Generic Conventions Of A Student Magazine

COLOUR SCHEME
Look at the choice of colours, variety of colours and the tone (Bright, pastel, dark).

The colour scheme will have to appeal to the chosen audience. Note specific examples in the products you look at and analyse and explain reasons for these choices.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Style of photography used. Live or studio? Posed or natural? Bright or dull? How are the people posed? Camera angles? Focal point? Look at the mise en scene to see what it can tell you.

The style and content of photgraphy used can be important to the audience. Rock music- live events. Pop magazine- studio shoot. Consider style and content and reasons for these choices.

WRITING STYLE
Look at the length of articles, paragraphs and words. Look at the style of writing and the language used.

Analyse the written content and what it tells you about the audience. Identify uses of slang and styles of writing (informal, formal, detailed, brief, etc). Note the reading level (reading age). How does all of this target the magazines audience?

OVERALL LOOK
The overall impression given by the magazines appearance.

A range of different elements come together to make up the look of the design. Explain the overall look of the magazine and give reasons why the magazine has been made this way.

TEXT/PICTURE RATIO
How much of the pages are dedicated to writing and how much to pictures.

Look closely at ratio of text to pictures. Ratio will change for different target audiences. Explain the ratio and reasons for this choice.

FONTS
Style and range of fonts chosen.

Fonts can tell the potential audience lots about the magazines on shelfs. Analyse reasons for their use.

PUBLISHER
The people who publish the magazine you are researching.

Find out who publishes, and what else they publish. Target demographic or do they target a range of audiences?