AS Media
Alice Gledhill
Here are my analyses and evaluations of some school magazine's front covers and contents pages I have studied as part of my research.
Front Cover Evaluation
Having analysed three different school magazines in detail, I know what the typical codes and conventions are; all examples used coverlines around the main image, which normally featured a smiling child outside. Even though one wasn’t targeted around primary school children/parents, all used primary colours, (green, yellow, and/or red.) Finally, a tagline telling of the target audience was a common feature, and one that I intend to use in my own production.
In preparation for my magazine’s front cover, I will look at more examples of primary school magazines in particular, and compare popular magazines’ features to less known names’ features. This will allow me to see what is effective, and what I therefore should/ should not include. From looking at primary school magazines in depth, I will understand how mine should be presented to my target audience. I will also present some ideas to my target audience to see what they like and do not like, and what they suggest if anything.
I feel that having a barcode on the front cover is not effective at appealing to any audience; only one of the three I studied used one, therefore I am choosing to not show one on my production. On the other hand, coverlines are an effective way of presenting information to a certain type of person; the colour and font style can be adapted to be suitable to whomever I’m aiming it at, for example I would choose to use sans-serif font in a primary colour if I were aiming that text to a child, as the bright tone and simple font would appeal more to someone young than more mature. What’s more, the more famous of the magazines I analysed positioned the title over the main image, giving a more professional look than the others, which used a block colour background instead. From this, I intend to position my masthead over the main image without anything behind the title other than that. I also found that none used a pug anywhere on the cover – it seems it is not commonly used on school magazines, and so I will not include one either. However, all three offered something for free, (this includes one of the magazines being free) a technique used to challenge competition. Because they all did this, I will also include and promote something for free on my cover, perhaps a pencil case as this will appeal to children and is school related.
Seeing as my target audience is primary school children and their parents, I would like to explicitly advertise a fun activity section in the magazine by using a bright coloured puff on the front and use sans-serif font. This will be more effective than a coverline, as I’m targeting this feature at young children, who are more attracted to colourful shapes rather than words alone. However, as I have to appeal to parents as well, I must include coverlines in addition to puffs. In them, I will tell of some of the magazine’s content; the magazines I studied underlined the topic of health, so I will include a coverline about children’s health in serif font.
Contents Page Evaluation
Having looked at differing contents pages, I now know what to include in my own to create a professional look. I have also been able to recognise the typical codes & conventions of contents pages, so know what must be used in my own.
All three cases used a title, the more professional used a rhetorical question instead of “contents” like the other two. They all, in some way or another, showed the issue date. Also, they all used page numbers to anchor images and explicitly show where that article is in the magazine. These were usually in the magazine’s house colours, and had a subheading or coverline next to them as well as a picture. Two of the contents pages included an editor’s note addressed to the reader, making the magazine friendly and informative. Information was also presented in the two more professional magazines, though the last example lacked any at all. Finally, all of them had at least three images; one main image, and multiple secondary ones.
Before starting my own contents page, I will note the more effective techniques and analyse more professional examples. What’s more, I will ask my target audience which of these features they like most, so that my work appeals to them. Similarly, I must make my contents page match the look of my front cover, so need to use the same colours, font style, etc. As well as this, I will have to look into what I can include in my magazine and use relevant images; I should again ask my target audience what they would like to see in a school magazine and take suggestions.
The most professional looking magazine used a conventional grid layout and did not overload the page with text or images. The least professional one spread their contents over two pages, but kept a very minimalistic look, so this wasn’t necessary. I want my contents page to appeal to children so will use lots of images, simple, sans-serif font and bright colours. However I must ensure I do not crowd the page, otherwise it will look cluttered and unprofessional, and will not appeal to the parents as a result.
My Plans
Front Cover
I am basing my magazine around the Oaks Primary School so will use an image of an Oak tree. This is relevant to primary school children not only because of the school's name, but also because trees connote growth. As shown in the plans below, I will call my magazine "Growing Up" as this relates to the tree motif and children. This will be written in a sans-serif font in order to appeal to my target audience of primary school children. I will have it in white as this stands for innocence, representing children. Furthermore, the masthead behind the white text will be green - one of my house colours - as it also has positive connotations of growth and health, appealing to parents and again relating to the tree.
I plan for my main image to be of students in a classroom, with at least
one raising their hand. They should be in uniform and looking happy
in order to present school life as enjoyable. I will have a coverline to
anchor this, saying, "how to boost your child's confidence in class." This
will be in a serif font as I'm aiming it at parents. wish to have a second-
ary image showing more children having fun. The example in my plan is
of children in fancy dress outfits with a page reference and anchoring
text. Other pictures on my plan are at the bottom and are about arty
content in the magazine. I want to include this because the feedback
showed that my target audience like having things to make and do in
magazines.
My plan also shows two puffs on the right, the top one about a seasonal
competition, and the lower one about transition day for year 6s with
page references.
Finally, I have included "October-December 2014" in the masthead to
show that this front cover is relevant to this term.
Contents Page
I plan to have at least three images on my contents page, anchored by a
brief caption and page number. The examples here are of children outs-
ide studying nature, in a "music club," and of books. Around these imag-
es I will have more contents and their corresponding page numbers.
In order to maintain my house style, I wish to have a tree as the main
image, where the contents will stem from. Also, in the green leaves of
this tree, I will include a friendly editor's note addressed to both children
and their parents.
Finally, my plan shows a large yellow pencil which children will associate
school with. Inside this pencil, I will have my contents page title, "this
time" which is more effective than a simple "contents."
