Today I went to the skydiving centre that I will feature in an article. I conducted research whilst I was there into what they offer, their facilities and its location. I got a hands-on review from my brother who took part. 
Cookie Monster Cupcakes
Whilst making the cupcakes I took pictures at different intervals so I could use them in my final article.
Cookie Monster Cupcake Article
After the feedback I chose to reword some sentences and make them more easy to read, for adults and children alike. I also placed boxes around the text throughout the article to make it more interesting and easier to catch the eye. I also changed the font type so it matches my other articles giving it a more uniform effect. I like the handwriting font in the title and word 'enjoy' as it adds a warmer touch, as if you are reading instructions written by hand.
First attempt at Cookie Monster cupcakes
Here is my first attempt at baking Cookie Monster cupcakes for my article about baking being fun for all the family. Whilst baking I took pictures at different stages for the article. It will contain a step by step guide on how to make these. 
DrawPlus X6
I have been using DrawPlus X6 to create my articles. It is user-friendly and quick and I am able to create publications of a high quality finish.
Interview Questions
Here are some possible interview questions relating to the article on camping.
Families:
Families:
- How many times have you taken your family camping?
- Do you prefer caravans or tents?
- What do you enjoy most about camping?
- What are some negatives of camping?
- What do you look for in a possible campsite before booking?
- Any funny stories to share?
Staff:
- Is your campsite family-friendly?
- How often do you have families booked in?
- What activities do you offer for children?
- Do you allow dogs on your campsite?
- Are there any local events/attractions that would appeal to families?
Drafted Article
After deciding that one of my articles would be about camping and would feature a particular campsite as it provides opportunity for interview, I have drafted a few ideas for layouts using some I have found previously.
All of the ideas I drafted make use of two A4 pages.
The first features the main picture as the whole page and adds information within. This does present some problems such as adding text, it cannot be read straight over the picture thus you need to use text boxes. This runs the risk of taking away from the background image, especially if you have a lot of text to add. It also creates the issue when trying to add further images without ruining the main one. Although this seemed like a good idea, I do not like this design due to having to use text boxes.
The second is a lot more plain. Ideal if a lot of text is needed and for adding lots of different images. It is less eye-catching however and runs the risk of being too boring for readers.
This last one is my favourite. The image is cropped and takes up half of the page, so still giving it centre stage. This frees up the bottom half for plenty of information, or little - depending on font size. You can add other images to maintain interest without taking from the central image. Some writing such as the title can go over the main image to create space below.
All of the ideas I drafted make use of two A4 pages.
The first features the main picture as the whole page and adds information within. This does present some problems such as adding text, it cannot be read straight over the picture thus you need to use text boxes. This runs the risk of taking away from the background image, especially if you have a lot of text to add. It also creates the issue when trying to add further images without ruining the main one. Although this seemed like a good idea, I do not like this design due to having to use text boxes.
The second is a lot more plain. Ideal if a lot of text is needed and for adding lots of different images. It is less eye-catching however and runs the risk of being too boring for readers.
This last one is my favourite. The image is cropped and takes up half of the page, so still giving it centre stage. This frees up the bottom half for plenty of information, or little - depending on font size. You can add other images to maintain interest without taking from the central image. Some writing such as the title can go over the main image to create space below.
Article Contents
Below is a list of features I am considering for my magazine articles:
- Days out
- Zoos
- Cycling
- Fun Fairs
- Aquariums
- Castles
- Museum
- Railways
- Adventure Centres
- Cities
- National Trust properties
- Days in
- Arts & Crafts
- Pets
- Cooking
- Baking
- Technology
- Holidays
- Summer/beach
- Educational
- Camping
Interviews
I have had to consider where I will have the opportunity to fit interviews into my articles.
If I use camping - I can interview either families/parents about their experiences, or even the staff at the campsites about how many families come and what they enjoy about their site.
If I use indoor activities, I can interview families/parents about their experiences getting their children to get involved with things like arts & crafts and baking.
Similarly, I could interview parents about their experiences in different countries and holiday destination abroad - what kinds of holidays appeal to them and why
If I use camping - I can interview either families/parents about their experiences, or even the staff at the campsites about how many families come and what they enjoy about their site.
If I use indoor activities, I can interview families/parents about their experiences getting their children to get involved with things like arts & crafts and baking.
Similarly, I could interview parents about their experiences in different countries and holiday destination abroad - what kinds of holidays appeal to them and why
Drafted Idea
After researching magazines, target audiences and how to appeal to these I began to play around with my own ideas to develop what I might want my magazine to look like.
I like the way the masthead is prominent and the first thing people see when they look at the cover. In this idea I only have two coverlines, ideally if the image had a more focal point and sides without objects it would be possible to add more coverlines below. One way around this was to add the circle, creating another place to feature a coverline. Missing is a slogan and price. I do not like how the coverline talking about holidays is not more focal - as the image suggests the magazine is about holidays. I think the image I use in my final cover should feature children to fit the theme.
Comparing magazine types + target audience
I have considered my target audience and decided although it is families; it is mostly parents and more specifically - mothers. These are the most likely people to purchase the magazine.
Most magazines that appeal to women look similar to the following:
The focal point in these magazines is almost always a model, very often a celebrity. Their image tends to cover the magazine brand logo which is located in the back. Around this image then are details/titles of what is featured in the edition. There are varying font sizes and types to keep interest and draw your eyes in.
Family magazines that appeal to mothers look similar to the following:
Most magazines that appeal to women look similar to the following:
The focal point in these magazines is almost always a model, very often a celebrity. Their image tends to cover the magazine brand logo which is located in the back. Around this image then are details/titles of what is featured in the edition. There are varying font sizes and types to keep interest and draw your eyes in.
Family magazines that appeal to mothers look similar to the following:
Immediately we can see the colours are a lot brighter, the focal image is most often photos of children actively having fun. I noted how there is less change in font sizes, these covers appear more organised and feature less on the front. In particular, the FamilyFun magazine uses colours featured in the chosen photo. Writing only covers blank areas of the photo cover, as to make it easier to read.
Initial internet research
The internet is a useful tool for finding family activities, offers, deals and events which can be featured in the magazine. It can be refined to area-specific results, or those which are national. Since discovering this, I have taken note that I may need to consider whether my magazine will be regional or national, as these have very different approaches. Below I have noted some pros and cons which have come to mind.
Regional magazine:
- More specific events, that ALL readers should be able to travel to
- Deals and offers relevant to ALL readers
- Wording/slang specific to regions, more relatable articles
- Writer's personal knowledge of region
- Less costly to print and distribute, less units needed.
- Less potential profit due to restricted market
National magazine:
- Must pick-and-choose events to showcase, regardless of location
- Must pick-and-choose deals and offers, regardless of location
- More costly to print and distribute nationwide
- More research and higher production costs per edition
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