College Magazine Project Evaluation

For this project, I have been asked to research the conventions of College Magazines and how College Magazines use and adapt these conventions to suit their own needs (i.e. attract their desired audiences) and then to make a front cover of a College Magazine and a mock-up of a contents page. Using the knowledge I have gained during the aforementioned research. I have been presenting my research, planning and designing in the form of an online blog which can be found at http://www.adam-amini-media.blogspot.com/ and which I have been adding to and actively updating throughout the course of the project.

I will now be writing about how I approached each stage of the project and how I feel it went and how I feel the final college magazine has turned out. I will then evaluate the project as a whole, stating what I feel went well and what I would change were I given the chance to undergo the project again.

I initially approached the task by listing the conventions of a College Magazine and how College Magazines use these conventions to serve their purpose (for example, evoke interest in their target audience). This was very useful as it allowed me to recognise the conventions even easier when it came down to analysing magazines, so when I finally began to make it, I could adapt them even easier to suit my own needs.

I then began to conduct research. I did this by looking at existing college magazine covers and contents pages and analysing them and how they use and adapt conventions to suit their own needs. I didn’t just looked at College Magazines, however and I also looked at magazines which were modern and which broke conventions to suit their needs (i.e. the Kerrang contents page which ordered the list of articles by category not page number. This made the contents page seem more interesting and dynamic and had I made a full contents page (and not just the mock-up) I would have used a similar method to this in my own article list.

By looking at other magazines aimed at people aged 16-19 years old, I was able to get an idea of how to use certain conventions (such as the masthead) in an advantageous manner. The reason I looked at magazines aimed at this age range is because they are the ages of most people who attend college and therefore the people who will consume the magazine, so it makes sense for research to be conducted on magazines aimed at the age group.

After research I made decisions on certain aspects of my magazine (such as the layout, content of the photographs and stories featured). A lot of these decisions were made to appeal to a young, gender-neutral audience (so both males and females). I then hand-drew draughts of the cover and contents page so that I could get a basic idea of what they will be like. These draughts were then the basis for my first IT draughts and finally, the finished Cover and Contents Page.

I took my own Medium Close-Up photographs (and more for the contents page (i.e. the photograph of books and a person using the laptop) and I then edited them as appropriate using the easy to use and accessible programme, Paint Shop Pro 9. When regarding editing, I mainly cropped the photographs to suit the needs of the magazine lay-out, but in the case of the picture of the laptop user, I also created feelings (in this case, the implication of stress) by using the Paint Shop Pro features of a ‘Zoom Blur’ and the ‘Hue’ of the image.

I used Paint Shop Pro 9 to make the final copies of the magazine as the software is both easy to use and the functions suited my purpose (i.e. editing photos, text placement, different fonts and text colours to name a few). I also could save the files as a .PSPImage so that I could resume editing at a later date, and then finally save the file as a .Jpeg which allowed it to be uploaded to the blog.

I am very please with the outcome of the Front Cover, as I believe I adapted conventions (such as the masthead, main photograph and cover lines,) to appeal to the target audience and put across the ideology of the magazine (‘Wyke Lyfe’ about the social life of students at Wyke College.) I am very pleased with the Masthead and I like the way that the text (red and black) and the font combine to give the masthead a strikingly appealing and modern appearance. I also believe that the breaks in the font which allow for some of the yellow background to be seen, give it the appearance of graffiti, which even further reflects the younger audience (and how they like to do things such as make graffiti to be ‘rebellious’.) I am also pleased with how the Main Cover Line appeals to the younger audience as whole, as many people in the age range of the magazine go to Nightclubs and the fact that it is about an ‘Under-18’s’ night allows even the people who are too young to go to nightclubs to be interested.

The contents page, while dynamic in terms of layout (if fully made the articles would be listed in a similar, non-ordered way as seen in the Kerrang Magazine,) in my opinion was too conventional in terms of layout. This is because it was very similar to most other normal, plain and boring magazines in the way that it has the normal title and a very conventional layout. If I were to undergo the project again I would most certainly make the contents page more dynamic and appropriate for a younger, more exciting audience.

