Textual Analysis of another magazines aimed at teenagers.

This is not a college/school magazine although i will still use this magazine to compare the conventions i have already identified by using actual college/school magazines. the first convention i will talk about is the masthead: the Masthead for a college/school magazine is to have a large bold masthead at the top of the front page, this is so when the magazine is on a shelf and only the top of the front page is visible and people can recognise the magazine. The second college/school Magazine is a large image which this magazine has (of Morrissey). It also has a bold overlapping title, with a Witty sub title under the actual title. There is room at the top of the magazine, room for plugs etc. although there is contact details on the page there is no specific logo although the title of the magazine is basically the logo. Although this magazine agrees with most of the conventions of a college/school magazine there is some differences from it and a conventional college magazine such as the plugs aren't at the top of the page but spread all other the page. In NME magazine which is aimed at a teenage audience,uses plugs around the main image i may take this into consideration and include these in my final magazine front page.

Rough Planning Layout of Magazine.

This is a rough layout of my college magazines front page. In designing this i used all of the conventions i have already noted down.

Planning - Front Page.

in this following post i will bullet point some key facts and ideas on a good front page to a magazine :

• Use a strong image, though not necessarily a photograph; sometimes text will work well.
• make sure the masthead is clearly independent. This doesn't mean the whole word has to be visible, Although it had to distinctive.
• Make sure the text on the page is visible from up to 3 metres away, as the front cover of the magazine will be amongst other magazines on a rack were the potential customer will have to stand 2-3 metres away.
• Promise a benefit for the reader ( free give away )
• offer something for beginners or new readers ( Free give way)
• Create strong links to the content page. Readers are annoyed if the fascinating story heralded on the cover is impossible to find in the contents list, perhaps because it is a given a different title.
• Stick to your promises
• Put the emphasis on the left hand side of the cover as that is the part which will show when the magazine is on the average newsagent's shelf. The other important site is the top, which is why you won't see many title pieces positioned at the bottom of a front cover
• Planning is vital.

Although my magazine is a college magazine so there is not as much pressure to make a profit on the magazine as it will not be bought. It will be given to students and maybe teachers for free. although it still has to lo attractive to attract the attention so readers will actually read the magazine.

Comparing "Secondary Teachers" magazines conventions with the conventions of another College Magazine.

This is one of the two " Secondary Teachers" magazines i analysed in my last post. I noted down all of the conventions of both the magazines and they were extremely similar this is because they are the same magazine but just different issues. In the following post i will compare my findings ( Secondary Teachers conventions) with that of a new College magazine which i discovered. The major conventions i discovered from the "Secondary Teachers" magazine was:

• Masthead


• Main Image


• Space at the top of Front page ( Plugs)


• Space at the bottom of Front page ( Publishers Icon, Issue Number)


• Text/Font ( overlapping the major image)


• Images

In this Magazine " INTOUCH" published by the king's college in London is a college magazine with similarity's to the secondary teachers magazine i have already analysed. Both share target audiences which are Teachers, although the In Touch magazine also is sent to ex-pupils of the college.They also share similar page layouts

The Conventions of a College/school magaznes.

The Conventions of a College/School are:

• A Masthead - All college/schools magazines must have a masthead. The masthead is used to tell what the magazine is about for example " Secondary Teachers" the masthead quite clearly states that the target audience is, secondary school teachers.
• Large Image - The large image like the title also displays the theme of the magazine and the contents of the magazine. This is also supported by the over laid text in a bold font. The use of the font creates depth and the text also re-enforces the images message. Usually found in the centre page.
• Space at the top - The space at the top of the magazine is usually used for plugs and puns. The section can be broken up to 5 separate section all advertising articles inside the magazines.
• Space at the bottom - The space at the bottom is usually used for the producers logo and name, also to display contact information such as the issue, the date and the contact details of the organisation. Although in some magazines this information could be found on the back page or inside pages.
• Font/Text - The font on the front page is usually all the same apart from maybe the masthead or the organisations name and logo. The position of the text is also very particular, such as there is always a play on words in bold font across the main image but in a position which does not obscure the image. The fonts colour is also very important as they try to make they magazine unisex by using both gender associated colours such as Females - Pink and Male - Red and Blue so i will try to include both colours in harmony in my magazine.
• Images - The choice of image is also key as they need to have a meaning behind them relevant to the story.
• Play on words - In most College magazines there are play on words on the front page to create humour and suspense about the story inside for example the secondary teachers story on cooking, on the front page there is the play on words " Cook with me! How schools can make lessons tasty" this is a perfect example of the play on words tactic.

In the next post i will compare the "Secondary Teachers" magazine with another college/school magazine.

Magazine analysis

Front Page:

· Main Image – secondary school children ( both male, although one is white while the other is black, this shows the magazine is ethnically divers) in a dressing room ( football) this shows children( male’s) interest :Football. This is a appealing front cover for males although most females do not enjoy football so therefore this magazine cover isn’t well presented to both genders.
· Text – “Playing to learn” a play on words, a pun. This entices the reader in and working alongside the image helps the audience create a idea what the story will be about (Football). The text is overlade other the image and creates depth and a sense of the story being more than words. The text also gives connotations of what will be inside the magazines. Without mentioning Football directly in hints (implicit) at the fact Football will be involved
· Title – The title of the magazines is “ Secondary Teachers” which blatantly stats whom the selected audience with no confusion. The headline is write in a large san serif using the colour blue merging with the colour green this may be to create effect and depth to the title of the magazine.
· Logo and date – the logo at the bottom left hand corner is a rainbow (this may connote the fact of diversity, piece and unity as rainbows are often seen as a symbol of piece and they have many colours inside them, therefore unity and diverse).






Front Page:

· Main Image – two ginger bread men ( one male one female, a example of gender diversity) on a baking tray to advertise the inside story of cooking in school.
· Text – “ Cook with me ! how schools can make lessons tasty” a play on words, a pun. This entices the reader in and working alongside the image helps the audience create a idea what the story will be about ( Cooking). The text is overlade other the image and creates depth and a sense of the story being more than words. The text also gives connotations of what will be inside the magazines: tasty > food > Ginger bread men > cooking. Without mentioning cooking directly in hints (implicit) at the fact cooking will be involved
· Title – The title of the magazines is “ Secondary Teachers” which blatantly stats whom the selected audience with no confusion. The headline is write in a large San serif using the colour blue merging with the colour green this may be to create effect and depth to the title of the magazine.Logo and date – the logo at the bottom left hand corner is a rainbow ( this may connote the fact of diversity, piece and unity as rainbows are often seen as a symbol of piece and they have many colours inside them , therefore unity and diverse).





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