Survey Results

As my survey was aimed at college students then I would have been surprised if my results would have been different. This is obviously biased as they are all the same age so they may share similar opinions. The only other results I may have seen would have fell into the 18-25 section. 

This result from my survey appears that 80% of my survey was filled out by females. This could connote that my results could and may primarily come from a female perspective.

This table shows that the household income of people taking my survey is very well spread which would connote a fair result. I feel that if I put it in pound sterling, then i may have more of an accurate result.

As this survey was taken in Cornwall, then it was incredibly likely to get this sort of result. If this survey was done in either London or a big city then my results would have variety to them.

This is an accurate set of results as the majority of people at Bodmin College are hetrasexual. If this survey was taken in more of an Urban area you may experience a different set of results. This would not affect the target audience as it needs to appeal to all sexualities. 

This is an accurate set of results as it proves that there is a relatively even split between readers and non readers of the college magazine. If this survey was done elsewhere you would still probably get similar results. This would affect my target audience as I hoping to find out information from magazine readers. 

This is an accurate set of results as it shows that different people feel that there are different aspects of the college magazine that need improving. These results connote that people want too see different types of stories and a nicer contents page within future college magazines. In future I would add even more options to see what else can be improved in the college magazine.

This is an accurate set of results and not biased as there is a wide variety within the results. It connotes that there is a higher chance of students reading the college magazine if improvements were made. This represents the target audience because there would not be a decrease in people wanting to read the magazine if improvements were made because it would go against common logic.

This connotes that the majority of people that did my survey enjoy reading fashion magazines. This would stereotypically be a strong answer as 80% of the people taking the survey were female and 80% of the people answering the question said fashion. This would therefore support stereotypes that men like sport and women like fashion.

This connotes that as students are not already paying for college magazines they are therefore not wanting to have to start paying for college magazines except for 1 student who said they are willing to pay up to £2 for the college magazine. In future I would ask more students their opinion as well as students from other backgrounds and locations.

Contents Analysis

This is a contents page form FourFourTwo magazine. The contents gave been split into 4 separate sub-sections. The sub sections are: upfront, features, planet football and performance. On the left side of the page are the contents listed in their sub-sections. This connotes that the magazine has certain sections. It also represents that each section has its own them so if you want to read a certain section in a certain order then it will help you to do so.

The colour scheme is mainly white and black. This connotes that this has a classic style to both the magazine and its content. It also relates to a standard football which was black and white. This can be associated that classic styles never used to have colour and that they only featured black and white. This represents the target audience as it represents to the older generation and nostalgic people by sparking there interests with this style.

The lexis of the contents page is very abrupt and straight to the point. This has been done because you would not expect to see well stringed sentences or paragraphs on a contents page. Its sole purpose is similar to a map in the way that it directs you where you need to go. This connotes that contents pages or mainly used for directions and other pieces of similar information. This can be associated with adverts and leaflets. This represents the target audience as they want to see the contents page only for directional purposes only.

On the right side of the page are 3 photos of articles which feature inside the magazine. This has been done to make you want to go inside the magazine and fully read these articles as well as others. The first article is on Kevin Keegan. People who remember when Kevin Keegan played and admire him will want to read it as he hasn’t played football for over 30 years. The second article connotes comedy as an animated character appears which would automatically presume a light hearted comedy or something of a similar sort. The final article is a lot more serious as its about football on the national front. As its red it would connote danger and blood. Because of its topic its political and would also talk about racial issues within football.

 

The contents page is very basic as it only has one main image and a listed contents page next to it. Despite its lack of innovation its a very effective contents page in the fact that it gives a brief description about everything as it goes along. This connotes that this contents page has more of a descriptive tone about it than the FourFourTwo magazine.

The colour scheme is black and red. This connotes a cinematic style in the fact you see the style of a cinema within this page instantly associates you with going to the movies. This also gives off a hollywood theme to the text.

The text is in black and red as it gives off a retro style. The magazine is very serious as Anne Hathaway is in what appears to be a airport in handcuffs. This becomes provocative as it either connotes she has been arrested or it gives off something sexual. This is also shown in the fact that her head is in front of the page which shows that she is more important than the contents.

This photo has been used as it features in the month that this movie was either made or produced. The page has been quite clearly built around the image.

