2. Puffs also increase sales of
a magazine as these display
exciting topics in school.
Furthermore, this maintains
the audience’s interest to
read the magazine further.
An example is the word
‘new’ something which the
students might not have
seen or heard thus they
would buy the magazine in
order to find out
Anchorage uses jargon which
applies to school as Head
boy means someone,
particularly a guy, who acts
as a disciplinarian or a
helper to his peers. This
method will attract readers
as the use of a community
language will make the
reader feel a sense of
belonging.
Central image portrays the
subject of the magazine
through the use of a
picture. He is presented in
appropriate school clothes
that shows neatness and is
a good example of how
most students are expected
to have an image of. It fits
with the magazine’s genre –
school
Sometimes, freebie is
necessary on a magazine
because it has a big
impact on people. It
appeals to audiences as
people generally love
free stuff. This helps the
magazine to sell out
more.
The masthead (title) is
used to inform what the
content of the magazine
will be thus the masthead
is the name of the school,
Chosenhill.
Colour scheme uses basic
or primary colours which
shows an academic vibe of
the magazine. This is
relevant as it displays
formality which may
suggest the school’s
status.
Conventions
of a school
magazine
3. Colour scheme used is
a combination of blue
and red which is similar
to flames’ hues. This
connotes danger as
abusing technology will
likely result to
distractedness, blurred
vision or even fire.
Central image –
presenting cords of
different technologies
such as computers,
smartphones and other
gives information about
the content of the
magazine, school
Layout – all the texts
are set aside and
gives the audience a
clear view of the
central image which
is also an important
aspect of a magazine
as it depicts the
subject of the
magazine through an
image
Sell line uses vocabulary such as
disruption to attract the
audience because it makes them
curious about this particular
word, thus the target audience
may have to take a magazine
and read its content in order to
find out
Masthead’s font shows
formality as its style is
not comic nor has
graffiti-like font. This
is fitting to the
magazine’s genre –
school as it shows a
studious image of the
school.
4. The issue number and
date line should be
included in a magazine
as it tells the audience
that the information
given is up to date
The use of few fonts
makes the front cover
easier to read as it
gives the reader a
sense of direction on
where to start
reading. The editor
made a good choice
of fonts such as semi-
cursive to emphasize
words that may catch
the reader’s
attention.
Although the main
image is not located at
the centre of the
magazine, it still
looked professional by
how the editor laid out
texts. Blurring the
background makes her
to stand out which also
helped in having a
well-organized layout.
Strap / Sell line aids
people in their decision
to buy the magazine or
not. It acts as a
summary in which the
editors think is the most
enticing aspect of the
magazine. They used the
mayor as an evidence
because people believe
he sees all the events in
an area
Puffs tackle aspects
relevant to school
such as GCSE results.
Moreover, the use of
hyperbole (‘best’)
intrigues readers
about how impressive
the school is. This
persuades the reader
to purchase the
magazine
Colour scheme used is a
bit colourful. This is not
only eye-catching to the
readers but also to not
bore them while
reading texts on the
front cover. This
increases the chances
of people to take the
magazine
5. Including the date line is
essential as it indicates
the date when the
magazine was published.
This allows the reader to
know if the magazine was
recently published thus,
its contents is also up-to-
date
Puffs are more
intriguing because
the topics chosen to
discuss are the
majority of people
would be interested
in. An example is
Gossip. Clearly, a
gossip makes anyone
curious
Great use of font
colour as they stand
out. These four colours
are different from the
rest or the common
colour that was used in
the magazine. This
could suggest the
different colours the
houses represent.
Another purposeful and
intelligent use of their school
as a topic however, they are
implying a negative
atmospheric event. This
maintains the reader’s
attention because it is
uncommon for a school to
leak out bad information
towards their selves.
The central image is a student
wearing her uniform and
presenting herself neatly. This
gives the audience information
that Chosen Hill is an
outstanding school as their
student is dresses smart.
Today’s generation is most
likely inclined towards
technology, therefore music
may also have additional
genres relating to technology
such as EDM, Trap, Glitch
hop and House. These types
of music are made through a
computer software. This may
target new audiences as not
all schools offer house in
terms of subject: music.
6. Audience Research
THINGS INCLUDED IN A SCHOOL MAGAZINE TALLY
Student achievements ||||
Key events coming up |||||
Pictures of the school ||
Information about the school |||
School contact details ||
Key events from the past |
Pictures of students |||
My target audience are students in Bishop Douglass School. I wanted to know their opinions about the common and
essential features in a school magazine. Therefore, I conducted a research and asked 20 students. The results I have
gathered are presented in the form of a tally chart. Audience Research is important as it is a method which gives the
producer a better understanding on the key features that will appeal to their target audience.
