover 2 - Politics

Again, a (very) rough prototype image was used in this cover, simply to help generate ideas based on my sketches in Planning Task 3 - Product Profile. In an ideal image, it would be a establishing action shot, zooming out slightly more than here and showcasing a city scape behind the image, whilst keeping the grass in use as to bring out the green - connoting cleanliness and energy, befitting for a political cover based around the COVID-19 pandemic. The text, again, would remain the same, but the cityscape would connote the needed professionalism of a politician, and the rough draft of the used image isn't up to the standard I had initially intended. Intertextually, I referenced Boris Johnson's BBC broadcasts, quoting the now infamous 'Unprecedented Times' to create the connection between politics and coronavirus. 

Magazine Contents Page 2 - Politics

I struggled with this contents page as I had only taken one prototype image for this story when lockdown was lifted during October. Luckily I was able to find an image to take its place as a placeholder almost, which is below and would be in place as a background image of the green box (Image 2). The original plan was to have a mid to close-up shot of the model, Elvin, to invoke a sense to both strength and confidence as well as a personal connection to audience through direct address. The attire would, again, be similar, as would the city-park background, again to signify professionalism, but also to make the green typography used fit in better. The lighting would be high-key in order to illuminate his face to enhance the connection. I chose this to go here on the contents page as it is eye-catching and positioned next to the website link, thus to encourage convergence and subscription. For image 1 of the chick (pictured below), I would have tried to use my own image of a similar nature, or kept with the theme of animal welfare and used another, more common household animal. Intertextually, I referenced Current Affairs magazine on their article about animals deserving respect by likening it to Christmas Turkeys, as to link with the December Issue and its closeness to Christmas. The placeholder reference image I used for the idea pictured below and would be in place of the grey box (Image 1). I also, again, encouraged audiences to interact, intending to use a mid-shot to draw audiences to the striking face and the positioned website link. I also used a hashtag to encourage links to our social media and encourage online participation.