First Draft: Second Page.

The above image is a first draft for my second page. I have used several lifted images to help plan my layout. I have not yet decided what will be used in the space on the left, I thought about including more adverts as I understand that newspaper rely heavily on advertisements.

I have included lottery numbers and weather details as my focus group decided that the second page should be half informative and half news story. I have also included several contact details including social networking sites to aim at the younger generation of readers.

The main story on the second page will be a continuation from a blurb featured on the front page. During my focus group, They decided that the main story featured on the front page would be more interesting featured on a double page spread, as for this result, I decided that I would create a full story for a less relevent however still fairly interesting story.

First Draft: Front Page.

I finally decided on which layout to use for my front page.

(Refer to post: Focus Group: Potential Layouts - Layout 2)

However, the image shown for 'Layout 2' was changed during the construction of my first draft, as I didn't like how it was displayed. This is my first draft, which portrays my new layout and also my chosen stories and adverts. Some of my images are lifted, from the Internet, however, as I have not yet taken pictures, it was useful for drafting, I will not use lifted images in my final construction.

Masthead: Although I have not currently constructed a masthead, I have used just a red rectangle to display the location of where is will be.

Small Ad: The small square advert located at the top right of the page, will be a Christmas related advert. I have decided to do this as I have chosen my current newspaper to be released in the upcoming weeks to Christmas. Using a Christmas advert would be useful for attracting readers as Christmas will be a main topic on their minds. I have currently used a lifted image of another Christmas related advert to help construct my draft.

Small LFC/EFC Blurb: In my questionnaire, the results told me that not everyone wanted sport, however some did. I think the small blurb I have added is useful as readers can then decide whether it would interest them enough to turn to the specified page. I have chosen to use two local teams to prevent a biased front page and also to create a rivalry interest. I have not yet decided on a story for this blurb.

Main Story: The main story, takes up most of the space on the front page. In my questionnaire, Film/TV was chosen the most to interest readers. I decided to play around with this idea and write a story about a particular TV star, one which is also local. I have decided that the story would be based around either death, drugs or leaving a TV show. The headline is currently in 'Impact' font. My focus group had chosen another headline font. During my final stages of construction, I will try out different fonts to see which look better on the final product.

Second Story: My second story will be a gig review on the singer; Diana Vickers. The image used is not lifted, and was taken by myself after I went to see her play a gig in the Liverpool o2 Academy. I thought this would be useful as 'Celebs' and 'Entertainment' were some of the choices that were popular throughout my questionnaire, and being able to use a true celebrity would defiantly catch the eyes of her fans and also interested readers. I understand, that if I were a real newspaper editor, I would require permission to use this image.

Third Story: I decided that Facebook would be a useful base topic for my third story. Facebook currently plays an important part in the life of teenagers and young adults. I have not yet decided on a story but my first idea was to write about a disastrous party after a teenager had posted about a small house party. This would be an interesting story and would also send out messages concerning safety using social networking sites.

Main Advert: The main advert currently stands with a 20% sale at River Island, with myself using a lifted image from the Internet. I decided from the start to use a clothes shop advert aimed at both genders, as I think clothes are important in a teenagers life and also, being during the winter, clothes will come to mind yet again.

Research Summary.

After reaching my target date for 'Research', I have managed to gather useful information to begin construction.

Using questionnaires, and the graphed results of the questionnaire, I managed to successfully understand the preferences of young adults in my target audience which is '16-24' when it came to local newspapers.

Understanding the views of the age ranged audience is useful for debating different features that I will consider when creating my newspaper.

I was disappointed when, after a month, I still did not receive any replies to the emails that I had sent, this could have been useful for my research, using professional views and facts.

After analysing a few current local newspapers, I was able to research into features and layouts used in the present day and was able to decide what techniques were popular, which were less interesting and in some cases, decide what is 'missing' from newspapers.

After holding focus groups for my chosen fonts and layouts, I was able to understand the preferences of people in my chosen age range and what interested them more about specific ideas.

Email Update

As of the 11th October, I have still not received any replies to the emails that I sent just under a month ago. However, I will still wait as I may receive some at any time before my construction finishes.

Focus Group: Potential Layouts.

FRONT PAGE

I have designed two potential layouts which can be used to construct my final product. I have also asked a series of students aged between 16 and 21 to comment on their likes and dislikes of each image.

Layout One
My first layout, in my opinion, looks like a combined newspaper and magazine, with the main headline covering part of the main image, similar to that of a magazine however, features such as the masthead and adverts share the same layout as a newspaper. I think it is important to use part of a magazine layout as my chosen target audience stereotypically would be more interest in magazine than newspapers.

Focus Group

After presenting 'Layout One' to my focus group, they decided that the 'Main Image' is useful for drawing attention to readers, however, with the size of the 'Main Lead' and also the 'Second Story', there would be too much text compared to the size of the 'Second Story Image'. They would rather read a little bit, and whether it interests them or not, continue reading inside the paper. They also commented on how the headline is in a prominent place, the centre.


