Final Contents Page

This is my final contents page, I have used a clear structure whilst creating this by following the layout plan I made using a grid and guidelines.

I have included a quote to lure the reader in, also I have divided the main articles into two sections; features and cover stories this makes it more organised. This means that readers who saw the cover lines on the front cover can easily find which page the article that story is on.

I have made sure that I have included contents page conventions such a the date and issue number. The two images break the page up which makes it clearer to read.

I have stuck to the house style which follows from the cover of red, black and white, I have also included a red stroke which separates the columns and images which emphasize it.

I have also filled in the backgrounds of features and cover stories with red to make the headings more prominent. I have also added captions to the photographs to make it more contextual.

Draft Development of Contents Page

I have started to add in the masthead and text that follows from my plan. I have used a grid and guidelines these enable me to keep the layout clear and structured.

Plan of Contents Page

I have constructed a plan for my contents page for the school magazine using fireworks. The grid and guides have enabled me to create a clear structured layout that flows, this makes it look organised. I am going to add images alongside the text so it breaks it down and makes it more exciting for the reader to look at. 

Also by having columns it makes it easier to read rather than having a big block of text or paragraphs, so the reader can pin point which page to go to.

Key Conventions of a Contents Page

The key conventions that a contents page for a magazine should have are:

• A title of contents that stands out e.g made bold.
• A main image or object that draws your eye to it.
• Page numbers that aren't in chronological order relating to the content of the magazine.
• House style which usually follows the front cover, the rest of the magazine and the colour scheme.
• Structured layout which is clearer and flows. Has been created using grids/ guidelines.
• Columns vertical rows of text, usually more than one but less than four.
• Blurb of contents which shows main stories and cover line info and images. 
• Date and issue no. showing the reader regular information .
• Pug/starburst with subscription information about getting the magazine regularly

Final Front Cover

This is my final front cover for PBM - which stands for 'Planstbrook Magazine'. I think this masthead is better than 'The Plantsbrook Times' as it is easier to read and more eye catching. I have divided the letters into a pie chart as it is school related.

I have resized the bar code making it smaller and rotating it 90 degrees, so it does not hide the Plantsbrook badge. I have added in a puff 'BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE' which is the school motto; I have made this go in line with the masthead which I think is effective.

I have also created a pug/starburst with 'BEST RESULTS EVER'. I added cover lines and strap lines and added text to the banner.

Draft Development of Front Cover

This is my draft front cover of a school magazine, I have experimented with size, font style and colour. Also I am trying to work out a clear layout for my cover with the use of guide lines. I am going to change the masthead as I do not think it stands out as much as it should and the bar-code does not look right above the badge. I also still need to add more text in forms of a puff, pug/starburst and some strap lines.

Images from Photoshoot

I have taken these potential front cover photographs inside a house and in a garden to vary the lighting. I have tried to choose my location carefully making sure the background is very plain and simple. I have used a fence as one of my backdrops which makes it more interesting but you will still be able to read text clearly over the top.

The medium close-up shots are perfect for my front cover and the model is making good eye contact with the camera. This will help to engage with the reader. I have made sure that the light source is coming from behind me and used a flash in every photo to prevent shadowing.

My model is wearing the Plantsbrook school uniform which is very appropriate for the magazine content. When taking these photographs I have kept in mind the rest of my front cover and pictured where the rest of the text is going to go around it.

Magazine Front Covers

All of these front covers all have a prominent image which takes up the majority of the page, these images are very important as they draw the readers eye to the magazine.

Nearly all of these images are medium close-ups with the exception of a couple. All of the models in the images are making eye contact with the camera this enables a connection with the reader.

I think ELLE with Avril Lavigne on the front is a very good example as all the text is visible and none of it is covering the important part of the image. I do not think VOGUE is a very good example as the text is overlapping some of the image and is white which can not be visible with a pale background.

Rough Draft for Front Cover

This is a rough draft of my magazine front cover, I have created this using Adobe Fireworks. I have varied the font size for emphasis on certain text I have also stuck to the house colours of the school which are red, white and black.

Masthead Ideas for School Magazine

These are some masthead ideas I have created using Adobe Fireworks. I have varied the font styles using serif style fonts to create a more formal and traditional approach for some of them, and for others I have chosen sans-serif font style to create a more youthful and modern creative approach. For the house style I have used a scheme of black, red and white colours which are in line with Plantsbrook's school colour theme.

Ideas for School Magazine

• Key conventions for a school magazine front cover would be:
• A clear recognisable masthead which is largest font on page
• A large image in the centre of the cover which is usually a medium close-up
• A Starburst/pug with catchy information in them to draw your attention to it
• A banner in a rectangular shape at the top or bottom to advertise articles

All these conventions add to the visual syntax of the cover as the readers eyes will flow with the clear structure of the page layout.

• The audience of this magazine will range from current PB students ageing from 11-18 years old, former students and prospective students. Also pupil's parents, teachers and maybe even governors of the school. This means that the articles featured in the magazine need to be appropriate for this diverse audience. The house style will also need to have a suitable colour scheme as both male and female students and non-students will be reading it.

• The content that will be included in this magazine will be:
• News on result success, exam results and trips
• Improvements to the school including canteen, LRC and common room
• Interviews with students and teachers
• Photos of trips and events 

• Ideas of names for the magazine are:
• PLNTSBRK WEEKLY
• PBROOK MAGAZINE
• PB STUDENTS
• PB NEWS
• PLANTSBROOK'S SCHOOL NEWS
• PB'S BULLETIN
• THE PLANTSBROOK TIMES
• PBM
• THE BROOK'S STUDENT NEWS
• PLANTSBROOK ACADEMY