The document provides details on the design and content of a school magazine front cover and contents page. It includes sketches of the layout for both pages, with descriptions of the key elements. For the front cover, it notes there will be a large main image of two students studying while listening to music. The contents page sketch shows article images and titles listed in columns. Notes on the process describe using a relevant photo taken personally and practicing magazine design for a future music magazine project.

1. PRELIMINARY TASK:
SCHOOL MAGAZINE

2. CONVENTIONS OF A SCHOOL MAGAZINE
The words ‘exam
choices’ are in
large text. The
colour used for
these words don’t
stick with the
colour scheme as it
is a cream colour.
This makes it stand
out compared to
other colours. Also
the large text
suggests that the
topic of exam
choices is of great
importance in
secondary schools
as the end results
are GCSE’s.
There is picture of a school girl in her
uniform which takes up most of the front
cover which shows this shows the
audience how smart the students in the
school look and how well presented they
are. The colour scheme of the overall
front cover have been specially chosen
because of the colour of the uniform
which has purple outline.
The purple text here
shows what you can
find in the magazine
itself and on what
pages. The colour
correlates with the
outline of the
uniform, which
makes the student
and the text stand
out.
The magazine has used a
white and pink colour
scheme which are bright
and bold colours. This will
make the magazine stand
out to anyone who picks it
up. Also the colour pink
shows that it is a
magazine and school for
girls, which is backed up
by a picture of a girl in her
uniform.

3. Good use of colour
on the masthead,
which compliments
the colour of the top
that the girl is
wearing. It is also
bold and clear, and it
covers a large area
of the top of the
cover.
Although the
magazine is appealing,
the areas they have
placed the stories are
not in line, and there is
still a lot of space that
could have been filled
in with other
information.
This is a selling point for the
magazine as it is intriguing,
shocking and will be able to
sell to the readers/audience.
It is an interesting and
unusual topic, therefore it will
appeal to more people.
It has a barcode
which means it
has to be
purchased.

4. The background of
the title is colourful
and attracts
attention. It is
artistic and shows
originality, this is
good as it will
intrigue the reader
and entice them to
read the magazine.
The magazine has
mainly used a blue
colour scheme which
are which is the colour
of the school magazine.
This makes the
magazine specific and
stand out to anyone who
picks it up.
There are pictures of the
different events that took place
during the week. The colour
scheme of the overall front cover
has been specially chosen
because of the colour of the
uniform which is blue.
The words ‘WIDER
HORIZONS WEEK’ are
in large text.. Also the
large text suggests
that this topic is of
great importance in
the school at the
moment, clearly it
indicates that school
is having a week full
of interesting
activities, other than
normal lessons.

5. there are three sub
headings which
slightly identify
what stories are in
the magazine. This
makes it easier for
the readers to see
where each topic
can be found in the
magazine.
Multiple images of
school children and
locations in schools can
be seen. This identifies
to the reader that it is a
school magazine.
Bold and large
writing of the word
‘contents’. This
shows that this
page is the
contents page
where readers can
see information
about what the
magazine consists
of.

6. Target research is very important as it is a way of understanding what the readers
believe are essential parts of a school magazine. Also it gives the producer an
understanding of what has to be included in the product in order to please the
audience. In my research I asked 20 people what they thought were essential parts of
a school magazine and what they believe should be found in a school magazine.
AUDIENCE RESEARCH
Things included in a school
magazine
Number of people
GCSE results 5
A-Level results 5
Upcoming events 2
Notable past events 1
Images of the school and students 2
Information about the school 2
School contact details 3

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 for this magazine will be people aged 11-18 as these are the ages of the
students in the school. The magazine will also be aimed at parents as they may want to read the
magazine in order to gain more information about the school. However the main the audience will
be the students therefore the colour scheme should appeal to them and there should be an excess
amount of text as they might not like it.
Possible title ideas:
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be called?
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 image on the front cover will be a picture of multiple students studying together.
Main cover line:
What will be the main story?
The main story will be about the hard work and dedication needed to achieve high grades in
GCSE’s and A-Levels.
Additional key images:
What other images will be on your front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
It will include a picture of the football team training, because as well as studying, physical exercise
is important.
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points which will be inside the magazine, these need to be audience
appropriate.
Other features will include information about upcoming events.
Typography:
(style, size, colour of copy)
Think about the writing and the style of the writing on your front page.
The title will cover the top of the cover and will consist of two colour, one colour for each word.
The colours will be a sophisticated grey and burgundy.
Background colour/image:
What will be in the background, remember you don’t want to take the focus away from the main image.
The image will be a picture of students working
Technical considerations:
(equipment, setting, props, costume, lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about what you have access to and how you could use it.
Props I may use are a text book, table, pen and an exercise book for the main cover, to show that the student is working,
and pieces of paper for the photo of students with their results. The lighting will be natural, people included will be in sixth
form attire.

8. P R E L I M I N A R Y E X E R C I S E : P R O D U C E A F R O N T P A G E A N D C O N T E N T S P A G E O F A S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E . F R O N T C O V E R S M U S T
I N C L U D E A P H O T O G R A P H O F A S T U D E N T I N A M E D I U M C L O S E - U P W I T H A P P R O P R I A T E L Y L A I D O U T T E X T A N D U S E O F
A N I M A G E M A N I P U L A T I O N P R O G R A M M E ( P H O T O S H O P ) .
B E L O W S T A R T T O S K E T C H W H A T T H E F R O N T C O V E R O F Y O U R N E W S L E T T E R W I L L L O O K L I K E .
masthead
Included
articles in the
magazine
Main image
which takes
up the
whole cover

9. P R E L I M I N A R Y E X E R C I S E : P R O D U C E A F R O N T P A G E A N D C O N T E N T S P A G E O F A S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E . F R O N T C O V E R S M U S T
I N C L U D E A P H O T O G R A P H O F A S T U D E N T I N A M E D I U M C L O S E - U P W I T H A P P R O P R I A T E L Y L A I D O U T T E X T A N D U S E O F
A N I M A G E M A N I P U L A T I O N P R O G R A M M E ( P H O T O S H O P ) .
B E L O W S T A R T T O S K E T C H W H A T T H E C O N T E N T S P A G E O F Y O U R N E W S L E T T E R W I L L L O O K L I K E .
contents
Articles
Articles
Articles
image
image
image

12. Below is the picture that I used as my main image on the cover.
I thought that this picture was suitable as it shows two students
studying whilst listening to music. I thought that this was
effective because this is what most students tend to do because
they feel that it helps them to concentrate. Also, it shows
collaboration of two pupils, this is important in a working
environment as the students can learn from each other. I didn’t
do anything in terms of editing the picture.
NOTES ON PROCESS

13.  For this task I had to create a front cover and a contents page
for a school magazine. The front cover had to include a
picture related to the topic which I had to take myself. I had
to make this school magazine as practice for the music
magazine, this allowed me to understand what does and what
doesn’t work well on a magazine. This also ensured that I got
a better understanding of what I need to include in a
magazine in order to be effective for my target audience.
BRIEF