2. Issue number- tells us
when the newsletter
was distributed which
is useful as it ensures
we know that the
events described are
up to date.
The bold headings and
subheadings draw
attention to specific areas
that may peak an interest
in different people
according to what they
want to know.
“Afterschool club fun” for
children is exclaimed and
made more exciting through
the use of an exclamation
mark and capital letters. It is
also in purple which is a
different colour to the rest of
the front page. This draws
attention to it as it stands out
and the use of the word “fun”
makes it sound appealing. As
well as this, the heading is
surrounded by bright yellow
pictures of a smiling sun and a
star which both indicate
happiness.
The masthead is a sans
serif font which makes it
more child friendly as the
serifs make it more formal
and mature. As well as
this it is bolder than the
rest of the page and
illustrates the origin of
the magazine. This is
important as it gives
identity to the page and
makes it relatable for the
reader.
The Pizza Thursday
juxtaposes the idea of a
healthy school but also
promotes the school as
being fun as well.
The easily read table makes
it easy for pupils and
parents to understand. This
is important as both the
children and the parents
need to know what is going
on at the school. The table is
labelled the “activities
table” showing the school is
active and perhaps healthy
which makes the parents
have a positive outlook on
the school as a whole.
3. The logo used has not been
cropped correctly as the white
background is still there and
makes it look unprofessional
and amateurish which could
lead to the impression of a
badly taught teaching style.
The most apparent focal
point of the newsletter is
the success of the school
following the most recent
Ofsted inspection. This is
significant as it is likely to
be the most impressive
moment at the school in
this time frame. This
illustrates success in the
school and makes it
appear to be prosperous.
Bullet points with bigger
spaces between lines to
accentuate the
importance of the
information and also
makes it easy to read.
Masthead is bold and
clearly states the origin of
the newsletter and
appears to keep in with
the school colours which is
a running theme
throughout the entire
news letter. This is good as
if everything was navy and
white and then the
heading was bright green
it wouldn’t fit in and be
appealing.
A quote from outside of
the school showing the
excellence of the school
which will encourage
the parents into
thinking good things
about the school and
ultimately makes the
school look good as a
whole.
Contact details for the school
are important but not so
important that they’re going
to be the focal point so the
placement of them at the
bottom is a good move as it is
still bold and obvious but not
overpowering
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.
People within the school so ages ranging from 11 to 18. They will be interested in sports fixtures, concerts at school,
Christmas fairs, major events, school trips, days off and GCSE and A Level results. To appeal I’ll make the contents and
front page as intriguing as possible by mentioning these things are to be included in order for them to pick it up and read
it.
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
Priory Press
Priory Talk
Prioryty
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”
A picture of me or another student in a mid-shot at centre
Masthead overlapping the head
Important info round the side
Price at bottom left or right
Main cover line:
What will be the main story?
A current success at school or results of exams depends on time
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
I don’t want any others
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points which will be inside the
magazine, these need to be audience appropriate.
GCSE and A level results will be relatively prominent with more about academic progress and sports and music fixtures
and dates.
Typography:
(style, size, colour of copy)
Think about the writing and the style of the writing on your front
page.
Black, white, red and grey to fit with the school colours
Background colour/image:
What will be in the background, remember you don’t want to
take the focus away from the main image.
White so it doesn’t cost too much to print and use as much ink also white is just standard and the colour in the
background would draw away from the main events
Technical considerations:
(equipment, setting, props, costume, lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about what you have access to
and how you could use it.
Grey or white background
Well lit so as to capture features in detail
Costume would be a sixth form attire
I want them or me doing an activity like playing an instrument or painting etc
4. Audience Research
Question asked: What do you expect to see in a
school magazine?
No. of
people out
of 20 asked
who agree
Events at school (sport fixtures, days off, concerts, fairs
etc.)
11
GCSE and A Level Results (dependant on time of year) 14
A word from the Head teacher (on schooling
progress/current major events)
9
School Logo 20
Contact details for school 18
Images and colours (to keep in with school colours) 19
5. 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.
People within the school so ages ranging from 11 to 18. They will be interested in sports fixtures, concerts at
school, Christmas fairs, major events, school trips, days off and GCSE and A Level results. To appeal I’ll make the
contents and front page as intriguing as possible by mentioning these things are to be included in order for them to
pick it up and read it.
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
Priory Press
Priory Talk
Prioryty
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”
A picture of me or another student in a mid-shot at centre
Masthead overlapping the head
Important info round the side
Price at bottom left or right
Main cover line:
What will be the main story?
A current success at school or results of exams depends on time
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
I don’t want any others
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points which will be inside the
magazine, these need to be audience appropriate.
GCSE and A level results will be relatively prominent with more about academic progress and sports and music
fixtures and dates.
Typography:
(style, size, colour of copy)
Think about the writing and the style of the writing on your
front page.
Black, white, red and grey to fit with the school colours
Background colour/image:
What will be in the background, remember you don’t want to
take the focus away from the main image.
White so it doesn’t cost too much to print and use as much ink also white is just standard and the colour in the
background would draw away from the main events
Technical considerations:
(equipment, setting, props, costume, lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about what you have access to
and how you could use it.
Grey or white background
Well lit so as to capture features in detail
Costume would be a sixth form attire
I want them or me doing an activity like playing an instrument or painting etc
6. 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 program (Photoshop).
Below start to sketch what the front cover of your newsletter will look like.
7. 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 program (Photoshop).
Below start to sketch what the contents page of your newsletter will look like.
10. How and why I manipulated the
image
I used the “plaster tool” to erase blemishes
in order to give it a more professional
look. As well as this, I have changed the
brightness and contrast to give it a grey
overlay as it looks, in my opinion, quite
good with the school colours of red, black
and grey. In addition I have added a white
layer mask at the bottom to give it a more
blended effect and again make it look
more professional.
Why I chose the image
The photo was taken him
smiling and laughing making
it a less prepared photo. This
makes it appear more natural
and less posed and again
adds to the professional
effect I was aiming for. He is
also wearing glasses which
makes him look more
studious so keeps in with the
school theme.
11. How and why I manipulated
the image
Similarly with this image as with the
front cover picture I have edited the
brightness and contrast as it in kept
with the school colours. It is also
quite a flattering lighting as it is
faded and gets rid of blemishes
mostly by itself as their complexion
isn’t as clearly seen. However I did
use the blemish “plaster” tool for a
few more obvious places as the filter
didn’t completely erase them.
Why I chose the image
Again, with the other photo used on
the front page the pose is relatively
natural and doesn’t look too posed.
This is a good look as I am advertising
them as the Head Boy and Girl which
shows the school as perhaps kind and
welcoming. With them not looking
straight into the camera it is less
daunting and more fun and mirrors
the attitude of the school. The sixth
form uniform also looks smart but
casual so gives a sense of
professionalism yet not too strict
which is welcoming.
12. What I’ve learnt..
• I had never used the blemish eraser tool before which was useful
as it enabled me to make the pictures on the front page and
contents to look more professional.
• As well as this the use of the layer mask overlay that made a mist
at the bottom of an image was new for me and again added to
the professionalism of the look of the magazine as it allowed
blending.
• Another thing I’ve learnt is how to use the magnetic lasso tool
and selecting the inverse and being able to have an image
without it’s original background. I used this to cut out the boy
and girl on the contents page and put onto the contents page
plain background. This made them stand out and was useful as it
looked a lot better without the two contrasting backgrounds on
top of each other.