7. 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 target audience will range from 11-18 years old, being students of the school means including secondary level and sixth form. Moreover, the magazine should also
be suitable for parents as they will likely read the magazine to be updated and have more information about the school. Therefore, the magazine needs to include
images for it to become enticing to one’s eye especially to younger students. This maintains the target audience’s focus; it will keep them reading the magazine
further.
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
Calibre de Douglass
Student Union
BDS Magazine
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”
Close up of a student working
Main cover line:
What will be the main story? GCSE Results How we made it into the TOP 10 schools
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
None, the front cover may be overcrowded due to the fact that the background of the image will not be rendered. I did not include another image in order to maintain
a professionally presented front cover.
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points which will be inside the
magazine, these need to be audience appropriate.
NEW SYSTEM? Discover the changes in Bishop Douglass
Typography:
(style, size, colour of copy)
Think about the writing and the style of the writing on your front
page.
Size 8.81 pt for general text. Font style is Minion Pro and font colour will be mostly white.
Size 66.55 pt and 30.19 pt for masthead. Font styles to be used are Minion Pro and Magneto. Font colours will be a slight greyish white and lavender.
Size 13.12 to 36.79 pt for main stories and secondary stories. Font styles to be used is Calisto MT. Font colours will be dark pastel blue and lime.
Background colour/image:
What will be in the background, remember you don’t want to take the
focus away from the main image.
The background will be the study area where the student is working. To maintain the focus on the main image, I needed to blur out several students who are also
working on computers.
Technical considerations:
(equipment, setting, props, costume, lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about what you have access to and
how you could use it.
For equipment and setting, I have chosen the study area in which there are a number of computers thus having my model sit in one of the units, there is already a
background which shows an academic environment. I will make him/her sit near the windows in order to achieve a natural lightning; I will not have to edit much after
taking the photo because the quality and brightness is already good. Furthermore, my model will be wearing his/her uniform to easily show that my magazine’s genre
is about school.
8. 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.
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 contents page of your newsletter will look like.
12. Notes on the
Process
Here are some photos which I took. The first and third image were
used for contents page. These two images were relevant as they
correlate with the sub headings (see previous slide). An example is the
subheading‘Pro or Con?’. This tackles a debate whether group studies
really help students in learning better. Thus, image number 1
demonstrates a group of students working together. Furthermore,
image number 2 was chosen as the front cover’s central image. It
depicts a determined individual working on a computer and a
background showing a school environment. The audience will easily
identify that it is a school magazine; it will also make them believe that
it represents how students should work at school. A good example may
also define the school’s reputation.
As you can see, the images have already been edited and I have lost the
original copy. Initially, the background of these photos were not
blurred. I used an app called Qtiie.JP from my smartphone to blur the
photos’ background. The main focus will only be the models which
makes it easier for the audience to identify what the images are
portraying.
1
2
3
13. How did I render the
school logo?
Firstly, I searched for Bishop Douglass’ logo from
Google images and found this. I chose this picture
as it is easier to render due to the fact that it only
has a plain royal blue background and the logo
itself. Thus, I dragged this image into Photoshop.
After that, A psd file for the image pop up. I
clicked on quick selection tool (+) and selected the
logo by spreading the dotted lines into the logo’s
outline. Then, seeing the whole outline of the logo
has been selected, I clicked on refine edge. A box
appeared (seen on the image above) which
contains settings to improve the edges of the
selected image.
Lastly, I drop the rendered logo into my contents
page and front cover psd file.
14. A Brief
In this preliminary task, I am required to create a front cover and contents page for a school
magazine. I had to make this school magazine since it serves as a practice for my music magazine;
it also helped me to distinguish the features which are relevant to a specific magazine. Moreover,
this task also ensured that I now have a better understanding of what needs to be included in a
magazine to effectively attract and satisfy its target audience.
15. What have I learned?
In creating my magazine, I have learned several aspects which are needed
to create a successful and effective school magazine. The masthead should be large enough for the
audience to see from afar. It will easily inform them that the magazine will be about Bishop Douglass
School. In addition, the title block should not extend to more than two words. This allow the reader to
remember the name of the magazine and instantly recognized it when the next issue is released.
Furthermore, to achieve a professionally and well-organized magazine, the context should not overlap
or cover the whole central image. Lastly, a preferred central image should literally have the model in
the centre and have spaces for the context.
