Welcome to the Research and Planning page of your A Level course (Non Examined Assessment - NEA).

You have chosen Brief 3 Magazines and online

Brief 3: Magazines and online

Requirements of the brief

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 real-life story magazine that is being launched by Bauer and two pages for the working website for the magazine.

Contents pages can be either single or double page spread. The web pages must promote the new magazine to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the content.

Summary of brief requirements:

• Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words).

• Real-life story magazine covers and contents pages: Two or three pages for each of the first two editions (based on choice of single or double page spread).

• Magazine distribution method: Content must be suitable for retail distribution.

• Number of web pages: One homepage and one linked page.

• Cross media production target audience: A primarily 16–25 year old mass market audience that expects to to be emotionally engaged. There must be a clear sense of branding across the two elements of the cross-media production.

Production detail that must be included

The production of the magazine covers and contents pages must include (as a minimum):

• At least four different main images using original photography across the magazine covers and contents pages.

• Editing of magazine covers and contents pages (including photos, text, graphics, typography and layout).

• Written text including elements such as the masthead, main coverline, selling lines, headlines, captions, subtitles and copy.

• Barcode, date, edition and price information on each front cover.

• 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. The production of the web pages must include (as a minimum):

• Original audio or audio-visual content 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.