school magazine analysis

1. Dress code: tie
denotation is formal
the connotation
suggests a smart
uniform which presents
good students that are
willing to do well
The head line “Chosen
life” stand out from the
rest of the text due to
the size and font used.
The text is in the same
colours as the uniform
which presents the
genre of the magazine.
The magazine is really formal due to the charity symbol
which is well known world wide this suggests that the
students are supportive and aware of the world’s needs.
The model is consternated
into his work this sends a
good message to students
as they get false needs that
they need to be like him.
The use of the modern
technology presents the
age that the magazine is for
which is modern teens.The use of the direct
address creates a
relationship with the
reader which is a
persuasive technique.
The mise en scene gives a educational feeling; gives a impression that school is important
in order to achieve in life this can be connote from the model , dress code as well as the
background where everyone is consecrated into their work. It send a good message to
the teens yet it’s edgy due to the head line font.

2. The head line stands out
from the background yet
it creates a nice contrast
as the colour yellow is
used more than once.
The colour yellow is for
happy people. Mostly
warm and friendly, yellow
usually works best as a
companion to other
colours.
Yellow is a symbol of joy
and delight which is a
good association with a
school magazine.
The direct gaze shows the model’s confidence and it
creates a positive relationship with the readers at the same
time it creates a false needs of “I WANT TO GO TO THIS
SCHOOL”.
The models smile
creates a positive
atmosphere which is
encouraging for other
students.
Website link shows that the magazine is aware of
modern technology meaning that people can access the
information online too.
The date suggests that
the magazine is annual
newsletter.
The cover lines suggest
that the audience are
teens ages 11+ however,
the are some information
for a parents too.
Dress code is really formal which
suggest the genre (school
magazine).
Barcode suggest that the
magazine is for sell.

3. The head line informs that the magazine is for parents this
can be infer from the language technique of direct
address : “choosing a school for your child”.
The models of the
magazine are from multi
ethnic backgrounds which
makes the magazine more
reliable and convincing.
The direct gaze shows that the children are confident in what they are doing
which encourages the parents to buy the magazine as it creates a false needs of
wanting their children to be like them.
The colour red symbolises
warning so the
connotation of this could
be that it warns parents
about the importance of
school. The colours contrast
nicely with each other
Barcode presents that
the magazine is for sell
The font use is simple
therefore its formal

4. The head line font is
stereotypically associated
with a school team. This
idea has been used in
movies such as “Old
School”.
The heal line stands out from the rest of the image due to the bold font and the black
colour which makes the magazine look formal (present the genre) however the blue
filter behind it makes the font edgy which suggests it’s for modern audience.
The date suggests it’s a monthly edition.
The model uses the direct
address which presents self-
confidence. However, the
other eye is hidden under the
models hair the connotation
of this could be that the
model has two sides which
makes the magazine more
mysterious and thrilling to
read.
The price shows that the magazine is not
necessary in a good condition OR this is done
on purpose to address the target audience.
The mise en scene gives an
impression of casualty which
creates a sense of false needs
by suggesting that the hard
work is not that much
important for achievement OR
again it’s just to make the
target audience more
interested into “school”
magazine.
The colour stand out which
makes the magazine eye
catchy and more engaging.
The orange outlines the
important information which
informs the reader more
easily of what’s inside.

5. The mise en scene is
minimalistic; this makes
the magazine quite
simple and formal.
The head line looks really artistic but at the
same time its very simple it look like it was
drawn (maybe by a student?).
The direct gaze suggest
that the model is
confident and pound of
his results.
The GSCE book suggests
the age group that the
magazine is for probably
11-18 as it not only talk
about GSCE’s but A-level
too.
The website show that the
magazine is aware of
social media.
The background is
simplistic but it shows
the books behind the
model the denotation of
this could be school.
However, the
background look a little
like from a children 3+
cartoon.
The dress code is casual
which presents modern
teens.

6. The contents page
looks simple however,
it’s well detailed
The colours makes nice
contrast between each
other and thy give a
formal impression
The page references are
eye catchy due to the
size and type of font
used
The images are simple
with both models
having a direct gaze
suggesting they are
confident in what they
are doingThe use of mise en
scene gives an
impression it’s a
teenagers magazine The information given on
the contents page are
detailed but not too
detailedThe colours (purple)
are feminine
suggesting that the
magazine is for
female?