Overall, I believe that the project went well; I managed to perform sufficient research and apply conventions to my magazine and adapt them in such a manner as to appeal to my target audience (moder styling and colours for example) and I also adapted them to suit the ideology of my magazine (the ‘Social Saviour’ as the selling line stated). I believe that I utilized different software (e.g. the Blogger software and Paint Shop Pro 9) in an efficient manner and was quite successful in completing the required task.

If I were to change anything about my final project I would probably adapt the conventions used in the contents page in a more modern and interesting manner (to appeal to my target audience) as I believe the contents page I produced is quite bland and not particularly appealing to people in the 16-18 age range.

Contents Page Mock Up - Final Draught

Front Cover - Final Draught

Contents Page Draught - 02 (Made in Paint Shop Pro 9)

This is the first ICT draught of my Contents Page. Though it is unfinished, the main purpose of it was to determine differnt ways I could present the layout of the magazine, determine the positives and negatives of it and then change it appropriately for my final draught.

On the one hand, I am pleased with how I have used conventions easily. For example, there are pictures relating to the articles with text undereath and the use of pictures will create interest ad engage the reader even further into the magazine.

It is conventional in the sense that there is a list of articles, which wouild be easily accessible and help the reader locate specific articles of interest.

On the other hand, I believe the fact that I have pretty much stuck to the conventions has made it boring and I would like to, in the final draught of the mock-up, create a more dynamic and interesting, less conventional contents page, which I believe would be of more interest to the younger audience (16-18/19 years old) at whom my magazine is aimed. An example of how I have stuck to conventions is the linear and even boring layout of the list of articles.

Front Cover Draught - 02 (Made in Paint Shop Pro 9)

This is the first draught of my magazine front cover which has been made on a computer (more specifically, on Paint Shop Pro 9)

I am pleased with the outcome, though there are many things which I would like to improve, yet there are also many positive points, i.e. the ways in which I have adapted conventions to suit my needs.

For example, the Masthead (even though part of it is covered by the MCU) includes the boldest and most 'eye-catching' text on the page, followed by the Main Cover Line (HPV Exclusive) and then the next two cover lines which would only probably be read when initial interest has been taken. I do think that in my Final Draught I will probably have a more gender-neutral Main Cover Line, as i believe this magazine seems more aimed at a female audience.

There is no bar code on the draught and there will not be on the final magazine. This is because the magazine is given out free to people at the college, and as a sale isn't being made, there is no need for a bar code.

I will also probably give the text a more modern and 'cool' look, so as to appeal more to the younger audience, as I believe the current scheme, though eye catching, is quite boring.

There is also the issue number in the bottom corner. Although issue numbers are normally used for filing and keeping records, this probably would be more useful for the college and not the people who consume the magazine, as they may want to keep a record of the issues for purposes such as seeing how the magazine has come along since it was first created.

I am also pleased with the selling line (Your Social Saviour) as it related the magazine you the reader (by use of the word YOUR) and Social Saviour is alliteration, which makes it more catchy and snappy and appeals more to the target audience.

Photographs Taken

These are three examples of the photos I have now taken to use in the magazine.

Though at the most, only around four photographs will be used I have taken a wider range so that I have a lot to choose from while making the magazine front cover/contents page.

As you can see I have taken the required medium close-up and have also taken other photos relating to the magazine (books, student using laptop) and the photos will be cropped/edited as needed.

For example, to go by the convention of a person on the front of a magazine obscuring part of the title, the Medium Close-Up would need to be cropped so that there is less empty space in the image.

I used a wide range of photographic skills to produce the desired outcome in these photographs (for example, to take the picture of the books with acceptable detail and focus I used the Macro function of the camera, and while taking the Medium Close Up I had to consider the clothes the subject was wearing and how they were complimented by the colour of the background and the lighting of the area in which the photograph was taken, in this case, outdoor lighting on an overcast day.)

Contents Page Draught - 01

Front Cover Draught - 01

Magazine Title Ideas - Brainstorm and Decision

Here are the brainstorms I made when regarding the title of my magazine.

I am very pleased with my chosen title as I believe it sum up the ideology of my magazine (being about the college social life) in a modern and eye-catching manner.

