School Magazine Cover Key Tasks

AS Preliminary Task

School Magazine Front Cover

The preliminary task is designed to help you learn the basics of page layout and design. You will not achieve a mark for the finished product, but if you do not complete the task, then fifteen marks will be deducted from the main task, the four pages of the music magazine.

You need to think about the following codes and conventions when you design your front page.

The Masthead

·        What is the name of the magazine?

·        What are the connotations of the masthead?

·        Is the colour scheme of the masthead appropriate?

·        Is the Masthead a sufficient size?

Images

·        What is the main image on your cover?

·        Is the main image an appropriate or conventional size?

·        Does the main image give a clear indication of the story that it is representing?

·        Is the composition of the main image clear on the page?

·        You should include at least two subsidiary images.

·        Are the subsidiary images an appropriate size?

·        Have the subsidiary images been placed in an appropriate position on the page?

·        Do the subsidiary images give a clear indication of the stories that they are representing?

Language

·        You should use strap lines and sell lines on the front cover in order to give the reader an idea of the stories that can be found in the magazine (Should be at least 3).

·        The strap lines or sell lines should give a clear indication about the main stories within the magazine and should appeal to the target audience.

·        The language should be informative and entertaining.

·        You should try and use literary devices in order to make your cover more interesting. E.g. puns, alliteration, etc.

·        Spelling and punctuation must be accurate.

·        You should use a range of appropriate fonts. (At least 2)

·        The font size should be clear and appropriate.

·        You should use a consistent and appropriate colour scheme that appeals to the target audience.

Layout and Design

·        The layout of the front page should be clear and well organised.

·        The front page should appeal to the reader.

·        The design of your front page should be recognisable as the front cover of a school magazine.

 Key Tasks to Complete During the Planning Stage

1.    Analyse the front cover of at least three different types of magazine. Try to identify the key codes and conventions of layout and design.

2.   Plan your ideas for your front cover. Think about the following: Masthead, Sell Lines, Strap Lines, Slogan, Main Image, Subsidiary Images, etc.

3.   Find out what the target audience for your magazine thinks about your ideas for the front cover. Create a questionnaire in order to help plan the content of your page.

4.   Create a rough draft of your magazine front cover.

5.   Complete the planning documents to plan your photo shoots.

6.   Take your photographs. You will need to book the camera if you are using school equipment!

7.   Edit your photographs using Paintshop Pro. You should spend a minimum of 1 hour using Paintshop Pro.

8.   Create your cover using Adobe Indesign or another suitable Desk Top Publishing Programme. You will need to book your sessions in the media room. You should aim to spend a minimum of 3 hours using Adobe Indesign.

9.   Evaluate your front cover.

10.                You should update your blog at every stage of the production process.