1. Unit 51 Page Layout & Design
PR8-b: Editing and Processing Text to Meet a Brief
Product Research: Double Page Spread
Magazine Articles
All magazine articles follow a particular framework or structure.
Headline:
All stories have a headline, or ‘masthead’ which gives the reader an idea of what the article
is about. Headlines in music magazines often use puns or other techniques, such as
alliteration, to captivate their audience.
Introduction:
As the first paragraph in an article, the introduction is very important. Its contents tell the
reader in more detail what the article is about. Research into how people read magazines
shows that most people read the headline first, followed by the first paragraph of the story. If
the introduction is not interesting then most people will to continue reading the article. The
first paragraph is often known as a kicker printed in a bold font.

2. Features of magazine articles
 Informal language
 Use of puns
 Use of alliteration
 Exaggeration for effect
 Slang
 Colloquial language (chatty)
 Informal names used
 Short, snappy sentences
 Heightened language (over the top)
 Adjectives are often exciting and risque
 There is a focus upon appearance/style
 Frequent use of elision e.g. won’t, don’t. (another informal technique)

3. Task
 When editing your colleague’s article, in your role as ‘sub-editor’, look for examples
of the following areas below and pass comments upon them.
 Record any changes that need to be made and also mark them using ctrl-alt M on
the original article
 On your blog, present a copy of the original marked article, as well as the table below
and the redraft that your colleague completes. You also need a copy of the edited
work you’ve done for your colleague, on your blog
 Present the work on your blog as PR8-B: Editing And Processing Text to Meet a
Brief
Language Content Style Proof read:
Spelling/Gramm
ar/Punctuation
Headlines
Use of informal/casual
language in order to appeal
to audience on a personal
level- ‘pumped up’, ‘tunes’.
Aspects of the language
showcase the interviewee’s
social backgroundin terms
of his ability to speak
English- such as ‘boyhood’
insteadof ‘childhood’.
Non-lexical conversation
sounds such as ‘ummm’ to
add to realism.
Pull quote-‘I love living in
Manchester, I love the clubs,
the fans, everything about it
suits me.’
Use of snappy sentences-
‘it’s absolutely great’, ‘this
will be interesting’.
Colloquial language- using
‘well’, ‘ummm’ before
constructing sentence
provides casual, chatty feel
therefor showcasingthe
articles style.
Although minimal use of
elision is used, when it is
providedit adds to the
chattiness and informalness
of the article therefore
engagingaudiences.
Although certain
aspects are informal,
the purpose of the
article is to entertain
and give us a little
‘insight’ and update
into Sergio Aguero’s
life at the moment.
The journalist has
providedanswers to
questions that are
more of an interest
rather than factual.
This includes
providing us withan
‘insiders’ look on the
interviewees personal
daily life, as well as his
teammates behind the
scenes and whathe
hopes for his future in
a more relaxedmanner
rather than on a
serious note.
The factual points that
have beenpresented
are mostprominent
within the opening
statementof the article
rather than within the
actual interviewand
are common
knowledge to most
sports fans.Audience
are able to skim
throughit and still
know what is being
discussedwhichis to
be expected from an
entertainment article,
they should notfeel as
if they’re heavily
reading andtherefore
minimal textis used.
The article is very
informal and does
not discuss anything
of importance
significance. The
tone of language of
both the interviewee
and interviewer is
very relaxedand
casual, whilst
talkative language is
used. The questions
askedare of a
‘humorous’ nature
and are not intended
to be serious. The
interviewees replies
vary between being
short and snappy or
slightly longer
dependent on the
questionasked,
however as
previously
mentioned they are
chatty. The interview
style perfectly
represents the
casual style the
article intends to out
across- there’s a
casual reading style
to it. Readers don’t
require their full
focus in order to take
it all in.
Although the article
makes senseand is
structured correctly,
repetition of words can
be found throughout-
suggestedchanges
have beenmade
during proofreading.
The language used
throughout is of an
informal nature which
suits this particular
genre of magazine and
audience the article is
intendedfor;however
recommendations
have beenmade to
shortenparticular
words in order to make
them elisions. It’s a
very fluid interview
and transitions
between responses
are smooth-readers
are not left with un-
answeredquestions.
On the whole the
article makes sense
with only one
suggestion for botha
sentence to be re-
worded and a
punctuationmistake.
A headline has yet to be
providedand this has been
mentioned duringthe proof-
read, however my colleague
has provideda pull quote
from the article, whichwill aid
in drawingin readers.