Initial Ideas - Contents Page - Spider Diagram

I have begun to plan for my front cover by making spider diagrams for the Front Cover and Contents Page of the magazine.

Initial Ideas - Front Cover - Spider Diagram

I have begun to plan for my front cover by making spider diagrams for the Front Cover and Contents Page of the magazine.

Medium Close Up Shot (MCU)

Images from http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/rbgt_25.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=EDF6F2F4F969CEBDAD8E03F71D6809E4BDA432D5B9ED423A19581F762063A964 and http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/rbrs_0062.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=EDF6F2F4F969CEBD560F30E01B33C2E401BFBAE9B5183CD063989BD3CEDD0E6A

• The two photos shown above are both examples of Medium Close Up shots (or, MCU's).
• They both show the head and the shoulders of the person in the shot and are close enough to show emotion and convey feelings of the depicted person, but are far away enough to allow for dynamic angle (i.e. the man in the photo on the left) and can also be taken from angles to allow for a more interesting photo outcome (woman on the right).
• As shown in the photo on the right, they can even be adapted for magazine use (the space on the left could be used for the Main Cover Story).
• I will take things such as Text placement into account when taking photographs for my magazine cover.
  

Cover Stories

• I have learned from my research that the stories included in a magazine would obviously have to appeal to the intended audience of the publication.
• So, for my college magazine to appeal to the target audience (age range 16-18), it will have to feature stories which are relevant to the younger audience, consisting of students of the college.
• I could approach this in the manner of aiming the magazine as a whole to more specific sub-sections of my intended target audience, (i.e. female students).
• This would affect the stories featured as I would want them to be relevant to the audience, so, for example, if I was aiming the magazine at female students I would include Cover Stories such as "HPV: Harmful or Not?" and other subject matters which would be of more interest to female audiences (in this case relating to the recent H.P.V. Vaccinations).
• However, as I would liek my magazine to appeal to all, or most, of the students in the college the stories the stories I feature would have to either be directed at a much wider audience, or I could have a mixture of stories which would make the magazine as a whole appeal to the desired wider audience.
• Here are some initial ideas for stories which I could feature to appeal to a much wider range of audiences (I will add to these at a later date):

• HPV: "Both Partners Benefit"
• Bullying - Who to talk to and how to get help
• Wyke Results Wow Ofsted
• Wyke Party a Positive Success!

Target Audience

• From looking at other magazines and thinking about the institute which makes College magazine (educational establishments) I have decided that the Target Market for my college magazine is going to be people in the age range of 16-18 years old.

• I have decided that, so that most people at the college will be able to enjoy the magazine and it will be available for their needs, to make the target market gender neutral, so it will be aimed at both male and female students of the college.

• So that the magazine is more generic and will appear to a wider range of students, (and not, for example, just those who are linked with certain subjects,) I have decided that I will adapt the conventions and include features (i.e. cover stories) which would appeal to all or most of the students at the College.

• These will include information about social events linked with the college and general goings-on in and around the college.

• I will also include the college name in the title so it appeals to the students as it will cause a sense of collective pride as the people will see the college's name on something which they will hopefully view as modern and interesting and then they will feel proud to have something to do with it.

• To appeal to the younger audience i will make the 'image' of the magazine modern, colourful and make it look 'cool'. This is because I will want it to appeal aesthetically to the target audience, as if they think it looks awful they will not want to read it and therefore they will not take an interest in it even if the content would be relevant and/or of interest to them.
  

Magazine Tutorial - Paint Shop Pro

Here is a video tutorial, with information of how to make a magazine front cover in Paint Shop Pro. The same principles (i.e. tools used and methods) will be used for making the contents page.

Magazine Tutorial - Photoshop

Here is a video tutorial, with information of how to make a magazine front cover in Photoshop. The same principles (i.e. tools used and methods) will be used for making the contents page.

Magazine Front Cover Analysis 02

(image taken from: http://www2.kedst.ac.uk/web/publications/king%20eds%200607/Front%20Cover.jpg )

• In this post I will be analysing the front cover of a College/University magazine front cover and I will talk about how this specific magazine uses the conventions in its own way for its own purposes and how the conventions are successful or even unsuccessful in what they do.

