This document summarizes the key steps taken to create a school magazine for a preliminary design task. The target audience was identified as 11-16 year olds. Research was conducted on existing school magazines. A front cover and content page were then designed in Photoshop featuring a masthead, cover lines, images and typography aimed at appealing to the target demographic. Images of students were selected and edited to be medium close-ups. Colors and fonts were used consistently to reinforce the houses within the school. The content was designed to interest both genders with topics like sports, drama, exams and gossip. Feedback was gained on prototyping the magazine design.

1. Brief
• This is the preliminary task, for this we had to create a school
magazine and content page to demonstrate our understanding or the
different conventions needed to successfully understand the audience
as well as the purpose to which we hope to achieve once finished.
Before creating our own magazine we had to do research by analysing
existing school magazines and a audience research this provided
more information into what the target audience want therefore gave
indication what to and not to include in the magazine, we first
sketched our front page and content then we used Photoshop to
make it more realistic.

2. Masthead is ‘break’ as it appeals to the target audience because most
students seek and need this due to all the expectations and stress they
encounter at school, as a consequence of this the masthead has to be
short and simple so that its not to complicated for them.
These are all secondary stories
The issue number is needed so that it shows its current
which this target audience like and tend to be
This is the sell line, the word ‘new’ links in with being current which
appeals to the target audience but also it gives this magazine
exclusiveness therefore more copies will be taken
These words are direct to the target audience as during high school
these will be emotions felt through out either about exams or even
problems such as friendships therefore getting problems answered is
something they are likely to have great interest in
Success is personified and exaggerated by roaring, this is trying to
emphasis how well the students have done academically which
they all will want to know . Its also uses the listening sense
Puff/splash: ‘1st issue FREE!’ is
incongruous wit the rest of the
information on the school magazine,
this is why it is in a bold colour such as
yellow and in a shape of a circle so
that it stands out as its giving
information on purchasing it
This is in bold and has a exclamation mark because its
emphasizing the availability of this magazine therefore
more people are more likely to have this
The price is small so people are not put of by it straight
away however those who liked the first free one may then
want to actually purchase It. Also it makes people aware of
the actual price therefore knowing its price ‘£1’ people
may be more interested to pick up the free one
The website is given so that the audience can find out main Stories
before considering to buy its also useful because the target
audience for this magazine will have an interest in the internet
‘ice factor’ is used instead of ‘x factor’, x factor is a show that shares a target
audience with this magazine. A story included in the magazine is to do with
auditions which is similar process that occurs in the x factor this is done so that
the audience are interested in this as much as they are to the x factor so that
they repurchase to find out what happens next.
‘scoop’ clearly suggest that the target audience is 11-16 year olds,
students who go high school. Its informal therefore appealing to
this target audience more
This is a rhetorical question, its direct to the reader which may
make them more curious to read on
This uses rhyme ‘cool’ and ‘school’ which makes it unforgettable it is also
a phrase that many students may think of themselves to be this is further suggested by the image of students wearing clothes that do
not conform to uniform as well as behaving inappropriate for school.
The key image is a medium close up shot is used so that the
audience automatically are aware that this is a student that
wants changes with the uniform ,the purple dot on the collar
matches the colour scheme that is followed through out the
text in the magazine
The bar code is bottom right so that it does not ruin the
coherent structure of colour and positioning of all the above
and also it shows that it needs purchasing for those people
who fail to see the small print of the cost

3. ‘CHS’ is an abbreviation for chosen this appeals to the target audience of 11-16 year olds as
they tend to abbreviate their language also, however the typography is small and it fades
into the background making it in contrast less appealing to this audience.
Secondary stories
Masthead is CHS magazine, more emphases is put into ‘magazine’
through the typography and the yellow colour the reason may be for it
be more obvious as to what it is as well as its easier and memorable to
refer to instead of CHS
Issue number is necessary as it shows its new and
current magazine which the audience will like to be
aware of
Turner can be a student that will explain her plans for future this appeals to this
target audience as they are likely to be same age as her therefore they are all at
the stage where they are deciding what they want to do in the future as well so
will be interested to read about someone else's. its in speech marks which
indicates its come straight out of the story the exclamation mark makes it more
interesting and exciting to want to find out what it is
This is the Sell line as it does not have a pink background which makes it different
to the other but also the ones that are in pink ‘new to school?’ and ‘turners:
‘’my big plans!’’ both link to gcse’s for example pupils main aim when entering
any school is to achieve high in end exams also turners big plans would not be
possible if does not achieve the grades she needs.
Puff/splash- its in a trapezium shape and shaded in a hot pink colour so that
it stands out as its emphasizing the ‘FREE 10 PAGE” which is also in bold
which signifies that its something new to this magazine
The price is in small print so people are not automatically put
of but instead first read the stories
A website is important as it makes it possible to read upcoming
stories but mainly it appeals to the target audience as they tend
to use the internet more
Key image is a _____ shows a student
That is happy and on way home we can tell this by the background
Being a street view
Rhetorical question directly asking the audience specifically those
who are new, this is more likely to appeal to them therefore making them want to
read on
Typography and colour is similar to the masthead
which signifies its importance.
The mayor of Cheltenham having a say on this school makes this magazine more exclusive and prestige this
is also supported by the school being ‘different’ to others, this appeals to the targeted audience as 11-16
year olds don’t like being the same especially with others their own age group. However the mayor is not
some one that is likely to appeal to the target audience.

