Analysis of school magazine

This is my analysis of an existing school

magazine cover.

Font- The font used in this magazine is a bold

and simple san serif font in various different

sizes for example the headline is in a bigger

font than the standfirst. the bold and simple

san serif font is effective because it is eye

catching to the reader allowing them to be

drawn into the magazine. It also gives the

magazine a fun and modern vibe to it which

makes it appealing to the target audience of

students and other visitors interested in the

school. I think this font was used instead of

other fonts such as the serif font due to it

being too sophisticated and serious for its

purpose.

Layout- The layout is ordered with very limited

content on the page. However all of the

content is placed in parts of the route of the

eye. For example in the primary optical area is

the headliner and standfirst; this is an effective

element to have in the primary optical area

because this is the part of the route of the eye

which is first looked at by the audience. In the

middle of the route of the eye is the main

image of the magazine , and in the bottom left is the coverline. This is all effective

because they follow the route of the eye making it more likely to be seen by the

audience so it sticks in their heads.

Colours- The main colours used in this is blue, yellow and white. The colour blue

connotes peace which gives the cover a calm and informal theme to it. The use of the

colour blue also contrasts with the students uniform in the main image which gives the

magazine a brand identity towards the schools its about.The white and yellow makes

the fonts more eye catching towards the audience on the blue background colour and

gives a fun and energetic feel to it.

Images- The shot type used in this photo a close up shot; I think this is used because it

is focusing on the two students to portray the purpose of the school magazine over to

the audience. The setting of the image is a classroom; this is effective because it is

relevant to the school magazine rather than in a irrelevant setting such as a shop.The

props which are used is science equipment; this is effective because it contrasts with

the standfirst of specialist college for science. The costume is the students uniform; this

element has been used because the uniform shows who the students are representing

and fits in with the theme of the magazine.

Mode of address- The mode of address of the magazine cover is an informal tone; I

think that is because some sentences are abbreviated such as in the title they use the

@ sign instead of at giving it a more informal vibe.

Conventions- Things that are typically on a school magazine cover are a main image;

this will be an important part of the magazine displaying what it is about and makes it

more interesting and intriguing. Another thing which is typically on a magazine is a

headline; this is the part which draws the audience into the magazine making them want

to read or look inside it. They also have subheadings of stories which are inside the

magazine; this also draws the reader in to want to find out more about the news which

they give you glimpse of on the front of the magazine.

Evaluation

For the transition project i produced a school magazine cover for Neale- Wade

Academy. I will be explaining my production choices and comparing my cover to an

existing school/ college magazine.

Fonts- For the headline font I used a very basic font; which was big bold font and had

bulker ends to the letters. I thought that this sort of font was an effective choice for my

school magazine because due to it being bold creates a eye catching font towards the

audience allowing them to be drawn in by the cover making them want to pick it up and

read it. Also due to the font being bold and clear it gives it a modern vibe; this is

effective to the school magazine because it will be aimed at the students of the school

as well as people who are interested in the school. This ensures that the production

choices of the font are appealing towards the target audience. For the subheadings on

the magazines next to the images they were similar to the headline however slightly

different. The subheading fonts are a bit less bold but still striking and eye catching

towards the reader. This is effective also because the readers will see the short

subheadings about different headlines and it will intrigue them into the magazine to find

out more about each of the story lines.

Colours- The colours which were mainly used was white and black. The colours that I

used for the text was black; this colour worked well with the white background because

it contrasted with it well making it stand out more than other colours would have done.

Also black and white connote sophistication and shows a sense of professionalism in

the cover towards visitors which are interested in the schools news and existing

students. The background of the magazine is white; I chose the white background for

my school magazine because it made the features on the magazine such as the images

and subheadings stand out much better than with a coloured background. I found using

a colour on the background made the whole cover not as noticeable and instead made

it blend in more.

images- For the images for my magazine I used one main image and two smaller

pictures for the subheadings of the magazine cover. The main image that i used was a

year 11’s leavers photo of myself and four other students. The setting of the image was

in the school dinner hall; this was an effective destination for the magazine because it is

a school based setting and relevant towards the purpose of the magazine. The camera

shot that was used was of a medium/ long shot. Although it wasn't an exact medium

shot I thought it was a successful choice because it displays the full uniform of the

students showing who they are representing in this image by wearing that uniform. The

smaller photo I used was one consisting of Louis Smith (olympian ) visiting the school.

This is an effective image because it bring in some celebrity endorsement into the

magazine and makes people want to read it due to someone famous featuring in it. The

other image I chose to feature on the school magazine was an image of the school

hallway. I chose this image because I thought it made the school look welcoming due to

the bright coloured wall used in this shot. It also doesn’t give too much of the storyline

away because of the picture, still intriguing them into the magazine.

Mode of address- The mode of address for my magazine is a very informal tone; this is

created by the text because it is very abbreviated and doesn't have a lot of text making

it look more casual. Also this is suggested by the bold modern font which is used;

instead of a san serif small font which would make it look more informal which is why I

decided to use the opposite.

Conventions- I think my cover is conventional in many different ways. One of them

being that the different features in parts of the route of eye. For example the main

headline is in the primary optical area of the route of the eye. Features like this in the

route of the eye is conventional because it is the first places that the reader will look,

making them stand out much more.

Another convention of my magazine is using a main image in the centre of the

magazine. My main image is of a leavers photo.This was conventional because it draws

the reader into the front cover and also the majority of magazines have them due to it

giving the reader an insight into what's in the cover.

Comparison

In this comparison, i will be comparing my magazine cover which i created with an

existing school magazine cover.

Font- The use in fonts in both of these magazines are quite familiar;In the royds hall

magazine they use big bold fonts for the main font and a smaller less noticeable font for

other texts such as the strapline.In my magazine i also have a big bold font so that it

grabs the audiences attention; however i did not use the smaller font types. This is

because I think that the smaller font isn't as effective

and noticeable towards the reader.

layout- The layouts of both magazines have a lot of

similarities; both magazines have the main headline

“Neale-Wade news” and “ What's going on royds hall “

in the primary optical area of the magazine. This is one

of the first places that the audience look; this should

give an effect of intriguing them into the cover. They

both also have the main image of the entire cover in the

centre of the route of the eye which is the next place

that the audience will look and the centre point of the

cover. However in part of the terminal area on my cover I placed a subheading there

along with another image; this is the last place that the audience look therefore it sticks

into their heads more.

Image- in The Royds hall magazine they use one main image of two students smiling in

a science room, however on my cover I used one main image and two sub-images. The

main image is of four students in the dinner hall and the two subheadings of a celebrity

visiting the school and the school hallway. The royds hall image only has one image on

the entire cover therefore it just has one main focus which is the two students on the

front. However on my cover I have a variety of different images for the audience to

focus on illustrating the interesting stories which are inside through the images.

Colour- On my own magazine i used quite simple colours such as white and black to

make the rest of the features such as the font and images contrast and stand out more.

However the royds hall magazine focuses more on using colours such as blue to

contrast with the students uniform which is the same colour. This displays a brand

identity for the school so when people see the colour they will associate it with the

school.

mode of address- The mode of address for both magazines is informal; this is

illustrated in their language.In the royds hall magazine the abbreviated language of the

@ sign instead of putting at suggesting it is informal. One my cover it is suggested as

an informal magazine due to it having very limited text and straight to the point rather

than more text and less images.