The document outlines key design elements of a school magazine cover, emphasizing the importance of a compelling master head, engaging imagery, and a suitable color scheme to attract the target audience of students and parents. It highlights the need for effective puffs and buzz words to convey relevant content succinctly, while also addressing the specifics of audience research to align magazine content with reader interests. The author shares insights gained from creating a magazine front cover as part of a preliminary task, focusing on layout, image selection, and the significance of understanding the target market.

1. Master Head – The title/name of
the magazine is written in big,
bold front and is in a bright
colour (yellow) which is effective
as it attracts the reader and
grabs their attention quick as its
hard to miss. In addition, the
person is covering some of the
master-head, which shows that
the magazine is well established
and so people would recognise it
easily.
Puffs (cover-lines) – having just
a few sentences or phrase about
an article would attract the
audience as they would want to
find out more about something
that have just read. Therefore
they would be persuaded into
buying a copy of the magazine.
These articles are always related
to the target market, e.g. for this
magazine it would be a group of
students at collage ‘make money
on campus’ Also, showing that
the articles are serious and get
down to business.
Headline- there is a number and
other social websites that people can
go visit to keep on track with the
magazine. This would straight away
get the audiences attention as many
students are interactive on social
media in today’s society .
Mise en Scene – the central image
on the front cover is a male holding
onto school books, this already
shows us that its related to
students as they study themselves;
so its connected to them.
Furthermore, the male is not
wearing uniform as its not primary
or secondary school anymore but
instead its collage where people
can express themselves, thus
showing that everyone has their
own style. The colour scheme
consists of mainly black, yellow and
white. The yellow and white
contrast between the black which
appeals the audience as the
colours are opposites each other.
Buzz word – the word ‘splat’ is
effective as its something that
would instantly gain the market
market’s attention as it would
draw them into reader the
magazine.
Different font – keeping it all
the same would be boring, so
mixing it up would gain
attraction and makes it more
effective.

2. Mise en Scene - This magazine
cover suggests that its targeted
at a younger and social able part
of college life. In addition, the
central image of a youthful and
striking girl on the front cover is
smiling brightly towards the
camera, this connotes that she
is are being friendly ( friendly
character) who really seems to
be enjoying college. Also, this
may appeal to those who are
worried about maybe not
enjoying college as it shows
them that collage isn’t actually
that bad. This would appeal to
the male audience because it
may suggest that these are the
types of girls there are at college
and so it may live up to their
expectations.
Moverover, the background of
the image is green, which could
suggest or symbolise the grass or
even the playground at
collage/high school, however it
has been blurred possibly to
emphasis on the main attraction,
which is the female, rather than
the audience focusing on the
scenery behind
Master Head- The master head of
this magazine named ‘College’ which
is written in bold font with the
colour red. This therefore grabs the
audiences attention as its easy to
read from a distance and its bright
enough to see from a distance.
Barcode/ price - The price code
specifies that this magazine is
something that the student may
have to purchase because its at an
affordable price, thus it takes
students into consideration, also the
magazine has its own issue which
gives the audience an idea of when
the other issue will appear.
Colour scheme- The colour red is
used represents confidence and
self- assurance, which many
students may lack due to moving
higher in their studies. In
addition, its a bold colour. Thus
making us attracted to right away.
(compliments the subtle colours
included in the background and
white space) This makes us look
straight at the central image of
the girl as the master head has
the one of the boldest colours as
well.

3. Master Head – This magazine title
has used two different colours (
green and pink) this may be
because the pink is more important
as it’s a brighter colour, also its in a
bigger front than the green
suggesting that’s its an significant
piece of information. The font used
it not just in block, but has
elements which suits the audience.
As it’s a ‘back to school magazine
for kids, the writing is made easier
to that they can read it as well. The
magazine may be for adults to read,
but unlike a collage student, who’s
magazine will contain more writing
and articles, this one is made easier
for parents to notice the different.
The important on this magazine is
minimal, and has more images,
which shows us that writing is not
the best way to communicate with
children, thus images may have
been used more as its easier to
understand. ( audience is considers)
Central Image- the central
image that has been used for
this magazine includes a young
girl, perhaps in year 2-3, who is
wearing a school uniform, with
a massive smile on her face.
( mise en scene ) This
permeates the idea that she is
having a great time at school,
and is happy at school. This will
therefore encourage other
parents t send their children to
school because as well as
education, the kids are having a
great time and are spending
them wisely. As well as
attracting parents, it may also
attract children as they would
want to have a great time like
her and so what t enjoy
whatever she is with her school
experience.
Puffs/cover lines- unlike
many other magazines which
include more writing, or
words for the puffs, this
magazine only contains a few
words, this way it gets t other
point right away, and makes
it easier for parents to
identify certain things.
Buzz words – this magazine has
used words such as ‘plus’ which
are called buzz words. This is a
great way to get the parents
attention as they would want to
know more about specific articles
and it’s a great advertisement
technique and the audience want
more.