Twelve Contents Page Conventions:
1. Page Numbers

2. Linked Photos

3. Colour Scheme that connotes its content

4.Articles

5.Numerical Order/Sub-Section Order

6.Use famous faces/recognition

7.Formality

8.People aren’t necessary

9. Bold Font/Upercase/Lowercase/Italics/Question Mark/ (Lexis)

10.Editors Note

11. Shapes/boxes etc.

12. Title and contents not necessary

Analysing college magazine covers

Analysing college magazine covers

I am going to analyse two college magazines, one of which has been created by a college student and the other by the college secretary. They both share the same primary target audience which are the students of the college 11-18, the secondary target are family members and relatives aged between 10-85. This would appeal to social grades B-E, with all genders,sexuality and ethnicity targeted.

The Bodmin College magazine does not contain many of the common magazine conventions. This is because it hasn’t been professionally made. It also does not have a main title, subtitles and bar code. Compared to other magazines these features are lacking in the Bodmin College magazine.

The masthead has the college logo on it on a backround of what appears to be a plant of some sort on the school premises. This is used as it makes you instantly aware that the magazine is made for Bodmin College and to promote the school and what is currently going on. This connotes that it appears professional based on its the logo rather than just school pictures. This would appear to its target audience as it makes you aware that it has been especially made for students of the college rather than general sale.

The layout contains 3 images of what appears to be a college dance platform. The top 2 images appear to be unevenly split where as the bottom image is much bigger in proportion. This connotes that there has been a recent dance platform as images of it have been chosen for the front of the magazine. This would also represent that there is a article about the dance platform inside this magazine. This would attract readers that did not see the dance platform to read all about it inside the magazine.

The colour scheme is primarily red and yellow on the logo with dark lights on the centre images. These contrast very well however the purple lights can appear to be quite harsh at a quick glance. This instantly appears to have a lot going on the front cover which makes you wonder if there is a lot to read and find out about inside the magazine. This would attract audiences as its very vibrant where as other certain magazines tend to have plain boring magazine covers. Audiences would hope that if its vibrant outside, it should continue inside.

The images of the dance platform and the plant are all associated with the college and what is happening currently at the college. Similar to its layout this has been done for a specific purpose to make you want to read into the images and why these have been chosen. In most cases images have been chosen to represent its content and I can imagine this is no exception. This represents the target audience because they want to know the sorts of content they shall be reading inside.

The lexis of the magazine is very minimalist in the way the front cover consists of a lack of text. The only text that is used is the logo, issue date and text from the dance platform. This shows it might be a magazine that is primarily pictures rather than text. On the contrary, this may have been done to show that there is so much text inside that the cover needed to balance out the magazine, hens the lack of text. This can represent the target audience as younger people are more interested in images and seeing things as opposed to reading articles.

The masthead of ‘Skive’ is very broad and stands out to the reader the second you see it. The magazine gives off the impression that it takes a dark alternative to standard college life and expectations. This can be associated with rebellious students as well as a particular set of students with similar interests. This attracts students with a bad behaved side to read into it as it appeals to them .

The layout of 'Skive' is based on the main image with sub-stories, the main title and the masthead based around it. This instantly looks more appealing than the Bodmin college magazine based on the fact that there are a lot more feautres and a better structured layout. This feels like a professional magazine when you first look at it because of its all round display. This connotes to be a general sale magazine, rather than something exclusive to students. This attracts a target audience as it makes them feel that they are reading a professional magazine.

On the front cover there is a main image as well as 2 small thumbnails on the left hand side of the main image. The main photo follows suit to its masthead as it shows a rather dark image of a very pale girl. This connotes darkness, individuality and a rebellious take on life. Like its masthead, it would attract its readers that follow a rebellious take on life and students who feel that they are 'too cool for school'.

'Skive' is very dark and would typically be associated with Goth's and emotionally unstable people. This would be associated with people who like dark magazines and dark takes on life. This would appeal to a wide range of students because despite the mainstream theme of liking colour, it does not mean that it is everyone's cup of tea. 

The lexis of 'Skive' is informative yet cryptic. This has been purposefully done because it intrigues you but at the same time has a intention of informing you which makes you want to read more. This connotes that there will be a very high standard of content within the magazine. 

Like most other magazines, ‘Skive’ features a masthead, main image, main title and separate sub-stories. Because of this ‘Skive’ looks a lot more professional and contains more common features than the Bodmin College magazine.  

Preliminary Task

In advance to starting my main task, I will first create a preliminary task which would allow me to create both a contents page and a front cover for a new school magazine. The preliminary task would allow me to know where i will need to improve and perfect my main task.

AS Brief Choice

For my AS portfolio i have decided to choose the print brief that involves making a music magazine front cover, double page spread and contents page. I feel that making a music magazine will be very interesting as at GCSE level, I made a sports magazine cover. Considering I also want to go into the journalism profession in the future, it will be good for me to understand and learn more about the publishing industry.