Sixth Form magazine Analysis;

By Sophie Rudd

• The block title remains simplistic with two words. This highlights how the magazine is the first one to be created by students of this school (which is also stated in the coverline which has been placed beneath the title).

• In addition the font of the masthead is also very unique and has been used in a large size. This ultimately shows that the students aim for the magazine to captivate a reader, and make them pick it up.

• The title also explains that the magazine is a November (Autumn) edition.

• This is also highlighted through the use of a variety of autumnal colours within the chosen colour scheme– portraying how the premise of the magazine is possibly the theme of autumn.

• Furthermore, not only does the use of one single image show what the main focus of the magazine is – but it is the objects used within the image that highlight this further;- the image of a number one is made up of multi-coloured leaves. Which not only is a representation of the title of the student’s magazine, it also connotes typical traits of autumn (i.e; leaves changing colour and falling off of trees.)

• Lastly, the close-up shot used, along with the technique of blurring out the edges so that the number one comes into focus, portrays the magazine as being rather professional – showing that the students take pride in their work, and their school. • Despite the fact that this front cover lacks any use of buzz words to entice a reader

in, a strip – to inform a reader of what they’ll find in the magazine, or even a barcode that displays what issue number the magazine is; this simplistic layout which lacks all of those factors ultimately results in someone wanting to read the magazine. As it’s so simple, it makes someone intrigued.

• The immediate change in the contents page is the use of a different font, which still remains unique and large in size (to make it clear what information is on this page), and we are once again given the masthead and issue date (‘Autumn 2011’), which have been conveyed as the pug of the magazine.

• Moreover, the font used appears more sophisticated on this page. This most likely links with the coverlines used that each pose what every page entails: as well as keeping the messages simplistic, which doesn’t give a lot away – making someone intrigued in the articles and want to read the magazine as a whole. - ultimately this also symbolises the sophisticated nature of the students; once again highlighting their pride in their school and the maturity of everyone who attends it.

• Consecutively, each subline which allows an insight into the magazine’s content also act as individual plugs to captivate a reader – as each one is short and simple.

• The page here is also more cluttered with images – each showing a variation of things (such as sports, theatre, and even a crossword puzzle). - this in turn symbolises the many different activities of which the school carries out; which, in turn, portrays a high level of intelligence and ability in the students, as evidently the majority of them are able to carry out so many different activities – whether is be academic, sport-related, or theatrical.• Lastly, the informative layout of the magazine’s content page also conveys numbers placed upon each image, to show a reader where you can find each article relating to that image in the magazine (which is also useful is someone is only interested in certain articles.)

• The immediate aspect to notice here is that the block title of the magazine goes against the expected conventions of magazine covers – instead of the use of a maximum 2 word title, this one has 5. However, the use of the wording (along with the font) is both simplistic and formal – highlighting the professional nature of the magazine. In addition, the size of the wording and the choice of colour makes the magazine immediately stand out; resulting in an incentive to pick the magazine up.

• Lastly the colour scheme which has been chosen is quite simple yet bold, adding an incentive for a student to pick the magazine up and read it.

• Furthermore, by conveying the use of a famous image portrays a ‘traditional’ feel to both the magazine and school. Moreover, by allowing this image to fill up the whole cover, it further highlights the traditional feel of the magazine.

• Similarly, by placing the main coverline next to the main image this emphasizes the message of the magazine. In addition the main coverline also conveys the use of buzz words which formulates a connection with the magazine’s target audience, i.e; teeagers/ young adults. Hence why positioning these words in bold ensures that an audience notices this coverline and, as a result, wants to read the article inside.

• Moreover, the placement of sublines to inform readers what other articles are in the magazine (along with the information on who wrote them) is a more simplistic way of allowing an audience to know what else is available to them.

• Also, by positioning the barcode and issue date at the bottom portrays that this is probably the least significant factor of the magazine, yet it still may intrigue a reader as they become aware this magazine is unique and brand new.

• Evidently, the most significant change in this page is the positioning of both the images, masthead and coverlines – all of which are scattered across the page; contrasting to the previously neat and minimal contents page.Consecutively, this page ultimately repeats the information which has been provided on the front cover – but has just stopped using the typical conventions of the front cover (coverlines and buzz words which are kept short and simple). Instead, each main coverline has now been paired with an image and page number to provide more of an idea of what each article will discuss, along with where to locate them; which allows a reader to focus on the stories which interest them.

• Ultimately, the range of images and coverlines highlights an evident variation in the magazine; thereby portraying the school and its students as being highly academic in a range of areas.

• Yet compared to the Comberton magazine, this school’s magazine has obtained more of a simple colour scheme and less organised structure: resulting in the school being represented as somewhere which is both more relaxed, yet still somewhat sophisticated and professional.

• Additionally, the information provided on the top two corners of the magazine – a typical convention of most magazines – act as the pug or ‘ears’ of this contents page.

• Ultimately it could also be said that the house style of this magazine the idea of a traditional, old-fashioned concept; portraying the importance of traditional values of which the school and its students seem to obtain.

• The block title is very unique, not only in its font and size, but also in its positioning and formation; not only has the title been made large enough to cover the whole of the top of the page (as usually expected) but it has decided to ensure that the main word of focus is ‘purple’: and the other two words have remained smaller, as well as in different positions.Yet the use of the large word ‘purple’ also establishes the whole theme, and essentially the house style of the magazine – virtually the whole magazine is either in black&white, or one shade of purple. This in turn, connotes the magazine as being quite fun and “quirky”, as well as reasonably old-fashioned or “vintage” (as the cover states).

• Furthermore, by placing the issue number within a purple strip across the top highlights the wording (which has been written in white) and makes it stand out. This ultimately, shows the importance of a reader being aware that this is the magazine’s first issue – which shows its unique, and there’s nothing else like it.- in addition, the main coverline has been positioned nearer the bottom of the magazine, yet in the largest font; so, despite the fact that the usual convention would be to place the most important information at the top, they’ve decided to place it at the bottom but in a large font so it’ll be noticed as the most important article.

• However, even the sublines appear important to some degree as they have been written in different font colours. This makes the magazine stand out all over, and really eye-catching, so someone will most definitely want to pick it up and read it.

• Additionally, the strip placed across the bottom of the cover is also mixed with buzz words – such as “Exclusive” – and puffs, which use short words which allow an insight into what kind of articles that the magazine contains.