Media- College Magazine Evaluation

For this task I was required to design and create the front page of a college magazine featuring all the associated connotations of that magazine genre. One of these had to be done with desk top publishing and another on Photoshop. I also had to design a mock-up of a contents page to show the layout.

I created my own Individual blog on the internet where I would show the progress of my work and upload pictures to show the stages of my work, with small explanations along the side.
I started off be analysing many different types of magazines such as NME, Time, and Vogue. All these magazines are different genres and therefore appeal to different target audiences. So there are certain conventions that these different magazines genres have to appeal to their target audiences. I looked at how the language of these magazines is communicated. I used LIIAR (language, Institution, Ideology, Audience, and Representation) which gave me a clearer insight as to what I should be looking for.

I noticed that College magazines generally feature one or few students in medium close-up with a masthead that uses an appropriate letter style. There is also a main cover line that is placed more central of the page and cover lines along the left and right hand side of the page; these tell the reader about what is featured inside the magazine.

I then analysed the conventions of a Contents page. I noticed that it is usually ordered numerically with small headings a brief descriptions. The aim of a contents page is to help the reader navigate through the magazine. Therefore, I made sure that when creating mine I features all of these conventions.

After this, I created a mock up of both a college magazine and a contents page, using publisher to design the layout of these pages and where abouts the information and images would be featured etc. For my final college magazine, I used my digital camera to take pictures of a few college students holding guitars in medium close up shot. I then opened the image in Photoshop and edited it onto an appropriate background. I placed a masthead along the top of the magazine which is called ‘College’ using large lettering with appropriate colouring that is noticeable against its background. The masthead denotes what type of magazine it is and the audience that it will appeal to.

This type of magazine is most likely to be read by college students, therefore when designing my front cover I wanted to use an interesting image and headline that would be of interest to the reader. The headline reads ‘Here comes the sun’ this is a pun on the background colour of the magazine but it also a song. Therefore, it denotes the type of music that the featured band would be playing. When deciding on my background colour I chose a sunburst colour, the connotational meaning of these colours is hot. This could mean that this magazine is so good, its hot!

I used the colours red and white for the cover lines featured on the front page. I made this choice because I felt that they would be the most visible against the colours that it is overlapping. One of the cover lines reads ‘Bring Back The Beatles!’ which makes it an interesting cover line through the sue of alliteration.

The mise en scene of a typical college magazine shows a college student typically dressed in a way that makes them instantly recognisable as a college student. In most photographs of college students, they feature technical codes that are representative of a student. E.g. they are most likely to be photographed in a learning environment or some sort of college scene, holding books or taking part in some sort of sporting activity wearing sporting clothing. The denotation of this would be that they are a college student. It is the Ideology of these sort of magazines to display a positive message to its readers about the college. The college is supposed to represented in a certain way that makes it appealing to its readers. I feel that I have successfully challenged these conventions on the front page of my college magazine.

Overall, I was pleased with the final product and feel that I have successfully fulfilled the Ideology of my magazine. I have included all the conventions of this magazine style and communicated the language successfully to my target audience.

Contents Page Mockup

Here is my design for a contents page of any magazine. It includes all the conventions of a contents page such as: numerical headings, small brief descriptions and the layout of the page is orderly. I have looked at different examples of contents page layouts for ideas on how the pages are layed out to look orderly and informative.

I have left spaces for two smaller images that will relate to the stories included in the magazine. To make my college magazine more appealing to its target audience I have decided that this issue will be based around the music scene at Wyke College, therefore the images included on the inner contents page will feature pictures of band members in medium close-up shot.

Magazine cover template

Here is a template that I have created in Publisher for my College Magazine. I have shown where all the conventions that make a college magazine will be placed on the front cover. This includes the masthead, dateline, main image, and cover lines.

When designing my final college magazine design I will use photoshop but I will use this template as a guideline when designing it.

Contents Page Analysis

This contents page from the NME magazine features all the conventions of a contents page. At the top is the main heading which shows the reader that everything included within the magazine is this weeks news. It is written in large black, bold writing that stands out.

Also included down the right side of the page are headings, and page numbers of which include brief overviews of what is included in that particular part of the magazine.

There is also two pictures of band members on the page which instantly grab the readers attention and make the page look more appealing to the reader.

college magazine

Language

The mise en scene of the front page picture here shows a college student, typically dressed in a sporty style t-shirt which instantly represents that particular college. The lighting for this picture is bright as the picture was taken outdoors during the daytime. As for the photography decisions of the photo, the main image features a medium body shot of the girl. Her part of the image is significantly sharper than the background which is blurred; this shows a shallow depth of field in the photo. The main colours used for this magazine are red and blue, which stand out the most against its background.

Institution

The institution of this magazine is 'College' which is the name of the magazine.

Ideology

The ideology of college magazine covers is usually to feature a student or group of students stood smiling at the camera in medium or full body shot, dressed in the correct clothing that draws associations with their college, e.g. sportswear. Very rarely will the photograph feature a group of students in close-up shots. The pictures on the front of these covers usually draw the assumptions that the students are exceptionally clever, however that is the Ideology (set of attitudes, beliefs and values) of college magazines. The students are represented as clever students who are stereotyped or shown in a certain way to look like they are enjoying their college; this therefore sells the magazine to the buyer.

Audience

The type of audience that would be interested in this magazine are college students. The magazine appeals to students as it keeps them updated on any information relevant to their college work and also tells them about upcoming events and competitions etc.

Representation

The representation of college students for the front page of a college magazine would always show them in the college scene, doing college-related things that show them in a good light and make them look like hard workers. Otherwise, the magazine wouldn't be displaying a positive message to the readers about that particular college. The magazine will have deliberately picked one of the younger, good looking girls to represent the college as it is how the college will want to be represented to its target audience.

• Organisation of models, locations, costumes or props.
• Work on layout, drafting, mood boards, spider diagrams.
• Evidence of time management.