Tuesday 18 October 2011
IPC Case Study-Task 4
The International Publishing Corporation Ltd (IPC) was formed in 1963 following the merger of the UK's three leading publishers George Newnes, Odhams press and Fleetway publications who came together with the Mirror Group to form The IPC.
IPC created a magazine called 'shoot!' (1969). This was because of an upsurge of interest in football generated by England’s World Cup win three years earlier.
Publications that IPC have been associated with and some of their current portfolio of titles
IPC Media offers something for everyone, with a focus on three core audiences: Men, mass market women and upmarket women.
The Men's selection of magazines include : leisure brands such as Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter. Lifestyle Brands such as Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME.
The mass market Women’s compromises famous women’s weeklies including: Look, Now, Chat and Women. Television entertainment brands including: What’s on TV, TV Times and TV & Satellite Week. (as well as an online the “good to know” network).
The Men's selection of magazines include : leisure brands such as Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter. Lifestyle Brands such as Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME.
The mass market Women’s compromises famous women’s weeklies including: Look, Now, Chat and Women. Television entertainment brands including: What’s on TV, TV Times and TV & Satellite Week. (as well as an online the “good to know” network).
The structure of IPC and current news about them
Evelyn Webster, CEO of IPC Media, announced a new company structure, effective 4 January 2010, organised around three audience groups of men, mass-market women and up-market women. IPC Inspire will be the men’s division, comprising leisure pursuits, men’s lifestyle and music brands, headed by managing director Paul Williams.
Questions & Answers
What type of magazine and target audiences has IPC been associated with over the years?
IPC have been associated with a range of types of magazines and target audiences, but their main types of magazine are music, fashion, sports and TV Magazines. Their main target audience’s for these magazines are Men, mass market women and up market women.
Why might IPC be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine?
This would be because they run a few of their own magazines themselves and so know and understand what their target audience expects. Another reason would be that they also have an existing target audience which they can introduce to a new magazine for music. (Some of their existing magazines include: NME, Uncut and Hi-Fi news).
What sorts of genres of music/types of magazine might they be likely to publish?
I think that they are more likely to publish rock and modern/popular music genres as they already publish these and know there is an existing and large audience for them, although they may look at other genres like country and/or hip hop because they may want to make a magazine aimed for an entirely new audience in order to see weather their new idea impacts their target audience in such a way or not.
Why might alternative publishers like Bauer be appropriate?
Bauer sells magazines that are a lot cheaper then IPC media and so could possibly appeal for an audience who don’t have the money to buy expensive glossy magazines. Also, Bauer might be better than IPC for selling Real life magazines such as music, film or puzzle magazines as that is their main types of magazine of which they sell. On the other hand IPC specialises in more music, sports and fashion based magazines. An example of these magazines would be Kerrang, Q, Empire and FHM.
What sorts of genres of music/types of magazine might they be likely to publish?
I think that they are more likely to publish rock and modern/popular music genres as they already publish these and know there is an existing and large audience for them, although they may look at other genres like country and/or hip hop because they may want to make a magazine aimed for an entirely new audience in order to see weather their new idea impacts their target audience in such a way or not.
Why might alternative publishers like Bauer be appropriate?
Bauer sells magazines that are a lot cheaper then IPC media and so could possibly appeal for an audience who don’t have the money to buy expensive glossy magazines. Also, Bauer might be better than IPC for selling Real life magazines such as music, film or puzzle magazines as that is their main types of magazine of which they sell. On the other hand IPC specialises in more music, sports and fashion based magazines. An example of these magazines would be Kerrang, Q, Empire and FHM.
Tuesday 11 October 2011
To What Extent Should Magazines Be Held Responsible For The Social Ramifications Of The Representations They Offer?
To What Extent Should Magazines Be Held Responsible For The Social Ramifications Of The Representations They Offer?
Now-a-days things such as newspapers, television news, radio, magazines and more play a major part in our lives. Everywhere we go and look there is media. Media is a controlling factor in our lives and so for many people, it over controls their lives. An example of this would be how the media that are published in things such as magazines tell girls about new fashion and hair styles.
The magazine stating the top ten hairstyles, for example would normally contain a popular female celebrity on the front page, as the main image with the top hairstyle. Out of the many girls that didn't have this sort of hairstyle a large percentage of them would want to look as up to date as the popular celebrity.
But, we have to take a step back and look at what this is doing to people, that we seem to overlook. We have to ask ourselves the question 'When does the line stop?' Is it right for girls to feel this way that they are not attractive as they don't currently possess the top celebrity hairstyle of the week. In my opinion, no. I think that the media on things like the magazines should not be so demanding. At times some of us may see that there are points on the front of magazines that would say something along the lines of "Top Hair Style Of The Week", but this however, requires money to change ones hairstyle. Especially, for some girls that don't have a lot of money and cannot afford to change their hairstyle, then because of the media they feel different and even worse if they feel ugly on the outside because they do not possess the up to date hairstyle. Also, in some cases by the time they have saved enough money to go to beauty salon and changed their hairstyle, there will soon enough be a new style out which people will want even more.
I feel that teenage girls now-a-days spend more time chasing a dream than living it.