7. Audience Research
Things included in school magazine Tally
Key events coming up, for example trips IIIII IIIII IIIII II
Pictures of students IIIII III
Students Achievements III
Key events from the past III
School information's I
School details I
University information's III

8. AS Media Studies Preliminary Task – School Magazine Front Page Proposal Form
Target audience:
(age range and interests)
The audience range will be 16-18 and this is because my magazine will be aimed at six
formers. This will be easier for me to pick the topics that magazine should have inside as well
as this age range will have similar interest as the age gap between them is not big
Possible Titles ideas:
(masthead/ title block)
• Douglass Times
• DQ (Douglass Quality)
• BD (Bishop Douglass)
Main image: An image of students (six formers) having a good time with a direct gaze for them to create a
relationship with the reader
Main cover line: • Head Boy and Head Girl results
• Best Art Work
• Style?
• University Time
• A-Level lost year results!
Additional Key images: An image of the ‘Best Art Work’ which will be mentioned on the Front page as a cover line.
Moreover, an image with students (the same as the in the front page) having a good time
Typography:
(sizne, font, colour)
Colour:
• Black = is formal and the meaning of black is energy which is important in school
• Yellow = its eye catchy as it stand out from the rest of the background and also yellow is
associated with joy and happiness which gives a good impression of school and the
atmosphere
• Blue = the meaning of blue is stability , it symbolises trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence,
intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven and this futures are important in a school
magazine as it gives an good impression and send a positive message to young readers
• White = it creates nice contrast with the rest of the colours (mainly black) and is
associated with purity
• Size font = 14 , 16, 25 and 59
• Font: Adobe Arabic, Calibri (body) and
Background colour/ image: The magazine should be simple not too eyes catchy in order for the audience to concentrate
on models and main cover lines
Technical consideration: Models have to be dressed formally (school uniform)
I may add some stickers that are associated with school in order to show the genre of the
magazine

9. Below start to sketch what the front
cover of my magazine will look like.

10. Contents page ideas
I decided to pick this layout of my
contents page as it looks more neat
and professional. Moreover, there
will be more space for the articles
and they would more eye catchy
rather than the image as it’s placed
on the left side which is were the
reader looks first.
Here is my first and second example
on a contents page, my first
example doesn't look professional
enough for a school magazine.

13. Notes on the process
Here are some of the images that I was
considering to choice as the front cover
due to the nice atmosphere and models
smiling and laughing. However, I found this
images not professional enough as the not
all models had a direct gaze , the angel of
the photography wasn't correct etc.…
I choice this image as all the model have
direct gaze which shows their confidence
in what they are doing, they look
professional and very smart as well as the
angel that the image is taking place is
better than the rest which means it’s
easier to work with.

14. How did I change the pictures?
I used a Pick Monkey editor as I found it easy
and simple to work with, I Photoshop the
image and placed the master head using this
program. However, main cover lines were
mainly created on PowerPoint as I found the
font the most formal and suitable for school
magazine.
I decided that my master head would be in
this font as its associated with a American
school logos and its visible in movies which
should represent the convection of my
magazine easily.

15. Steps of making
Here is the original image of my front
cover.
I believed that the lighting was too
dark and quite doll therefore I decided
to change it. Also I decided to make
the master head and one of the main
covers in the same font as creates a
nice contrast and it makes the
uninteresting place interesting.
My step 3 was about adding cover lines
and making them stand out from the
rest of the background.
My results.

16. Brief
This project was about creating a front cover and a contents page of a school
magazine. The front cover as well as the images that I used in my contents page
had to include medium shots of students or anything else that is associated with
school. This was the practice that should inform me about what work and what
doesn't work in order for me to be able to improve / makes better later on.

17. What have I learned?
From this experiment I have found out that a too light background is difficult to work
with as the colours later on for cover lines blend together which makes it invisible. Also,
I learned how the layout of the Front cover should look in order to look like a magazine
for teenagers.
Also, I learned that by using Pick Monkey I cant manipulate the image as much as I
would be able on Photoshop and therefore, in future I will use Photoshop instead. This
will allow my Front cover to look even more professional.