Production Schedule

Now all the research is completed, I have completed the research, and gained all the information which I can use in my main task, and ancillaries;

• I need to design the pieces to go into the first two pages of my local newspaper.
• Arrange these pieces and design the first two pages of my local newspaper.
• Then  I will need to work on the two ancillaries.
• Produce a poster for the local newspaper.
• Two hyperlinked pages from the pages website.
• Then any time for editing, before completion.

I have eleven weeks to complete all the above, however, because of the software I will have to use, I will be unable to do any production during half term week (24-30 Oct).

Week one (3-9 Oct) - week three (17-23 Oct): create the pieces for the main task (this includes the articles, photos, adverts and other visuals aspects.
Week four (24-30 Oct): half term
Week five (31-6 Nov): main task (put the pieces together).
Week six (7-13 Nov): ancillary one (poster for the newspaper)
Week seven (14-20 Nov)- week nine (28-4 Dec): ancillary two (two hyperlinked pages from the newspaper's website)
Week ten (5-11 Dec) - week eleven (12-18 Dec): any editing or review of the tasks that needs doing.

Research: Primary Research

I have now done research into the types of articles and adverts that local newspapers publish, this is what I found:

• Front cover article:
• The majority of the front cover articles are based on big local events, that will have an effect on the majority of the local population.
• Examples include the 'The New Forest Post' front cover. This is about a highly controversial pub opening in the area which has been strongly debated.
• Or the 'Basingstoke Observer' which has an article on the cuts in bus services.

• Inside page article:
• This is usually about the big events in crime news, such as murders, or high profile thefts, or it is also about more big events that will affect the majority of the population.
• The 'Basingstoke Observer' has articles about a hit and run death in the area.
• The 'The New Forest Post' has an article about the political reforms in the area.

• News bite articles:
• These are very short.
• The content is usually about positive events which are being celebrated.
• The 'Basingstoke Observer' has articles about MPs praising charity walkers.

• Adverts:
• In the local newspapers, the adverts are often for local building or conservatory companies, as well as local restaurents.

The audience that the articles are written for, has to be assessed differently as the articles have to be written for the majority population.

Research: Textual Analysis' Summery

Points to put into my own work:

• Front Cover:
• The newspaper's name is big, bold and visually appealing; this helps to make the newspaper attractive to passers-by, encouraging the audience to consume the newspaper.
• Some newspapers have a tag line, which fits in with the newspaper's logo/ name.
• All local newspapers have essential information under the newspaper's name, this includes the date, issue number and newspaper website.
• Some bigger local newspapers have a visual context just before the main headline; this contains the bigger articles in the paper. This would encourage the audience to continue consuming.
• There is normally only one article on the front page, which would be the biggest headline in the newspaper.
• The article on the front cover have a headline which is big, bold, short and concise. This encourages the audience to continue consuming the newspaper.
• This article is normally accompanied by a captioned photograph to the right of the article, it is normally the height of the article.
• The article is centred in the middle of the front cover and takes up the majority of the front cover.
• The bottom third of the front cover is allocated for the advertising.
• Right at the bottom of the newspaper is the locations where the newspaper covers.

• Inside page:
• The inside page is normally split into five distinct sections (contact details, newspaper information, the main article of the page, the smaller article of the page and four small news bites).
• Similar to the front page, the bottom third of the inside page is allocated to adverts.
• The newspaper's contact details (such as the telephone numbers of the editors) are located on the left of the inside page.
• The newspaper information is located along the top of the inside page, it contains the same information as the information on the front page.
• The news bites are located on the right of the inside page.
• The centre of the newspaper is split in two; the top half is for the bigger article, and the bottom for the less important article. The more important article has a captioned photo.

Research: The Oxford Journal

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What can I take from the Oxford Journal?