4. AUDIENCE RESEARCH
1) How much would you pay for a school magazine?
£_____ / _______p
2) How often would you like a school magazine published?
_________ weeks / ________ days
3) What information would you like to find out about in a school magazine?
_________________________________
4) How often do you purchase a school magazine? (tick one option)
Every week
Every month
Every year
Never
5) Do you read the school magazine? (Tick one option)
Yes
No
6) Should the school magazine also be linked to social media/internet?
Yes
No
7) What would encourage you to buy the school magazine?
_________________________________________

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.
11-16 year olds. as it’s a school magazine they will have interest what is going on with the school; any problems that they encounter
magazine can offer solutions. They are likely to have interest in exams certain subject information on. Has to appeal to both
genders- include male activities eg sports then female eg dance,music. Should include a gossip page applying a chapter for each year
Incorporate the houses!! Colour code sections specific to them, where to go receive help
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
merit magazine dot on I to be blue I want colours on it to represent houses colours ( earth,(green), air(silver),water(blue),fire(red)
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”
medium close up from bellow= connotations are important asset to school, looking up= no limits on what can achieve want sky in
background = sky is limit not looking towards reader shows they rather look forward then back
Main cover line:
What will be the main story?
alevel results slogan ‘’ how can YOU improve?’’
High school students houses
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
school logo
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points which will be inside the
magazine, these need to be audience appropriate.
topic- science …… sports-football tournament drama- theatre – week sport results,. education drive
Talk- highschool: gossip for each house, alevel: barnet NEW study room… chairty awerness – 10 tips to avoid stress. Tips to
revise/how to achieve best results / most merits!
New,. Merits achieved and Awards won this week message from lantos and barnet!
Newa/events
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.
Or medium close up from above looking up= having high aspirations only looking forward sky in background direct contact with
audience shows confidence, fearless able to achieve what set mind to
font to be sophisticated , uniform and school is presented this way to smart looking
(courier
Merit
new) Merit (skia) Merit (papyrus)
background may be blurry of a place with similar colours used in rest or sky above
might need to put colour sugar papers in background to take pictures equip will need camera costume will ne normal clothing if
Technical considerations:
possible to get them to wear colour similar to one in background…
(equipment, setting, props, costume, lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about what you have access to and
how you could use it.

6. Front page
Rough Drafts
Content page

7. Completed products

8. What did you do to the
image? How did you
change it?
To this image I added a masthead I choose to call this magazine ‘merit’ reasons for this is
that the school its targeting uses a system where the children are rewarded for any
positives by a merit, this then gives the magazine associations with being positive and a
reward for those who read it. The colours I used for the text on the magazine are the same
as the house coulors the school also uses this represents the magazine to have a
connections and information relating to all the different year groups. The different colours
also make the text stand out and eye catching as well as it will appeal to the target
audience being teenagers. The main cover lines appeal to both the high school and the 6
form, its stories that all in education will want to know more about making it more
mainstream for all. The main image I used is a current student, the image is a medium
close up shoot the focal point is his facial expressions for example the no eye contact
represents the student only looking forward the background being a sky shining over him
is as if there is no limits to what you can achieve. The offer is there to attract more
students so they have an idea what it includes free of charge to then make them want to
repurchase, furthermore the website was used to appeal to the target audience as they
are more likely to have an interest with the internet as well as it gives them other options
instead of waiting for next copy. The ‘new’ is used to make the readers feel they are up to
date in comparison to those who do not purchase this is used to encourage more to ne
interested in the magazine.

9. Why pick this font
I picked this font as it is sophisticated which the target audience will appreciate however it also has rough edges
this represents the target audience as some of them in different areas to do with education will also be rough in,
furthermore it also shows that they can change personalities to being very formal and slick to informal and scruffy
Magazine

10. What did you do to
this image?
How did you change
it?
To the content page I added the same masthead as the front
page this makes them coherent as well as it putting emphasis on
the magazines name, the colours used for the masthead is
further used for the main headings this reinforces the different
house importance throughout the magazine. The main cover
stories will appeal to the different variety of students for
example events more for boys where as talk more for girls. The
image___ is of students similar age of those in the school
hugging each other this has connotations of team work or even
friendship.

11. What did you learn?
• I learnt how to become familiar with Photoshop again and also recapped the conventions needed for a magazine and
context page, as well as doing analyses made me more aware of the different conventions you can use to make the
magazine more succesfull.