Evaluation of preliminary task

After researching into front covers I used the typical conventions used on my front cover. I used amasthead called the ‘College Insider’- sticking to conventions and having it as the biggest thing on thepage that your attention draws to first. I also used a slogan/skyline of ‘Everything you have to know’ andplaced it above my masthead (as well as the date and issue number) which is typical of a magazine. I useda coverline and made it the second biggest thing on the page. For the coverline I used buzz words such as‘exclusive!’ to make the readers think that it is the only magazine with this in. I put a barcode on mymagazine cover as well to make it look more realistic. The central image also follows the typicalconventions as it is a close up. The girl on the cover is also a student which relates to the magazine as it isa College magazine. Another important convention I followed in the central image was having her eyesshowing and looking directly at the camera, as to make it look as if she is looking at the reader. I used pugsalso underneath the cover line, which is another typical convention.

For the contents page I also stuck to the conventions. I put a relating title of ‘What’s Inside?’. I also usedthe words ‘Welcome’ as if to create a friendly relationship between the magazine and reader and providewarmth. I used words such as ‘your’ and ‘you’ which directly address the reader and makes it feel morepersonal. In the contents page I used buzz words again ‘Exclusive!’ to draw attention. I used flashesunderneath the title, for extra information about the article and to give the reader more of an idea ofwhat they’re going to read in the magazine. I used the same font and colour scheme as I did on the frontpage so they look like they’re meant to be part of the same magazine and they relate.

In the development of my college magazine I learnt that it is important to follow the typical conventions ofa magazine to make it look realistic. I also learnt how important the photography is for the magazine as itcan either make or break the realism of your magazine.If I were to do it again, I would take my photos with a better quality camera. I think it is important to dothis as my photos came out somewhat pixelated and of not very good quality and this makes the magazinelook quite unprofessional and unrealistic. I would also aim at a specific part of people at the college eg atthe performing arts students or the sports students, so I could work on aiming a magazine at a nichemarket not just the general college.