Reader Profile: Who is my School Magazine aimed at?

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Subjects: Performing arts, (dance and drama)

Key Stage: 5

Attitude to learning: Has fun with friends, very popular, but still works hard.

Hangout: Shake shed, Topshop, Boot Fairs, Charity Shops, the beach, the park.

Get to school:  get the bus with friends.

Music tastes: open to listen to anything

Likes: Hanging out with friends, singing, going shopping, vintage clothes, all music, facebook, twitter, films, duvet days, big cardigans, long hair.

Dislikes:  Chavs, tracksuits, high school musical, loads of jewellery and make-up.

Clothing:  Big cardigans, skirts. Charity shops and boot fairs.

Star sign: Cancer

Weekend: Work and homework, go out in the evenings when possible with friends, sleepovers.

Career choices: Something with children.

Shepway? Local?: Romney Marsh area.

Sandwiches or school dinners?: mix of both.

Popular? : Has a wide variety of friends.

Name/stereotype: Indie kid.

Preliminary Task: School magazine

For our Preliminary task, we designed a front cover for a school magazine. The magazine was to appeal to all ages thoughout the school and to offer help and advice to students. My first draft was very basic with limited text on the cover but i felt as though the background image was effective and engaged with the audience.

My first draft had too much blank space where there should be more headings and text to make the magazine stand out. I feel as though the eye contact made by the model in the picture helps to make the magazine more welcoming and engaging. Also, the model is dressed in basic black clothing so all attention is not focussed on them.

This is the second and final draft of my school magaazine cover. I feel as though the space as been filled better and improved since the last draft. However, there is still blank space making it seem empty. If I were to re-do this piece again I would add more taglines to make it look more busy and exciting.

I think that with the model holding the folder, it certifes to the reader that it is a school magazine and the name 'Paige' links in well. It is a pun in that fact that it is a girls name, aiming it at the target audience of girls and Paige meaning a page in a book: relating to school work.

Conventions for a school/college magazine

o        Clear layout: to make the article look sophisticated and presentable.

o        Good quality picture/photos: not blurred or pixelated.

o        Inviting: the front cover has to look ‘welcoming’ to the reader to encourage them to read on.

o        Informative: has to include certain information such as term dates and upcoming events.

o        A recognisable and unique magazine name.

o        Continuous colour scheme: possibly matching the colours of the school uniform, unify.

o        Readable: all text on the cover has to be easily noticeable and of a reasonable size.

o        Suitability of text for age groups: relevant topics suiting all ages.

o        Continuous theme.

o        All content should be relevant to the main topic of the school/college.

o        No blank spaces, as much information displayed as possible.

o        Some humour to break up the information.

o        Appeal to target audience.

o        Fresh news/ information: keeps the readers engaged.