InDesign Layouts

Below are the links to my Indesign layouts for my articles within the Cosmo section of my portfolio.

Perfect Wax Article
This is arranged in the style of the  Cosmo website as it is an online piece. The images for products were acquired through retailers.

Tip Top Anning Article
Images acquired through retailers

"I am not who you think I am" Article
Images courtesy of Ryan Gingell with his permission to  use.

Summer Beats
Images acquired as free press images for the albums.
Back to School Article
Images acquired from Jennifer Spinks at the OU press office.

Fashion Article
Images acquired from retailers

Back to School - Final Edit

Back to School

By Emma Blight

Many people view higher education as a way to better yourself and you are encouraged to pursue education and training as early as possible to get the best start in life. But not everyone has this option. Some people favour family commitments over education and some find that they cannot support this decision financially. Does this mean that all hope is lost? It certainly does not.

It is becoming increasingly popular for adults to begin studying at a later stage in their lives. These mature students may have not been pushed towards education at a younger age and live to regret that, or have decided on raising a family before looking for something to add more substance to their career or lifestyle. Others may simply be looking to re-train in a different area. Whatever is may be, there also becomes the difficult choice of where and how to study. Should single parents immerse themselves into full time study at a brick university? Should people who wish to enhance their career have to leave their job to aid their study? Not any more, thanks to the Open University.

The Open University is becoming one of the world’s most popular options for distance learning at degree level offering the opportunity of study to anybody despite circumstances or locations. There are no entry requirements and access and support is available for all, including a strong service for each of their 11,608 students with disabilities. Although it doesn’t appear in league tables as it is not a residential university, the OU received a satisfaction rating of 93% by its students last year.

Extra Research For studying later in life feature

Following my meeting with my tutor as discussed in a previous post I have decided to take a new approach to my profile feature on Linda Blight and her decision to study later in life. I have decided to stick with the theme of adults studying at degree level and will be writing the article as more of a feature story piece.
I have interviewed three more adults who are studying a degree through the Open University. These interviews will work with the interview already done with Linda Blight. Linda's case study will be the most prominent in the article, but hopefully these interviews will be able to support her answers. Here are some quotes from the interview.
Interview with Dave Masterson, aged 43.
Why have you chosen to study later in life?
"Because I didn't appreciate the value of education at school age."
How is this degree benefitting you as a person?
"Greater opportunity for promotion and responsibility since achieving the degree."
Would you have chosen to study at this level, and as this time in your live, without the OU?
"Definitely not. Working from home, and part time, were critical requirements in the time I had available to study."
Interview with Jo Clarke, aged 50.
"I wanted to be a Primary School teacher after leaving school but was advised by teachers at Secondary school there were not any jobs in teaching at the time. Consequently advised to study

Amendments to studying later in life

After discussing my studying later in life feature with my tutor, i have decided to take a different approach to create a stronger feature. I have decided that the profile feature/question and answer style is not working for this feature and I feel I could make a stronger article.

I am keeping the theme of studying later in life, but will be attempting to speak to the Open University as well as a few other people who are studying at a mature age and with the Open University.

It will now be aimed a slightly older audience. Essentials magazine has a similar writing style to Cosmopolitan but has readership of 25 - 40 year old women.

Once I have done some more research I will be able to structure a stronger article.

Studying Later in Life First Draft

46-year-old single mum of three, Linda Blight had her family life set out for her. She was your typical army house wife, so when her husband left her and her three children she had a battle on her hands. With no career or strong job opportunities Linda took it into her own hands to better herself, and prove to the world that it wasn’t too late for her. Now studying a degree at the Open University, Linda’s prospects have never been so great.

What were your career goals when you were younger?From when I was a little girl I always wanted to be a nurse, there was never anything else in my mind apart from getting married and having children.   I got my O levels and did a Pre Nursing course at the local college until I was old enough to apply for Nursing training.

I trained in Kingston Upon Thames and qualified as a State Enrolled Nurse in 1984. I worked for a couple of years in London after that.

What put an end to your career progression at this time?I got married and my husband was in the Army and based in Cyprus so I moved over there with him for 6 months. When we came back to UK I did some Agency work but then found out I was pregnant.

How exciting! Any regrets?

Not at all. I was married, had a beautiful baby and could go back to nursing when I wanted to. That never actually happened though. We were moving around every 2 years with my husband’s job I enjoyed being at home with the children.

Interview with Linda Blight for Studying later in life feature & Ethical considerations

Ethical Considerations I have offered Linda anonymity and double checked any information that she wishes to be published and anything she would like kept private. She has agreed to be named and for any information she has provided to be used. Interview transcript. What were your career/life goals when you were younger?

From when I was a little girl I always wanted to be a nurse, there was never anything else in my mind apart from getting married and having children.   I got my O levels and did a Pre Nursing course at the local college until I was old enough to apply for Nursing training.

Did you achieve these? If not, why not?

Yes I did. I trained in Kingston Upon Thames and qualified as a State Enrolled Nurse in 1984. I worked for a couple of years in London after that.

What put an end to your studies or career progression at the time?

I got married and my husband was in the Army and based in Cyprus so I moved over there with him for 6 months. When we came back to UK I did some Agency work but then found out I was pregnant.

Do you regret this?

Pitch/Rational for studying later in life profile feature

This feature will be based on the style of the glamorous celebrity interviews. It will combine with a set of photographs taken on a shoot co-directed by myself and student photographer Natalie Blight. These will be edited and work with the question and answer style article to paint a glamorous profile on Linda Blight, a 46 year old single mum studying for a degree. This article could also potentially fit with the 'Cosmo Inspires Real Life' profile features.

Recap of my articles

To recap I will be writing a total of 7 articles for this 'Cosmo' section of the portfolio. They will be:

1.       Profile feature on Linda Blight: Studying later in life.

2.       Profile feature on Ryan Gingell: Transgenders

3.       Beauty feature on self-tanning

4.       Summer Music Reviews feature

5.       Fashion – Bikini feature

6.       Online Beauty – Waxing feature.

As previously mentioned, I will be including articles I have previously written to display my writing skills in other styles.

I have decided against doing a Men & Sex feature as I felt my current idea would not be strong enough. However if I can develop a stronger idea then I will include it. For now I will be working on these article ideas.

Profile Features/Interviews

In Cosmo, there are two types of profiles/interviews.

The first is a glamorous celebrity interview which usually features a strong current female figure. The interview usually is full of glamorous, glossy photographs and an interview which usually covers a three-four page spread.

The questions are usually question and answer format with relation to the celebrity’s career, relationships, body image and other similar topics. They usually tell a story of success or a struggle which gives inspiration to the readers. Below is an example of an interview with Katy Perry. I have included one page of copy and one page of the type of imagery used.