School magazine analysis

School Magazine Analysis School magazines are created for a pre-determined

target audience, prodimantly students of that particular school.

Here I have analysed existing school magazines to see how they have used the codes and conventions required to make a successful magazine front cover.

Pug– this would open the magazine target audience up as it would entice the adult audience to buy the magazine; like teachers, governors and parents.

Main splash image. This is a mid –shot of a school girl, who obviously goes to the school the magazine is about. This can be told as the girl is wearing a school uniform and the tie shows the school badge. This re-enforces the school identity and will allow people to recognise the school.The girl is also presented happy, which suggests that the school community is a happy one and that the students enjoy being there. This would promote the school and give people a positive view of the school.

Cover Line ‘Our guide to coping with teenage stress’ – is one that all students of upper years will be able to relate to and so will therefore entice them to buy it.

Masthead – Bold and very clear to see what the title of the magazine is. The white colour fits in with the overall image.

Issue number/date are included which are one of the basic codes and conventions needed to make a successful magazine front cover. The cost is also important as this is one of the factors that will influence whether or not someone will buy the magazine.

The school website advertises the school and allows people to go and further explore what the school offers, which could potentially bring new students to the school.

The different cover lines appeal to different target audiences for example; “New to school” would appal to the new students in school like year 7.

Masthead – Is bold and appealing to the eye. It is white as it stands out from the background and the red and green also link in with the school identity as they are the colours of the school badge on the students tie.

The cover line ‘Head Boy’ has been used as it relates to the main image. This would then give the audience more of an idea about what the main story of the magazine is going to be about and would entice them to buy it. Strapline is in yellow to stand out from the cover lines and grab the readers attention. This gives the reader an insight to what the main story is about, which would then make them want to buy the magazine to read it.

Pug – A free giveaway which would persuade the audience to buy the magazine as they would be getting more than what they wanted and will think it is worth what they are paying.

Main splash image – is a mid shot that is juts off centre. It catches the eye of the audience. It also helps appeal to the main target audience as the main image is of a student of the school so his fellow students will recognise him and will then buy the magazine as they will want to read about him and will be able to relate to the magazine. The boy is also presented in a school uniform, wearing a school tie, which reinforces then school identity as it has the badge on it.

Non-verbal communication is used in the image as it is a form of directly addressing the audience with eye contact and will draw in the attention of the reader.

The colours of red, white, blue and yellow create the house theme, which then creates a recognisable style for the audience. These colours are also not gender specific, which then keeps it open to all.