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.