Final Cover, Contents and Evaluation

Thanks for the feedback! :)

EVALUATION

LANUAGE

The task I was given to do, was create a college magazine featuring a medium close-up. To help me create my product, I took ideas from already existing magazines. For example, the masthead I used was influenced by the masthead of GQ magazine. It is clearly visible, short and recognizable.

I wanted my magazine to look interesting and full of ‘the facts’ which is why I created a deck of headlines on the side of the magazine. However, these were not the main selling point of the magazines; instead it was the main brand image of the medium close-up I used followed by the caption below. The caption was meant to seem ‘action-packed’ and ‘epic’ in a way, to grab the attention of a younger audience. The colour used for the brand image was also meant to add a sense of enigma to the cover, “who is this person and why are we reading about him?” Making the audience want to read more.

At the bottom of the page, I used a teasing content to help draw the reader in even more by letting them know there are big prizes to be won in a competition. Everything I did used a younger style of writing, it was still formal but the way titles and caption have been written can be relatable to my target audience. For example, in the contents page for the ‘money saving guide’ the headline reads “Make your moolah and keep your cash!” This is an informal heading, but the audience can relate to it, also, the use of alliteration is eye-catching and attractive.

The overall layout of the front cover was meant for it to be clear as well as full. This will give off the impression that it is easy to read, interesting but there’s a lot of it. The house style used is mostly based around the college colours (purple and green) alongside more vibrant colours which are red and white.  From what I have gathered from audience feedback, the house colours worked well, with everything to do with the college in the college colours, and the important and serious topics in red/white.

To ensure people understand this is a Wyke Magazine, the college name / logo was placed as part of the barcode, along with the date and price. The price was also featured in the top corner, this is placed to attract the audience and make the product seem cheap by segregating it from the rest of the headlines/articles.

On the contents for page 14 it reads “It’s competition time!” This was initially in white, but due to the background I had to change the colour of the text. However, it also helps make it stand out more as the competition is a main selling point to the magazine as it will not be available online. (As stated on my blog.)

INSTITUTION

The institution that will promote/publish my product is the featured college itself, Wyke 6^th Form College. The magazine will be placed in the library for people to buy and read, this is a good place for my product because the main place people go to read or ‘learn’ in the library.

The reason I have chosen Wyke is because it was easier for me to complete my product there, due to the amount of images I can take there, as well as a large amount of my target audience have places at Wyke. I want students aged 16 – 19 to buy my product, and featuring it at Wyke is the perfect place.

IDEOLOGY

The main idea of the magazine is that it was meant to seem as though it is made ‘for the students.’ Once the magazine learns something new, then so do the students. It was as though the magazine was on the same team/side as the students, which is why the slogan above the masthead reads “We know it. Now you know it.” Everything the magazine learns the students must know as they have a right to know everything that goes on around them. It almost makes the magazine seem like a rebellious, ‘freedom fighter’ and youths of today like that.

However, this may be portrayed as making out that students are just thugs and rebellious, which is why teachers are also involved within the magazine. The last thing the magazine wants to do is creating a negative image for its target audience, but also makes it relatable.

AUDIENCE

My target audience is students, aged 16 – 19 studying at Wyke 6^th Form College, and the way I attracted the audience is by having the brand image on the front an everyday student.

My target S.E.G group is group E because the students are still at college and probably on a low income, also, The psychographics of my target audience will be achievers because, people who aim to do well will want to know what is going on around them and in the college to get a better understanding of how to aim higher and do well for themselves.

REPRESENTATION

As the magazine is about and for students / youths they need to be represented positively however relatable in order to attract the audience, hence why the language is more informal than a normal everyday magazine.

The brand image being black and white, may make the person in the image look like an individual and possibly rebellious by standing out from the crowd, but that is what the magazine wants to do. It wants to be different and stand out from all the other magazines. By making the brand image seem rebellious, it is succumbing to the everyday stereotypes of the youth of today that the media portray.

The slogan at the top, ‘We know it. Now you know it.’ Is it way to show how they magazine beholds a lot of information. However, the meaning behind it, is that it is meant to show that the magazine is siding with the student in whatever they do. This makes the audience want to help out their ‘friends.’

As the magazine is based around the Wyke College and what is happening within it, the house colours are the same as the college colours. This shows a relation between the magazine and the college, and this promotes my magazine even more.

The backgrounds I have used for my cover and college magazines are of one of the college magazines. It is a part of Wyke, just like the magazine itself despite the fact it isn’t the first thing you would associate with the college. However, the meaning behind the image is to show that with this magazine you’re going to get a lot more than you paid for.

The masthead also uses the college colours to show they are related, but also, in between the letters of the masthead, there is a lightning bolt. This represents power  and how nothing can stop this magazine from telling the truth.

Overall I am happy with my product, both the front cover and the contents page. I feel I have made a good attempt at trying to make my magazine look professional. I would have liked to put more detail into certain areas, however for the skills and abilities I have I am pleased with the work and feedback I created and received.