Amy Varley EPQ

 As my final product, I wanted to create a physical copy of my magazine, in order to view it as if it were a real publication. In order to properly print the magazine, I had to reorganise the layout of the pages in InDesign. The product will be created by layering four sheets of A4 paper and stapling the centre. Because of this, the sheets must be printed on both sides and ordered so it reads correctly. I have chosen this method as it is the most accessible to me and is the lowest printing cost. My original plan was to print the magazine using the printing services at Sheffield Hallam University but I then decided to use a local printing shop which I would be able to collect myself whenever necessary.

 In order to create a cohesive design for my final product, I asked for help from my sister. She is currently studying graphic design at Sheffield Hallam University and often uses the programs I needed for my project. I explained to her that I wanted a minimalistic design in regards to the text, whilst the images give the magazine more depth. She helped me create the ideas I had for the design using InDesign and Photoshop, which are both programs that I had no prior experience in. The Front Cover The first step of creating the front cover was choosing an image that would help the simple white text stand out. My sister informed of a website called Unsplash ( Site Link ), which features a collection of copyright-free photos for the public to use in different projects. This site is helpful because permission is not required for use of the photos, allowing much more freedom in regards to the choice of photo and ease of access if I ever wanted to change the photo I used.  I then ad...

The text below is an attempt at the beginning of one of my articles to include in my final project.  Update: I didn't use this as the baseline for the final article used in my magazine. I chose to start writing a new piece because I was struggling to get the article to the length I needed, whilst writing something that flowed nicely and read fluently. Despite not using it in the final project, this attempt at writing was my first and it helped me find the elements of an article I liked and wanted to include and, similarly, the aspects I wanted to avoid. For example, I believe my use of 'I' in this piece took attention away from the actual purpose of the magazine and made it seem more like an opinion piece than an informative one, so I avoided this when starting to write my final project. The piece below helped me form ideas of my writing style used in the final project, so wasn't redundant at all.

A large part of the EPQ project is evaluating the sources used in the final product. When addressing secondary research, it is important to consider any possible bias or weakness in the information provided. This involves looking into the background of the writer to see whether they have accurate knowledge of the topic from their occupation, or the affiliations of the publication with any companies or political parties. To help me organise this source evaluation, I have created a Microsoft Word document where I can link the article, note the date I accessed it, and the positives and negatives that come from using the source in my project. The source evaluation table is necessary to create a fair and even article. I must avoid bias when addressing the issues that may be present in the music industry, as both the good and bad sides of the argument. The table allows me to consider any issues that the creator or context surrounding the production of any source and how it may effect t...

Are Record Labels Needed In the Modern Music Industry? - The New Reality of Music. - Describe the role of record labels for artists - Why they have begun to be less useful for artists - How streaming has effected the position of record labels in the music industry  Start Of Article: It is no surprise that up and coming musicians strive to be signed to a record label. For them, it appears to be the most direct path to the success they desire. However, for new starters, signing to a label could only push them in the wrong direction. Being a musician is expensive and only those widely recognised make enough to survive when signed to a label

Due to school closures, I have been unable to have the teaching weeks necessary to progress in my project. I am still unsure which direction I want to take the topic in when I begin to write using my sources, but I am sure it will still focus on the facts and figures behind the music industry. My article may lean towards the idea that many people believe musicians earn a large amount from releasing music, but statistics from streaming sites prove otherwise. I would also like to research a little more on how difficult some find it to sign to a record label and how this may impact their careers if they can only rely on streams to gain any kind of profit.

I am currently struggling to decide on the direction I would like to take when writing my project. I began with the idea of addressing the behind-the-scenes of record labels. However, I also would like to include information about streaming sites too. This is because, during my research, I came across lots of facts and figures about that side of music, all of which were surprising to me, and may be to others. Whilst I have been trying to get past this block, I have been spending time on creating the physical version of my magazine. Learning how to use the new program has been a little tough, but I hope to be able to produce a professional magazine through online articles, tutorial videos and information from my sister, who is experienced in using InDesign.