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.