Another point that some sorts of media seem to encourage for teenage girls would be their physical posture. An example of this would again be on the teenage magazines stating the new celebrity look. For me this is a much more serious matter as when on the front covers of magazines they say things like the 'real new look' and give pages and pages of new looks then some girls are so keen to stay up to date with fashion that they may even consider surgery. My view on this would be that it is wrong to have things such as surgery. Girls should be happy enough with their posture instead of having to chase the new celebrity looks and consider surgery.
Finally, what i would like to see removed from a now-a-day media item, such as a magazine would be the demanding captions on the front page of magazines basically ordering a variety of people, mainly women to keep their look up to date with the celebrities which can mean many different things, from paying to have their hair done, to having surgery. This is all done by many people to keep up with the current most popular celebrities.
Finally, what i would like to see removed from a now-a-day media item, such as a magazine would be the demanding captions on the front page of magazines basically ordering a variety of people, mainly women to keep their look up to date with the celebrities which can mean many different things, from paying to have their hair done, to having surgery. This is all done by many people to keep up with the current most popular celebrities.
5 Examples Of Magazine Covers Aimed At Girls
From the magazines that i have selected we can see that the colours used are very bright and so they stand out on the page, catching the eye of more people, (especially teenage girls).
The photo on the front page of all of the magazines have a large, main image of an attractive young woman. Some of them are also relatively well known. In some case this makes teenage girls feel as if they know the person on the front and again are more inclined to pick the magazine up and make a possible purchase. This actually proves the point that many celebrities have a big influence on which age range of teenager read the magazine.
Many girls now-a-days like to try and keep up with the looks of celebrities in order to keep their look fresh. On the front cover of the magazine 'Seventeen', on the left hand side of it, it says in the second largest font on the page "Pretty Hair Secrets", due to girls attitude towards fashion and their own looks this small caption would furthermore encourage more teenage girls to pick up the magazine and find out how to get so called, 'prettier hair'.
Also, another point from the magazines would be that some of them say that they include a free item. On the magazine called 'Seventeen' it says that it includes a free Tank Top (see page 24). This would obviously not literally be included in the magazine but they would have some sort of application form to get your hands on a Tank Top.
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Analysis Of Magazine Cover
The magazine cover that i have chosen is Manchester United Football Clubs best player Wayne Rooney and the ex Manchester United best player David Beckham. I think that the target audience for this particular magazine cover would keen, male Manchester United supporters who want to keep updated on the clubs news and more. I also think that the age of the magazines target audience would be people in their twenties (give or take a few years), they would also most probably be middle class people. By having two of the best and most well known football players in the world on the front cover of the magazine, people are more likely to pick up and buy the magazine.
Due to the strong and immediate eye grabbing colors on the magazine it not only stands out on the shelf, but people will quickly realize the colors and associate them with Manchester United Football Club. Also, the Manchester United logo is in a large size in the top right hand corner which makes the football team very prominent. Also, the color white on the red background stands out well and produces a clear few lines for the reader.
The images of both Wayne Rooney and David Beckham gave been placed carefully and with great thought by the magazine designer. The way the designer has placed the pictures is very clever as although the two pictures are roughly of the same size, Wayne Rooney has been placed in front of the once amazing Manchester United player David Beckham. This subtle positioning of the images portrays to the reader that Rooney has now taken Beckham's place and overtaken his abilities. Also, another reason that Rooney has been placed in front of Beckham (who is playing for Milan) could mean that Manchester United beat Milan in the football game.
Another point would be that although on the front cover it states that 'United V Milan' is does not publish the results of the game on the cover. For the people that see this magazine and are interested in the match results would want to take the magazine from the shelf and open it up to find out the results. This would make the target audience of the magazine want to purchase it as well.
Finally, the text has a couple of subheadings revealing what else is talked about/ contained in the magazine. One of the subheadings are saying 'EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DAVID BECKHAM *I'M STILL A FAN*'. This makes more people want to read the magazine as David Beckham is such a great player he is trying to say that despite Rooney coming close, if not overtaking his ability he is sill a "huge fan".
The images of both Wayne Rooney and David Beckham gave been placed carefully and with great thought by the magazine designer. The way the designer has placed the pictures is very clever as although the two pictures are roughly of the same size, Wayne Rooney has been placed in front of the once amazing Manchester United player David Beckham. This subtle positioning of the images portrays to the reader that Rooney has now taken Beckham's place and overtaken his abilities. Also, another reason that Rooney has been placed in front of Beckham (who is playing for Milan) could mean that Manchester United beat Milan in the football game.
Another point would be that although on the front cover it states that 'United V Milan' is does not publish the results of the game on the cover. For the people that see this magazine and are interested in the match results would want to take the magazine from the shelf and open it up to find out the results. This would make the target audience of the magazine want to purchase it as well.
Finally, the text has a couple of subheadings revealing what else is talked about/ contained in the magazine. One of the subheadings are saying 'EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DAVID BECKHAM *I'M STILL A FAN*'. This makes more people want to read the magazine as David Beckham is such a great player he is trying to say that despite Rooney coming close, if not overtaking his ability he is sill a "huge fan".
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