1. The Brief…
As part of my coursework for media I have been asked to create a school magazine, the
contents page and the front page. These two pages should have some sort of link in
some way and should be clear that is for a school, therefore a formal magazine. I intend
to make sure that my magazine is formal as students will be reading this for some
inspiration and useful tips and pointers making it a very formal magazine but also make it
appealing to the eye so that people would want to pick up a copy and suggest it to their
friends. I aim to do this by contrasting the Grey, Red and Black theme which links in with
the school as it makes it clear what school I am talking about. I am also making sure that
I have inserted the school logo so that without reading you are aware of what school the
magazine is from. I will as make sure that the magazine will be balanced with images
and words because the magazine will range for all students therefore it needs to be
pleasing to everyone, so pictures for those who want a quick flick through the magazine
and the words for those who are interested in the topic and what to read on further.
2. Date Line- the smallest part of
the magazine cover as it is the
least important. It is still
important to have the date there
to make sure that the
information is to date and that
they have the latest information.
The Schools Logo- this logo
symbolises the school which means
that the magazine is targeted for a
specific audience (people who are
interested in the school) this means
that the audience are familiar with
the magazine and more likely to pick
up the magazine as they know what
the magazine is based upon.
The School Website- is separated
in a box to show it is separate
information from the other
information which is published.
This also is highlighted because
it is the only one which is in a
yellow box which draws
attention towards it, this is very
useful as it allows the readers to
look up more information on the
topic.
Masthead- this is the main title of
the magazine, which is obvious
due to it be the biggest size font
on the page as well as the only
text which is yellow. This is
important to be included on the
front page as it allows the readers
to be aware of the magazine
making it easily recognisable. I
think that the Hampton being
bigger than the rest of the
heading, works really well because
you instantly focus upon that
keyword.
The subheading- is simple and the
second biggest text on the page. It links
well with all of the images displayed on
the front page and show as sense of
achievement.
The secondary images links in
with the main images therefore
the theme continues implying it
goes throughout the whole of the
magazine.
The main image is big and the
centre of attention as your eyes
immediately focus upon the
image. This shows that the
magazine is focusing on sports as
it is heavily sports based. The
picture looks professional and
high quality and makes the
school look good as there is
nothing negative about the
image.
Secondary stories- this magazine has many secondary stories
which are listed on the front page. This makes it seem that
the magazine is packed with loads of information which is
important and relevant which everyone should read. As are
many stories included it makes people want to read all of
them as they have small statements of them and they are
intrigued to find out more.
3. Main Image- this is clearly the main
image of the magazine as it is
central and it is the biggest on the
front cover of the magazine. This is
big and bold and links in with the
title as the kids seem like they
attend the ‘Prep school’
The date line- this is smallest text
on the page this is because it is
not as important as the rest of
the information which is present
on the page. It is present because
is make sure that the regular
readers have the latest issue
possible.
The Issue Number- just like the
date line the issue number is the
smallest text size on the page as it
is the least important. It is present
on the page because regular
readers are able to check whether
they have the right issue or that
they haven't missed one. It is also
for those who have only recently
started to read the magazine as if
the wanted to catch up they
would know how much they have
missed.
Masthead- this is clearly the
headline of the page because is it
the biggest text on the page as well
as the only text which is black with
red highlighted. This links in
extremely well with the picture
below as the colours in the picture
are black and red to show that they
are part of the school and the same
topic of the magazine. The headline
is clear and easy to read from a
distance therefore people being
drawn towards it.
Sub heading- this heading
is below the Masthead
which makes you read it
as you follow on from the
heading. It is a small
simple heading which
symbolises the school
making it familiar to those
who attend the school or
are interested in it (such
as the parents)
Secondary Stories- this brief
statement of the stories which are
ahead, keep the readers wanting to
know more and read on to find out
more information. This has only
given two examples suggesting that
people will have purchase or read
the magazine to find out all of the
information. As the Reading
Matters is bigger and bolder it
shows that that is the feature article
and the main story in the magazine.
4. Market Research…
For my market research I asked 20 students from The Priory
School three simple questions:
1. What would expect to find in a school magazine?
2. How much would you be willing to pay for the magazine?
3. How often would you expect the school magazine published?
These question where very open allowing the students to express
what they felt was best, therefore giving me a range of different
answers to suit different opinions.
5. The Results…
These are the following results I received from my fellow peers:
What do you expect to see in a school magazine?
Question and Answer page
A Sports section
English section
Maths section
Teacher talk- where the teachers share an interesting fact about themselves
Bulletins
Information about upcoming events-5
Information about recent activities within the school-2
Opportunities-1
Achievements
Specialised magazines form major events- 7
School Clubs
Letter from head
6. The Results Continued…
How much would you be willing to pay?
Nothing-8
50p -2
£1 -4
£1.20
£1.50 -5
How often would you expect it to be published?
Every week-5
Every two weeks-5
Once a month-8
Termly-2
7. A Conclusion From The Results…
From the market research I have concluded on doing a special featured
magazine on sports day where I will give all of the results for each of
the different sports as well as mention any records broken within the
school. Even though it will mainly feature Sports Day I will also include
a letter from the head as well as a mention of The Zoo Trip and the
Honour Students. I believe by choosing all of these different topics it
has suited a variety of audiences as everyone is able to relate to the
magazine as the whole school participated in Sports Day and for those
who went onto The Zoo Trip are able to reminiscence about their time
there. I have also concluded that I shall make the magazine free
because the market research advices me that more people would want
the magazine for free.