Layout Two
For my second layout, I have chosen to use a very genetic layout which is most probably used in many newspapers, with the main image and headline taking up most of the space, and the usual location filled by the masthead and main advert (proven by my analysis of three different papers). Although this would be a typical layout to use, and would create a direct newspaper effect, it may also cause a lack of interest in readers if they desire something 'new' and 'different'.

Focus Group
My group decided that the amount of space taken up for adverts may distract people from reading or buying the paper, however, if the adverts were aimed at the readers, it would increase readership. This is interesting as I may
need to research more into what to advertise to readers. One member, again commented on how the image and headline are in a suitable position and are very eye catching, also noting on how the side stories are not too big and not too small, but give readers a wider spread of reading material.

Layout Three
For my third layout, I have chosen yet another typical newspaper layout however, unlike before I have included a sub-headline and a small box which would contain such things as 'Free With Today's Paper' or 'Inside Today's Paper' etc.

Focus Group
My focus group decided that the 'Free Offer' box is in the wrong place, if it was offering something valuable, in terms of attracting the audience should be placed near the top. They also commented on the Headline and Sub-Headline, noting it took up a vast amount of space of the page, compared to its small related image and lead. However, it's size would catch the eye of readers. The masthead is a in a suitable position and in terms of size is useful for being noticed.

From revising my audiences views on my layouts, they seem to comment more on how images will be more useful than text when it comes to catching the readers eye, also, using centered headlines and images would attract more people and direct them to the main story. It is also clear to include sub stories that do not take up a vast amount of space but also are not too small to be unnoticeable. The use of adverts should be considered as they need to aim directly at my chosen age range, without being biased towards a particular gender. These preferences will be informative to me during my construction.

SECOND PAGE

During my focus group, I asked the participants about contents that would be useful to feature within my first page. I gave a variety of options (as shown below) and have ticked the most popular choices.

• Main Story (Continued)
  
• Secondary Story (Full) √
• Third Story (Full)
  
• Newspaper Contact √
• Lottery Numbers √
• Weather Details √
• Horoscopes
  

By looking at the decisions provided by my focus group, it is clear that the front page should be part-story and part-informative. The group decided that the main story should continue onto a full page to make it's contents more dramatic, therefore, the next best story should be told via the first page. Although it wouldn't take up the full page, the secondary story would take up about half the page, leaving the other half to provide information such as weather, lottery and and contacts. My group decided that horoscopes would take a lot of space and should be featured on a different page.

Current Layouts

The images above are duplicate layouts which are useful for my planning, I will not directly double the layouts for my own design but will use them as guidance and for ideas. The masthead seems to remain in the same location for all of the three papers and also, the headline almost remains in the same location, as do the main adverts.

Focus Group: Fonts & Title

After choosing several of my favourite fonts and titles which I think are appropriate for a newspaper, I created a focus group of three people within my chosen age range to enquire thoughts and opinions. All the participants are 18 years old. I have refered to them as Person A, B and C.

Person A and B are male, C is female.

Person A:
"Headline Three draws you in and seems very different, I don't like Headline one, it's too common and boring"
Person B:
"Headline Four and Six, the eroded look of them gives them more of an urban image"
Person C:
"Five and Six are my favourite, they look like a usual headline font but with a difference, the first two are too plain, they remind me of a boring newspaper which usually bore me anyway, something different would interest me more"

It is clear that Headline Six stands out more and seems to be liked the most by the audience, Although Three, Four and Five were also chosen, these could make potential sub-headlines within the paper.

Person A:
"Top Left and Bottom Right are my favourites. Top left is very different and looks like it's print related anyway, the bottom right is very ordinary but in a different 'casual' way, I didn't like Left: 2nd Down because the lettering size would annoy me, it's like random capitals!"
Person B:
"Bottom Left would suit a newspaper title aimed at our age because it's very casual and urban like the headlines, and would suit the target audience perfectly"
Person C:
"Bottom Left is very bold and stands out compared to the other fonts, and has that worn out effect on it which is interesting"

It is evident from the above opinions that the bottom left font 'You Are Loved' is the most popular. I will keep this font in mind when constructing my product as I am sure to use it.

Potential Names
I have come up with some potential titles for my newspaper, some include puns, others however, include simple newspaper related titles.

• LiverNews
• Huyton Herald
• Knewsley
• The One
• Liverpool Life
• Huyton Humbug

Person A:
"Knewsley, because it is different and creative."
Person B:
"The One, I think of Liverpool One, which is useful as it is local and interesting at the same time."
Person C:
"Knewsley made me laugh but wouldn't interest me and probably wouldn't interest others my age because Liverpool related titles would suggest city based news, which I'd rather read about rather than just about Knowsley."

From the opinions that I have received, 'Knewsley' and 'The One' stood out the most, Person C, however quoted that Liverpool related titles would suggest city based news and would be more of an interesting read that just Knowsley.

'Knewsley' is a creative pun and creativity is a stereotype of people my age.

'The One', however, sounds catchy and makes the paper sound important and featured, and also considers Liverpool One.

After considering my titles and the preferences of my focus group, I have decided that 'The One' will be my final newspaper title.