4. Preliminary Task -Brief
For the preliminary task that I have been assigned, I had to create a school magazine front cover and
a contents, this is, after completing my research at looking at already existing magazines for this genre
to get an idea of what to expect.
All the photos for both my front cover and contents page where taken by me on the event I wanted it
to be based upon. The front cover include da group photo of students working on their creations and
the contents page features more photos of the different variety of activities taking place. I needed to
make this school magazine as a practice, as it would prepare me for the actual music magazine that I
need to produce at the end and also allows me to understand what works and what doesn’t work on
a magazine front cover and contents page. This also ensures that I now have an enhanced knowledge
of what I need to include in a magazine in order to be effective towards my target audience.
Furthermore, what I have learnt from this experience is how to use PicMonkey (trying out all the
different features and editing techniques) as well as how to produce an effective layout for a
magazine and how to make the magazine suitable for a specific target audience.(every magazine
doesn’t have the same layout required)

5. Audience ( Target Market) Research
Identifying a target audience of customers is among the most vital elements for a magazine. Without knowing your target market, it becomes
harder to aim your magazine to people that would be interested. This also gives the producer a further understanding of what needs to be
included in the product (magazine) to be able to please the target audience and become successful.
As part of my research, I conducted a few questions about what people would expect on the front of a magazine and then I asked 30 students –
my results are shown below
What needs to be included in a magazine Tally ( results)
Key/specific events that have occurred llll llll l
Student Achievements ( celebration) llll ll
Information about the school (
past/present/future) – History
lll
Pictures of all the students part of the BD
community
llll
Events coming up lll
Pictures of the school ( different buildings) ll

6. 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 audience for my school magazine will be the students, who are aged between 11-18 . Everything that will be included in my magazine will be
relevant to them and will therefore be suitable for them to connect with. In addition to this, my audience will also include parents or students so
that they can have access to what's going on at their child's school and so they can keep up to date with events. However, its aimed more towards
the students at school . To keep to my targeted audience I will make sure that the images are relevant, so I wont be having much text because it may
be purely to dreary for them but instead a few photos so that they stand out and garb their attention quickly
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
Some of the possible titles for my school magazine would be;
• Douglass+
• BD-Plus
• BDSL (Bishop Douglass School Life)
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”
The main/central image for my magazine cover would be a picture of a group of students in uniform to show that they come from the school
celebrating activities week(completing actives around school)
Main cover line:
What will be the main story?
The main cover line for my magazine will be the different range of activities being conducted in the school, so it will feature the different activities
people would have completed on that day
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
Additional images that will be on my school magazine will be;
• BD logo
• Students completed different activities
Background colour/image:
What will be in the background, remember you don’t want to
take the focus away from the main image
The colour scheme that I'm going towards is mainly shades of blue ( from light blue to dark/navy blue) as it links to the uniform colour and the
images. However I will be also included white and yellow to contrast certain parts.
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/equipment that I am going to be using is school stationary ( pens, pencils, ruler etc.) as stationary is important for the whole school life.
Other equipment that I'm going to be using will be anything that is needed for the different actives that will be conducted on the celebration on the
school
Lighting will be natural, people included will be in uniform form attire- including 6 formers. The setting will vary from being in a classroom to being
outside to show a variety of the school as well as the buildings.
AS Media Studies Preliminary Task – School Magazine Front Page Proposal Form

7. Master Head – the name for this school
magazine I created is called ‘BDSL’
(Bishop Douglass Student Life) Instead
of creating a long time, it went with a
short one, just like NME or Q as its
easier to recognise and see. Also the
name of the school it long itself, so it
would have taken most of the space
required for the title, leaving room for
nothing else, which is not effective.
Photographs – The central/main
image that I used for this front cover,
is an image of a group of children at
school, rather than one person. Many
front covers with central images
contain one person (often celebrities)
whereas during school you meet and
greet many people from many
different backgrounds, thus showing
that school is a multi-cultural place to
be at.
In addition, the other photos that I
have included link to the special
edition for this magazine. ( show
pupils working / creating different
things) This gives an idea to the
audience as to what to expect.
I've also included the tick sign as well
as A* which is effective as it links to
the codes and conventions during
school, symbolises success; which
every pupil wants to achieve .
Colour scheme – I have used
colours such as yellow and blue
mainly this is because they are
bright and vibrant, which would
attract the audience and gain
their attention. Its something
that they would be looking
forward to reading, rather than
something plain and dull.
(positive feeling) Bright colours
make it easy to identify and
understand certain information
given by the cover-lines/puffs.
Font – I've tried to include
more than one type of font,
but not more than 2-3. As
having to many different
fonts make is harder to
understand certain texts
and doesn't give it a
unprofessional look overall.
By having 1-2 different fonts
it look professional as well
as showing that some
thought has been put into it.
(not just chucked into it)