Main Task- Double page spread research and analysis.

The Observer – Slash interview.

For this double page spread The Observer have decided to have the image and a pull quote on one side and the interview on the other, though the interview isn’t questions but more facts or statements and comments from Slash. This is quite effective because there is more image than text yet it still looks even, this not only means there is less to read but it will attract people more because image’s are what a person prefers when reading a magazine. They have kept the sophisticated layout with a simple straight line separating the text and image which makes it look quite professional yet the image gives it a more light hearted edge. Though the artist is wearing sunglasses, the angle of the camera is straight forward and you feel from his quite intense facial expression that he is looking at you which is effective because it feels like he is connecting with you. They have shown his relation with music by having him holding a guitar. This double page spread has helped me with my research because it has given me an idea of how to layout the magazine and use less text and have it more image related. The interview shows many sides to Slade, he talks about things that aren’t music related such as where he grew up, phobia’s and interests such as cooking shows which will interest greatly the fans that are reading the interview. He says his greatest achievement is staying alive in the music industry for this long which shows he has a real passion about music.

OK!- Mcfly interview.

The Mcfly interview has a very interesting layout, because there are 4 of them they have decided to use more image than text and tried to incorporate all the members of the band into the spread, they have done this well and still managed to make it look professional and sophisticated. The colour scheme of black, white and red is really effective because it makes it stand out and gives a feeling of power which goes with the interview about their new album release and one of the members saying ‘Until we achieve world domination, we won’t be happy’. The interview itself is laid out very well and the clear structure on each page works well, they have also used a slightly transparent background behind the text so the image still shows which I think looks very good. Their interview does have quite a few music related questions but a lot of them are about the band’s personality traits and things they have done which will interest the readers because Mcfly’s target audience are teens-young adults and this is their type of interest. The pull quote is positioned well because it breaks up the page and fills a space, once again it is not related to music but it makes you want to read the article which is good. The article makes Mcfly seem quite relaxed and easy going which is a good promotion for them because it attracts people to them more. The interview is very clear question and answer which I think gives the article a good structure.