Contents

The different columns would be in neat rows where it says "text here for contents..." I would also have the page numbers to direct the audience to the correct page. I continued the front cover image to the contents but with neutral expression.

Front Cover

Layout Idea

This is one idea of how i would like my magazine laid out.

Pictures

I photoshopped my final image to brighten the background, it is advertising the main coverline with a simple "haha!" sign. The models are laughing to tie in with the comedy and the colours are black and white to match the colour scheme.

Bar Codes and Sizes

I then went on to look at how large i would like the bar code, i don't want it too large to taken up room and i don't want it small enough for a sales personel to find it hard top find.

Masthead Fonts

I narrowed my choice of mastheads down to these 6, trying certain mastheads with "the" before to change the effect. I am really look for a bold font to stand out to my target audience's attention.

Layout Style Ideas - (not context)

I hand drew two different layout ideas to get used to where the different conventions should be layed out like on a magazine front cover. These are not drafts of my magazine, just purely testing the lay out.

Main Cover Line and Cover Line Ideas

I have also created a spider diagram of cover lines to express accross my front cover.

Sell Line Ideas

I then created another mind map to accumulate ideas for the selling line of my magazine front cover.

Masthead Ideas

I created a spider diagram to stimulate some ideas to create a masthead title for my college magazine.

Summary of Analysis

From analysing both of these college magazines, I have found they both stick to the traditional conventions. I have found out about the key rules in creating my magazine and how to create emphasis and connections between conventions. I have also found out the standered main image type of a magazine, (mid close up), and how to use it approprioately. The layout of the magazine and colour schemes to fit the audience are essential parts to consider for me to achieve a successful magazine front cover.

College Magzine Analysis (2)

The mast head reads "COLLEGE lifestyle", this tells me that the magazine isn't from a specific instutuion and is aimed at the audience of all college students in general. The date line shows us that there is only a quarterly edition. The colour of the masthead works well with the summer theme as yellow is a warm and sunny colour, it also connotes happiness, and summer is an exciting month which everyone looks forward to. The colour scheme continues through to the cover lines making the magazine look vibrant and bright.

The main image is medium close up of a young, black, college student. We can see this as the "law, buisness and society" text book he is carrying signifies this to us. He is dressed in black and white, casual clothing to keep him loooking on trend. One of the cover lines shows there is an issue inside about how to transform your casual college look into an outfit ready to party. it reads, "college couture/ campus casual to party chick", this links with the casual, college couture the model is wearing in the main image.   I think the institution used black and white clothing to make him blend in with the black background and emphasise the cover lines in yellow. The picture is dim lit but keeps his face and college books light and bold. The sell line says, "your exclusive guide to everything hip, hop and happening." I think they chose to use a black model, not just to keep the magazine universal and mulit- cultural, but to tie in with the sell line. The, "hip hop" in the sell line links with hip hop music which is usually generated through the black society. Also, you generally wouldn't hear a white citizen say "hip, hop and happening", these are also words used widely in the black community. This gives an edge to the magazine and gives it a unique selling point. The model is also looking directly at the audience, this makes him appear confident and as though he is enjoying himslef, showing college in a positive light. 

The bar code is in the left third with the price, clearly stated in dollars. This shows us that it is an american and canadian magazine. The other cover lines in the left third and the right handside advertise other columns in the magazine. A cover line exclaims "why we love blackberry", this brand of mobile phone has taken over now and makes the magazine look even more trendy and up to date with up and coming products and clothing.

There is a pink, splat shaped image with an advertisement to go paint balling, they have tied in the paintballing and the advertisement which makes it look asthetically better. The bright pink stand out vividly amongs the yellows, whites and blacks. They have done this to make it jump out to a reader and gain interest. Also, as it is a money maker, they have made it stand out amongst the rest of the cover lines etc. 

The main cover line is about the dancehall competitons, this is again linking back with the sell line. and the hip-hop. An edition for "the ultimate spring break" is in the right hand side of the magazine, it is not in bold like the rest of the cover lines as it is a college magazine and is trying to promote college not to be out of it, but the issue will still be a main one. The web address and dancehall address are in faint writing so the information is still there, but not taking the attention of the most important parts.

College Magazine Analysis

                                                          Double Front Cover

The masthead of the college magazine is "Secondary teachers", this alone makes it clear to the target audience its purpose is to give useful information to secondary teachers. The date line shows us that there is only a monthly edition because the month and year is only shown. There is also the institution web adress for more information.

The main image of the back, front cover is a girl aged around 15/16 dressed in a purple uniform made up of; a red v-neck jumper; a white shirt and a blue and red striped tie. The symbolic coded clothing connotates the idea of uniform and school. It puts her into a category/stereo type. Her hair in pinned back neatly with a child's clip making her look formal and young. She has her paper on her desk as though ready to work. To me, it looks as though the institution have purposely made the model's hand rest behind the other, and clenched her right fist to make one look reduced and the other completely hidden. I think they did this to make the girl look as though she prefers to keep herself to herself and not use her hands much to engage in practical work. This is because a cover line, in pink bold writing, says "Do boys and girls learn differently?" This could, together, make a symbolic code to show the girls view on learning.  The girls view is directed toward the boy, this could be seen as the girl being angry at the confident student in the class. The pink colour codes for female, and that is what the cover line is talking about, and also the main image.

The main image of the front, front cover is of a boy also aged around 15/16, this keeps to the target audience and is also appealing to the male gender, not just the female. He is wearing the same clothing which relates the two models and shows they are a part of the same institution and belong to the same school. The model in this image appears to be smiling excitedly with his hand raised. This is a sign that we can relate to. It shows he is willing to answer a question or wanting to ask a question. In this image, it is quite the opposite to the female, the model's hands are in clear view. He appears to enjoy using his hands showing him as more of a practical learner. Again, linking to the cover lines. This contrast against the girl. He is looking straight at the audience making him look confident and enthusiastic, whereas the girl isn't.  The blue colour codes for masculinity and this is what the cover line is talking about.

The top cover lines show what the columns inside are going to be about. There is even an image illustrating the last one. This interests the reader and gives them an insight into what they are buying /reading. Also the main cover line shows what the main feature is about. On the front, front cover they have used blue writing in the main cover line and pink on the other cover line, this is because the main image model is a male. On the back, front cover they have reversed this. By doing this, they have kept male and female themes strongly in both but emphasised the one which is more appropriate in each. There is also a small cover line advertising their free give away for student cook books. This makes the consumer feel like they're getting a good package and talks directly about student's maintaning the target audience. A clear white background has been used to keep the attention focussed on the main image and the main cover lines.

The "department for children, schools and families" is clearly advertised in the left third. In this particular magazine there is no model credit or bar code. I think it is because the magazine is a free edition for schools/colleges and the model is a school child.

Conventions of a Magazine

L.I.I.A.R

The five key concepts I must consider are:

• LANGUAGE - Specific termionology used in the subject
• INSTITUTION- Organisation (BBC), anything that produces media/a media text.
• IDEOLOGY- Is represented by values, legal and moral. System of beliefs we all share
• AUDIENCE- Consumers of media. Consider target groups and how audience will consume information.
• REPRESENTATION- Re-presenting society back to us (Look North). Send us messages through things like making programmes about our society. Values people represent (stereo types).