Magazine Distribution

ELECTRONIC BRAND EXTENSION

This is when magazines increase their online presence using social media such as:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Youtube

This allows them to spread news through different mediums and allows readers to follow them to get the latest news. They may also extend into radio, gigs and other events. An example of a magazine that does this is Kerrang.

EZINES

They are online versions of the printed magazines with similar features such as turnable pages, adverts and page numbers. They are available through a subscription or through a website. They are usually free and have electronic features such as hyperlinks to other sources and embedded videos. RWD is an example of an online magazine.

FREEMIUMS

Freemiums are magazines that are given out for free in public places such as train stations. Since they are free, publishers make revenue through adverts. An example of a freemium magazine is ShortList.

SALES/RETURN

This is a method of distribution that the publisher uses for distributing printed magazines. Any of the copies that are not sold are returned to the distributor at no cost. There are no risks for shops that do this as they do not lose money when magazines do not sell.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Regular readers of magazines may wish to subscribe to a number of issues and have the magazine regularly posted to them or onto an online reader for a heavily discounted price. It is easier for the audience and ensures that the magazine is read. Electronic distribution is similar except that the magazine will be sent to the readers electronic device that is able to read the magazine.

Newsstand Task

WHSmiths organize their magazines by genre. each genre has it's own dedicated shelf.On the picture on the left, on the second row there are 3 magazines where the cover line is across the page. The magazines are not layered over each other so that the cover line can be seen. On the same picture on the left and on the third row, the magazines are layered over each other. The teasers are also on the left side of the cover page. Monthly magazines such as MOJO are on the top half of the shelves whereas weekly magazines such as Kerrang are at the bottom.

All of the magazines tend to have the masthead on top of the page behind the model with MOJO being the one exception. On most of the magazines on the shelf, the mast head is white to make it stand out from the background and is the first thing you see on the cover part from the model. On magazines such as Oasis and Rock Sound, they do the opposite having a white background and a colored mast head.

All of the magazines have the models looking directly at the audience to create a connection with possible readers. another way magazines draw peoples attention is the use of incentives such a ad free giveaways. For example Rock Sound has a Music CD attached to the front cover. the fact that the CD takes up the bottom left and centre thirds of the frompnt cover makes it eye catching.

College Magazine Evalutaion

COVER PAGE

What Went Well

• The teasers on the page. They are in bold white and orange font so that they are easily seen.
• The color scheme is consistent and that they reflect the college colors.
• The image is related to the cover article as it gives tips for UCAS and the thumbs up reinforces that. The model is also looking directly at the audience thus creating a connection.
• The cover line is across the page making it stand out from the rest of the teasers.

What could be improved

• The image used as it was stretched.
• The distribution of teasers as they are mainly on the left side of the page.
• The masthead could have been spread across the page.

Audience Feedback

I like the way you have listened to the task brief of using a medium shot for your model and a plain background, as it is easy for the reader to focus on the model. Also using a colour theme of orange,white and blue gives your magazine consistency but its easy for the reader to identify the cover lines. One thing i would improve on is having the cover lines on both the left and right side of the model rather than across him. 

CONTENTS PAGE

What Went Well

• The colors from the front page are carried over onto the contents pages, giving the magazine a consistent house style.
• The contents are organised in a column on the left side of the page in a bright orange box.This makes it stand out from the blue background and draws the reader to it. 
• The use of the editors letter makes the contents page realistic. It also gives an insight into a students life as it gives an opinion on current events such as UCAS applications and settling into college.

What could be improved

• More images could have been used to advertise the feature articles. This would make the contents page more appealing as it would show the readers a visual representation of what the articles are about before reading them.

Audience Feedback

Again I think using a colour theme gives your magazine consistency but it allows the reader to focus on what is written. I think having an editors note makes your magazine look more realistic and shows you have put effort into your contents page. One thing I would improve on is having another picture because your contents doesn't look very appealing. 

College Magazine : Front Cover

College Magazine : Contents Page

College Magazine Plan

Front Cover

Contents

Case Study 2 : Contents Page

The contents page consists of only one page.Q has a set house style. This is shown by using red,grey, and black in the contents as well as the front cover.All of the editorial items are listed in the contents page and sorted into different sections. The feature articles take up over half of the page. The page numbers for each feature article are in a colored circle to make them stand out. The reviews are in a text box to differentiate them from the regulars and feature articles. The regulars are listed at the bottom of the page. They do not take up space in the page to allow the feature articles to be easily seen. 

Case Study 2 : Double Page Spread

The image on the right page is a close up shot of the model in low lighting. This gives an impression that the artist is mysterious. This impression is carried on from the front cover as he was behind a mask. There is also a pull quote at the bottom of the page. The pull quote is linked to the image as he has supposedly seen an alien. The yellow text with a black background also catches the readers eye when turning the page so that the reader reads the article.

The masthead is written in a similar font used in the text. It is also linked to the pull quote as it references the trope where the main character usually is awake or have trouble sleeping when there is an alien nearby.It is also in front of a yellow background so it is eye catching.

Case Study: Readership

These are the reader profiles for Q and Kerrang Magazines. They are both published by Bauer Media and have a similar audience. The main readers of the magazines seems to be males that are aged 15-24 which will be my proposed target audience for my magazine. The price points of the magazines are also a factor of the audience. Q is priced at about £4.00 RRP the audience tend to be upper working class/lower middle class. Kerrang is priced at £2.20 RRP so the audience are at working class. 

Since Kerrang! is the the most popular magazine among teenagers I will use their statistics to base my audience on which is 55% male and 45% female.