8. AS Media Studies Preliminary Task – School Magazine Front Page Proposal Form
Target audience:
(age range, interests)
Although it is a school newsletter you still have to think about your audience and how to
appeal to them.
The school magazine is aimed for students of the school (11-18 years of old) this is because it is information to keep them updated on the school. The teachers and parents are able to read the magazine
however the main priority are the students therefore the language choice may not be as formal. The magazine can also be aimed for those who are potential students of the school and what to find out more.
This means that the images and content have to be balanced in order for it to be suitable for the different range as well as have a simple guideline.
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
Priory news
Priory Talk
The Primary Source
Primary Priory
The Primary Say
Main image:
What will be the focal point of your front page, remember, your work “must include a
photograph of a student in a medium close-up”
As I have chosen to do a special edition on sports day for my main image I have decided to have a medium close up of someone who is a sporting star, it will be located roughly in the middle of the page so it
is the main focus of the magazine and everyone will pay attention to it and know that it is the main focus of the magazine.
Main cover line:
What will be the main story?
My main cover line is the Sporting Success as this links clearly with the image and will be an ongoing theme throughout the magazine, I also have two subheadings which are sport day results as the magazine
is a sports day edition as well a head teachers accommodation.
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
The school logo
The name of the school
The issue date
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points which will be inside the magazine, these need to
be audience appropriate.
As the additional cover lines which will be included in the contents page are:
A level and GCSE results fantastic
Award Ceremony
Letter from the head
Dates for your diary
The zoo trip
Honour students
Typography:
(style, size, colour of copy)
Think about the writing and the style of the writing on your front page.
Background colour/image:
What will be in the background, remember you don’t want to take the focus away from the
main image.
For the front cover I will have a grey and white gradient but when you open inside the background is plain white but there is the theme of the red strip present on the bottom for both the front an contents page
and the school logo at the top right hand corner of the magazine. I also have the writing which will be black for both the contents page as well as the home page and for the front page I shall I have the
coloured boxes which will go around the text so this would be either black or red.
Technical considerations:
(equipment, setting, props, costume, lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about what you have access to and how you could use it.
The props would be links to school websites and educational ones which will help the students to further their education and also include some images of sports day, which represent the whole of sports day.
9. Preliminary exercise: produce a front page and contents page of a school magazine. Front covers must include a
photograph of a student in a medium close-up with appropriately laid out text and use of an image manipulation
programme (Photoshop).
Below start to sketch what the front cover of your newsletter will look like.
10. Preliminary exercise: produce a front page and contents page of a school magazine. Front covers must include a
photograph of a student in a medium close-up with appropriately laid out text and use of an image manipulation
programme (Photoshop).
Below start to sketch what the contents page of your newsletter will look like.
13. The TPS is highlighted in the title to emphasise the link between
the title and the School As The Priory School has the initial TPS,
showing a clear link to the school.
The Heading of the Magazine is
clear and out of the way from
the other information which is
presented. You can clearly tell
this sis the heading of the
magazine as it is the biggest
text compared to the rest of the
magazine.
The school logo is clear
and stands out, so it is
instantly recognisable
allowing students to know
which magazine to pick
up. The logo gives a clear
identity to the magazine.
‘Sporting Success’ subheading is
seen to be the most important
heading out of the three because
it is slightly bigger than the other
two and is the only one
surrounded by the red box which
shows it significant, I have
chosen to do this as inside you
will find a main article about this
where as the other two are
features inside the magazine and
are not as important. All of three
headings are nicely boxed to
keep it formal and tidy
The ribbon at the bottom of
the page is there for anyone
who is not familiar with the
school so they know which
school they are reading into it
also shows the issue date so
that people are aware of how
many have previously been
published and if they wanted
to read the rest of them.
14. How I Changed The Image…
I began with this image
and wanted to begin by
removing the background, I
simply id this by using the
quick selection tool which
got rid of the background
easily.
It then left me this, I believed that the picture
looked quite dull so I thought I would change
the brightness and contrast of the image. I did
this by going onto Image then Adjustments
and finally brightness and contrast, where
there was a panel where I decided how much
brightness I wanted to increase as well as the
contrast.
15. How I Changed The Image…
The Picture resulted to become like
this which is slightly brighter than
before. To enhance the image further
I changed the vibrancy and saturation
of the image, which made the image
stand out much more which I
believed benefitted the magazine.
The Finished Result
16. A consistency from the
front page to the cover
page showing the link
between them. It his
highlighted as the logo
of the magazine
because it is at the top
left corner of the page
where it is clear and
noticeable.
All the images are linked to
the main theme of the
magazine so the audience
are aware what it exactly is
and whether it would suit
them. There is also page
numbers beside them so if
they are only interested in
one topic of the event then
they can turn to the certain
page to find out more
information.
The logo ion the top
right hand corner show
the identity of the school
just like the homepage
to show consistency
throughout the
magazine.
The title of the page ‘Contents’ is
placed on the side and is bold
from the rest of the text, I placed
it on the side as I didn’t believe
that it was highly important
however still essential for it to
placed on the page.
The ribbon at the bottom of the page
is exactly like the one show on the
front cover to show the link between
the two pages, however instead of
having the Priory School on the
ribbon I decided to have the web
address for the School then on the
later pages you will see more
information on The Priory School, so
the Address and contact information.
17. Why I choose the image?
I choose this image as I believed that it was the best out of the three as the
first image she is on the side and her finger is covering her face. This means
that the image is not good for use and therefore I did not use the image. The
second image is not acceptable to use because her neck is not shown and
she is looking away from the camera this is why I didn’t use the image. With
the last image she is looking directly at the camera and the image is clear and
there is a gap between the two sides unlike the second image.