• The newspaper's name is big, this is common in a lot of newspapers, it is placed in the top left hand corner and is around 3/4 of the width of the front cover.
• There is also a tag line which is placed around the newspaper's name.
• The tag line is quite small, so it can fit in as part of the newspaper 'logo'.
• Under the title there is essential information such as the date, establishing date and website.
• There is then a section below, spanning the width of the front cover, which shows off the articles inside, this section is quite visually attractive.
• Space is left in the article on the front page, which is used for various purposes.
• There is then a small space for a context before the adverts.
• Right at the bottom of the front cover, there is the areas that the newspaper covers.
• Apart from advertising, the inside page is split into five distinct sections (which are shown in the presentation).
• The section at the top, displaying the date, website etc. is continued through out.
• The stories in the news bites are often on positive subjects, such as praise.

I can take these points and now incorporate them into my own work.

Research: The New Forest Post

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What can I take from The New Forest Post? 

• The newspaper's name is big, this is common in a lot of newspapers, it is placed in the top centre and is around 3/4 of the width of the front cover.
• There is information under the newspapers name, which includes the date, website, issue number (this is a common feature on most newspapers)
• There is advertising surrounding the newspapers name.
• This local newspaper is free, so its income is from advertising, thus this newspaper is largely dominated by advertising.
• Unlike the last local newspaper, the New Forest Post only shows one article on the front cover (lead article). This is the same on the inside page. This is largely down to the fact that the newspaper uses a lot of space for advertising.
• The New Forest Post has a tag line under the article head line, this helps to engage the audience, and get them to move on.
• The article on the front cover comes with a captioned photo, which, unlike the previous newspaper, is related to the lead article.
• The information bar is continued through out the newspaper at the top of the pages.

I can now take these points and incorporate them into my own work.

Research: The Basingstoke Observer

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What can I take from the Basingstoke Observer?

• The newspaper's name is big, this is common in a lot of newspapers, it is placed in the top left corner and is around 3/4 of the width of the front cover.
• There is also a tag line which is placed around the newspapers name.
• The tag line is quite small, so it can fit in as part of the newspaper 'logo'.
• Under the title there is essential information such as the date, establishing date and website.
• There is then a section below, spanning the width of the front cover, which shows off the articles inside, this section is quite visually attractive.
• Space is left in the article on the front page, which is used for various purposes.
• There is then a small space for a context before the adverts
• The advertising section is always split into three equally sized adverts.
• Right at the bottom of the front cover, there is the areas that the newspaper covers.
• Apart from advertising, the inside page is split into five distinct sections (which are shown in the presentation).
• The section at the top, displaying the date, website etc. is continued through out.
• The stories in the news bites are often on positive subjects, such as praise.

I can take these points and now incorporate them into my own work.

Research: Local Newspapers

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Coursework Plan

Now I have decided the tasks, I have made up a plan for the coursework module.

I am going to gather some research, which will contain textual analysis' of similar media products, as well as looking at secondary research, which will include critical theory of Journalism. Also, I will do my own primary research to add to the information.

Once I have gathered all the research I will take this forward into completing the task.

In the next blog entry, I will begin conducting research.

My Final Coursework Choice

Looking at the available options for my coursework, I have decided to do the local newspaper option picking these tasks:

• The first two pages of a local newspaper (main task)
• A poster for the newspaper (ancillary task)
• Two hyperlinked pages from the paper's website (ancillary task)

Introduction to the Coursework

G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media

Marked out of 100
A media portfolio (40 Marks)

• Main and Ancillary texts

Research and Planning (20 Marks)
Evaluation (20 Marks)

I have chosen to do the coursework section on the first two pages of a local newspaper. This comprises of:
The first two pages of a new local newspaper (Main Task)

and two of the following three Ancillary Tasks:
A poster for the newspaper
A radio advert for the newspaper
Two Hyperlinked pages from the paper's website.

Introduction to A2

In this lesson, we were introduced to the A2 course. We were shown the year plan for the course, as well as shown this 'Prezi Presentation', which outlined the year plan and showed us to the options for the coursework section.