Curry Fanatic, A Life of Spice

by Ismaeel Nakhuda

Well folks, this is the 68 page magazine I single-handedly produced as part of my MA in Magazine Journalism 2004/2005.

Most of the copy and photographs and all of the design were done by yours truly. Prior to physically putting the magazine together a complete media pack including a full analysis of the market, interviews with real-life curry fanatics and results from various focus groups was developed.

If there’s a magazine publisher out there looking for a hot little number then get in touch. Curry Fanatic could be a winner.

I’m reproducing some of the articles that featured in the magazine over the next few weeks but for the time being sufficing with a few shots of the magazine and excerpts from the media pack.

"Magazine Type

Curry Fanatic is a specialist magazine aimed at a specialist reader, who not only has a regular interest in Indian food limited to the grotty local Indian take-away after a night out at the pub but is passionately aware of the subtleties of Indian cooking. The Curry Fanatic reader enjoys the intricacies of Indian food and is ready to explore the vast richness Indian cuisine has to offer.

1. Editorial Philosophy
(Much of this has been deduced from the focus group, see Appendix)

Curry Fanatic is unique in being the only print magazine to cater for the curry diner. It aims to see itself setting the trend when it comes to Indian food. It also hopes to be widely consulted by Indian food fanatics, restaurants, take-aways and catering companies as the curry bible of the British Isles.

With magazines such a FHM and Esquire setting the trend in British male fashion, Curry Fanatic aims to be the trend-setter when it comes to Indian food and Indian restaurants in the UK.

Readers will be informed about what is happening in the world of curry. Information will also be provided about where to eat, what to eat and how to eat. Curry Fanatic will be showing readers how to cook and then eat Indian food successfully. Editorial content will include reviews of restaurants and take-aways, history of Indian cuisine, health information and curry competitions in the UK.

The content will be geared to be entertaining, amusing and satirical, allowing readers to be intrigued, informed and most of all feel relaxed. Curry Fanatic aims not to be patronising but informative with an air of tradition.

In terms of design Curry Fanatic intends to be picture based and will use pictures abundantly. Editorial copy will be sparingly used throughout the magazine.

The photographs used will be of different sizes, some large and other small. Pictures taken will be of food and restaurants with people featuring every so often but not so much. White space may be used just to add a sense of sophistication to the magazine. Body type will be serif whereas headlines and stand-firsts will be a mix of serif and sans-serif."

(Excerpts from the media pack)