Research into the conventions of school magazines

Fusion Magazine

Front Cover Conventions

1. Title
2. Issue number
3. 3-colour scheme- Simple red, black and white- edgy
4. Heavily photoshopped close up picture suggesting that they have high technology in their school
5. Slogan
6. Sub headings
7. Main heading-‘festival funk 2007’
8. Topic ‘words of wisdom’

Point-Title

Fusion magazine’s designer used a strong bold title, having a sharp corner cut out of the bottom of the text. This created an instant opinion of the school for the reader, being sharp and edgy, standing out from other schools. I will utilise this convention within my magazine, reflecting the schools ethos through the font of the title in order to allow the reader to instantly understand the schools vibe and atmosphere.

Point-Colour Scheme

A 3-colour scheme of red white and black was used, again enhancing the diverse appearance of the school. The colours also highlight the fact that they are a bold confident school with many different pupil characteristics. I will also use colours to reflect my school in my magazine, highlighting the schools colour scheme of blue and white.

Point-Image

A heavily photoshopped close up image of a student is the focal point of the front cover. This instantly draws in the reader with a rock/individual feel allowing us to relate to the school’s students by first glance of the image. The fact that the image is heavily photoshopped also tells us they have high technology in their school, whilst reinforcing their modern, cutting edge ethos. This again enhances their individuality and subverts the stereotypes of the traditional medium close up of a student smiling. Although I will be using a medium close-up of a student, I will use the convention of the photoshopping in my magazine in order to reflect the unique feel of my school through the main image.

Contents Page

1. Title-contents
2. Page numbers for articles and for that page (bottom right)
3. Recycle logo
4. Aesthetically pleasing colours
5. Headings of articles
6. Image
7. Bright border
8. Layout

Point-Images

The contents page instantly stands out with an image of a cassette tape with a variety of shades of pink lines bursting out of it with droplets at the end. A small pattern of lime green flowers are also placed to the left of the image creating a bright vibrant feel. These images automatically tell the reader that the school is both confident and musical with many different genres and personalities. I would like to create the same effect on my contents page as I think having an image collaborating both hobbies of the pupils and the schools atmosphere is very effective and eye catching.

Point-Layout

Having a layout of a contents page like Fusion’s is unusual but I think that it stands out from the crowd, reflecting that schools ethos. Having the title ‘contents’ just above half way down the page makes it more or less centred, again leading us as a reader to automatically be drawn to that point. I would like to utilise this within my contents page as I think it creates an image of a unique atmosphere, reflecting my schools ethos.

Point-Colour Scheme

The aesthetically pleasing colours are out of the ordinary but really grasp the reader’s attention. This subverts the stereotype of a usual school magazine, having vibrant colours but also focusing on more girly colours.  Within my contents page I will use a colour scheme similar to this as I feel that it can reflect the schools vibe whilst making it more exciting for the audience to read. However, I will manipulate this in order to make it appeal to both genders.