CHECK THE OFFICIAL OCR BRIEF FOR 2021 HERE
Brief 3: Magazines and online
You work for an independent media production company. You have been given the task of producing one front cover and the contents page(s) of the first two editions of a new CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE that is being launched by a company called 'Dennis' and two pages for the working website for the magazine.
Target audience: A socially-conscious, 16–25, middle to upmarket demographic.
REMEMBER - IT'S A CROSS-MEDIA PRODUCTION SHOWING DIGITAL CONVERGENCE (how products and platforms are interconnected and rely on multi-media content. So there's a clear link in terms of house style between the magazine & the website.)
You need to produce:
1) Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words).
2) Two magazine covers
3) Magazine contents pages - can be a single or double page spread
4) A website: a home page and at least one linked page. The web pages must promote the new magazine to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the content.
MAGAZINE COVERS & CONTENTS PAGES
WEBSITE
You work for an independent media production company. You have been given the task of producing one front cover and the contents page(s) of the first two editions of a new CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE that is being launched by a company called 'Dennis' and two pages for the working website for the magazine.
Target audience: A socially-conscious, 16–25, middle to upmarket demographic.
REMEMBER - IT'S A CROSS-MEDIA PRODUCTION SHOWING DIGITAL CONVERGENCE (how products and platforms are interconnected and rely on multi-media content. So there's a clear link in terms of house style between the magazine & the website.)
You need to produce:
1) Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words).
2) Two magazine covers
3) Magazine contents pages - can be a single or double page spread
4) A website: a home page and at least one linked page. The web pages must promote the new magazine to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the content.
MAGAZINE COVERS & CONTENTS PAGES
- A different use of mise-en-scène for each cover.
- Representation of at least two different social groups (e.g. as defined by age, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality).
- A 'call to action' pointing readers to the online website.
- There must be a clear sense of branding (house style) across the two elements of the cross-media production.
- The magazine covers and contents pages must include at least four different main images using original photography across the covers and contents pages.
- Evidence of editing of magazine covers and contents pages (including photos, text, graphics, typography and layout).
- Include conventional elements such as the masthead, main coverline, selling lines, headlines, captions, subtitles and copy. (The magazine will be distributed through normal retail channels: newsagents, shops etc - so the covers must include dateline, price, barcode, edition number)
WEBSITE
- MUST INCLUDE a homepage and at least one linked page. Include (as a minimum):
- A short original audio or audio-visual clip appropriate to the online website.
- A minimum of two original images (with at least one different original image on each of the two pages). These images must be different from those produced for the magazine.
- Appropriate conventions of website design, including an original title and logo and a menu bar.
- Text introducing the main features of the magazine.
- Working links from the home page to the other page.
- A range of appropriate media language techniques (typography, images, fonts, backgrounds, logos, etc.) as appropriate to the purpose of the website
YOUR OWN RESEARCH & PLANNING BLOG IS RECOMMENDED
You should keep a record of your research and planning, perhaps in the form of a blog. For good examples see the Guilsborough School A-Level Media Site Year 13 blogs e.g.
https://httpalevelmediaguilsborough3241morris.wordpress.com/
They are doing music videos but the principle ifs the same.
RESEARCH
You should start by researching existing current affairs magazines such as
The Week, The New Statesman, The Spectator, Time, Newsweek
Think of 2 good topics for your main front cover images. Make sure the covers include original photos and good design features. Each cover should feature contrasting representations in terms of gender, ethnicity, social group, age, sexuality.
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sample statement of intent - more examples can be found at the end of the sample work document HTTPS://MEDIASTUDIESWLP.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM/2020/04/NEA_EXEMPLARS_FINAL.PDF
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Here's an OCR doc of samples candidates' work - ignore the video stuff and look at websites and mag pages. notice the type of thing they rate highly (pages 46-51)
https://mediastudieswlp.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/nea_exemplars_final.pdf
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here are some sample covers from real current affairs magazines. THink about an issue and how you can make your image and design elements visually represent that issue. collage effects work really well - (see covers 1 and 2 ).
remember also that you need to produce two contrasting covers showing different representations (e.g. : age, ethnicity, gender, social class)
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SAMPLE CONTENTS PAGES FROM REAL CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINES
The Economist spread (bottom right) is a great example of cool, clear branded design.
Hollywood Reporter, bottom left is also strong. Double spread is advisable as it gives you more scope to play with content and layout.
Hollywood Reporter, bottom left is also strong. Double spread is advisable as it gives you more scope to play with content and layout.
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sample fashion magazine pages considered by ocr the moderator to be grade A
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SAMPLE FASHION website CONSIDERED BY OCR THE MODERATOR TO BE GRADE A
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