• The first thing I noticed when I looked at the front cover, was the striking colours and bold text of the masthead. This both draws attention to the magazine due to the boldness of the two different colours contrasting with each other and the fact that they are brighter colours also gives the magazine a more 'fun' and 'modern' feel, which I believe would help it attract the younger audience which it is aimed at, as younger audiences conventionally prefer brighter and more striking colours, when compared to a lot of magazines which do not appeal to younger people, which are mainly boring and less bold or individualistic.

• The front cover does not, however have a Bar Code. I believe this is because due to the nature of the magazine (created by a University and to be given to the students) it will have an incredibly narrow target market (i.e. only the students of the University) and it will therefore not be mass produced and therefore there will be no need for a bar code because it will not enter retail so a bar code would be obsolete. Also, due to the fact that the publication is made by the educational establishment and made for those who attend the establishment (a University, so in this case Students, who generally don't have the money to spend on magazines) chances are it will probably be free, which is another reason for there to be no bar code.

• The Main Cover Line says "Nick Love - British Film Director Interview". This is to advertise the main topic covered in the magazine. I believe that the specific nature of it (as it will only appeal to either fans of the director, or maybe people who are studying Film, or have an interest in British cinema) means that the magazine probably has some sort of an academic purpose. This means that it would include articles which help with people's studies (i.e. articles about a director for Film Studies students).

• Even the less important Cover Lines follow the theme of being aimed at people who're studying specific subject. For example: "Foreign Exchange" (for Language students) and "Visit To Auschwitz" (most likely aimed at History students.) This is a very good aspect for a college magazine to have, as it helps it sell easily to a thin target market, so i may try to incorporate something similar to this in my College Magazine. (e.g. subject related articles, i.e. "Wyke Climbing the Football League" (it would appeal to sport students and even those who do not study sport but have an interest in Sports/Football).

• The Main Image itself is also appealing to those at the University, as it shows two students who seem very happy and pleased in general (so people who see it will seem happier and associate the happiness with university life which the students are experiencing, and then feel better about it) and there is also no indication of what they're studying, so it puts across the message that 'Anybody can be happy at this university', which i believe helps the magazine put across a more positive image.
  

Magazine Contents Page Analysis 01

(Image taken from: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4789802360063351260&postID=2352799649559534693 )

'Kerrang' is a modern music magazine, catering to the more alternative music tastes (i.e. Rock, Metal, Punk etc...) I will now once more analyse the magazine extract to see how conventions are used and adapted to suit the individual needs of the magazine. I will be ble to apply the individual uses of conventions to my magazine, due to the fact that they are, despite not having the same content, both aimed at a teenage audience and will therefore have to reach out to their target audience in similar ways.

List of main articles: The list of articles and the pages they are on, (a convention of all magazines, not just those aimed at a teenage audience,) though in this particular magazine, they are making the list more dynamic and appealing. For example, the fonts used suit the image of the magazine and the black and yellow sub headings go well with the colour scheme, and portray a modern, outlandish feeling which the magazine tries to display. Also, unlike most conventional magazines, the article list isn't fully in the order they appear in the magazine. They are instead put into sections and then ordered in their respective sub-sections. This break of convention makes the contents page seem more interesting and out of the ordinary.

Photographs of Main Article Subjects: As the chances are people who bought the magazine will have some interest in the main featured bands, and therefore, would be attracted to their photograph in the contents page and then see the page reference making it easier for them to find the article which they most want to read. The photographs also make the page seem more interesting and colourful, and a lot less bland than a lot of magazines around.

Foreword from the Editor: Not a main part of the contents page, as it is in small writing and in the top corner, but I believe people would want to read it as it would help them relate with those who make the magazine, as they could see similar views and expressive opinions, (if they can relate to those who make the magazine, they would be more likely to relate to the magazine itself and then More likely to buy it.)

From analysing this contents page i have decided that I will most likely include an eye catching colour scheme even for the inside so that people remain interested in the magazine, and then i could perhaps show that college magazines don't have to be boring and give it a new 'life'.

I would also like to include a similar part to the Foreword from the Editor, but perhaps make it from a student of the college so that the readers can relate to the magazine more, as it is hinted at being made by people of their own age who know what they want.