Evaluation of my Student Magazine Front Cover and Cntents.

In what ways does your media produce use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? 

I have created a masthead which links in with the conventions of a real media product, as all real magazines have a masthead to give them all a unique idenditiy. My masthead is quite simple but bold. I have used three simple but eye cathching colours which will attract the audience. I have also used coverlines, these are also used in real media products, i kept to the same three colours through out to give a professional feel. I didn't add any extra images to my front cover as none of the pictures I had taken really fitted in the feel of the magazine and the front cover- so I added more in the contents page. The central image i used was a middle close up. This goes with the conventions of a real magazine- this is to grab the audiences attention and give enough information to entice the audience to buy your magazine.

How does your media product represent different social groups?
My magazine represents different social groups by having different articles in the magazine which will intrest a whole group of students not just one group of students. I have also used unisex colour palette, this again makes sure that it doesn't just apeal to certain a certain sex.

What kind of media insitution might distribute your media product and why? 

The college would be the distibuter, this is becuase my magazine is for college students and some of the information would be about events that only ludlow college would be aware of.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for my magazine would be college students, from 16to about 18 years old. THe magazine is targeted at both males and females.

How did you attract/address your audience?

From the results that i had from carrying out research on a focus group, which were students, i knew the kind of things which would intrest all types of different students.  I made sure that on the front cover i included coverlines which would appeal to different types of students. i also tried to use colours which would appeal to both genders. I made the front cover quite interesting but not too cluttered as this would stand out from other magazines.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt how to question a focus group and use that information to help to create what was needed. To create my magazine front cover and contents page  i used a program called 'Abdobe In Design'. I have never used this program before, so throughout the project i was learning what it could do and how i could use the features to create a realistic magazine. I feel that if i started again now, i would understand how to work the program better and therefor get better results.

Student Magazine Front Cover and Contents Page

Mock Up of Front Cover and Contents Page

Answer to my Focus Group Questions

What name would appeal to you most? Why? 

The focus group said the name which would appeal to then most was 'Student Sound'. They said that the name flowed nicely, it appears to give the students a voice and it is quite a simple name however it is bold as well.  This connotes that the magazine will be simple but contain all information they would want to know.

What content would you like to see in a student magazine and why?

The focus group wanted a wide range of content in the magazine.  Some examples- fashion, new music, TV, films, gossip, news about the college, sport and sport fixtures and the results from the sport fixtures,

What colour scheme would you like to see, dark colours or light colours? Why?

The colour scheme in which the focus group wanted was a mix between dark and light colours. This was because if it was all dark colours than it would be too dark and look dull and boring. Also if only light colours were then information wouldn't stand out. So by using a mix of both, it will bring sophistication, boldness and fun. White, purple, light blue. Overall make the magazine more professional and attractive.  

What price range and why?

The price range didn't vary very much because students don't have a lot of money, so the money that they do have has to be spent wisely. If the magazine was too expensive it wouldn't attract to them as the  price would put them off straight away even if the content did interest them. So the price in which the focus group decided on was 60p. At 60p you would be getting all the information which they wanted but without the worry of the price.  

Do you think a direct mode of address would attract students to my magazine? 

The focus group thought that a direct mode of address was an important part of the front cover as it would make the student audience more connect with the magazine.

Questions for my Focus Group

What name would appeal to you most? Why? 
Express Yourself, Student Sound or Social.

What content would you like to see in a student magazine and why?


What colour scheme would you like to see, dark colours or light colours? Why?


What price range and why?


Do you think a direct mode of address would attract students to my magazine? 

Research & Planning: Initial Ideas for a Student Magazine

Name and Connotations: 

• Student Sound- 
• Express Yourself- connotes freedom, independence and individualism.   
• College times-connotes sophistication, formality, influential 
• Social-connotes friendship and unity 

Content: 

The context of this student magazine will be varied, there will be parts which will be quite formal- information which the students would need to know about the college. However most of the magazine will be informal but still will be informative for example, quick tips(changes every issue about different ways of studying or revising), fashion, new music and films etc. 

House style:

The house style will be consistant -Colours will run through the front cover to the contents page. this will help the magazine look more professional. There will be three main colours which will be eye catching and bold. There could be light colours or dark colours. The layout will be quite simple so students will find it easy to look at and understand. By using a fairly simple and bright colours it will grab the attention of the student audience.

Mode of address: 

I will use a direct mode of address to make the audeince feel that they are part of the magazine and so they enjoy reading it. It will add to the relaxed feel of the magazine.

Images/picture:

I will add many images/pictures to the magazine as its a good way of getting information across/getting attention without the audience really realising. There will be a selection, from celebrities, other students at the college, sports etc.

Price:

The price of the magazine will be cheap as students won't have that much money, so if it costs alot then they will be put off and won't bother with the magazine. I think a good price would be 85P. 

Analysed Front Cover and Contents Page of another Student Magazine

Analysed Front Cover and Contents Page of a Student Magazine

Generic Conventions of a Student Magazine

Preliminary Task Action Plan

Week one: 

Identify the generic conventions of a student/college magazines, produce a mind map of your findings.
Analyse two front cover and contents pages of a students/college magazine.
Research audience for our magazines.

Week two:  

Use findings from research to mock up of front cover and contents page.

Week three:

Designing the front cover/ contents page. Introduce the evaluation.