Research

Before analysing any school magazines, I decided to do some research to see what the typical conventions of a magazine are and what is generally included on a front cover. For example, the main features include are:

·         Advertorial - this is a piece of advertising used to look like it is part of the editorial.

·         Anchorage - used to show the exclusive in a magazine.

·         Banner - this is usually a strip of images of even a phrase across the cover of the magazine.

·         Barcode - a readable code machines can read, to define the price of the magazine.

·         Bimonthly - this means the magazine is published monthly.

·         Biweekly - this means the magazine is published every fortnight.

·         Body Copy - this is the main piece of text on a page.

·         Boost - the biggest sell line that is intended to increase sales of the magazine.

·         Bubble Gum Reader - this means the language is aimed at teenagers because it is easy reading.

·         Burst - an insert on the front cover, which contrasts from the main image in order for it to stand out e.g. "Free Cucina Vouchers!". 

·         Buzz Word - are words that gives a magazine reader the idea about what is going to be in a magazine.

·         Call-out - a part of the front cover that "shouts" out to the audience they are aiming at. 

·         Centre Spread - which is the two middle pages of a stapled magazine that includes some advertising or free posters that can be removed easily from the publication.

·         Colour Scheme - particular colours the magazine stick to, to make the brand recognisable.

·         Consumer Specialist magazines - which are magazine specifically targeted at a particular audience e.g. knitting.

·         Date - when the magazine is released.

·         Direct Mode of Address - this is when the information involves the reader by talking directly to them. Also, a model will generally be giving eye contact on the front cover, to again draw the reader in.

·         Dog End - a "pretend" fold on the page, which generally presents the page number.

·         Ear Piece - is a piece of information that is usually presented in the corner.

·         Hook - is aims to effect the reader, hopefully drawing the reader into wanting to read the rest of the story and in the end buy the magazine.

·         Issue Number - tells you how many issues there are, so if you collect magazines you know which one comes first.

·         Kicker - is usually an additional piece of information to influence the reader to buy it.

·         Main Image - is exactly what it says, which is the big main image.

·         Mast Head - this is the title of the magazine, which is conventionally at the top.

·         Menu Bar - these are generally at the side or at the bottom of the magazine to inform the reader.

·         Plug - is the information about the contents included in the magazine.

·         Puff/Teasers - this is a small snippet of text to attract the audiences attention.

·         Sell Line - a short, sharp description of the title's main advertising points.

·         Sky Line - is a strip of text above the Mast Head.

·         Tag Line - motto for the magazine.

·         The Third Left - which is a strip down the left, where the main storyline is.

·         Typography - this means the font that is chosen for the magazine should be clear and readable.

·         WOB(White On Black) - this means white writing on a black background.

By doing this research I have been able to gather any relevant information about magazines that I will ensure to include when creating my preliminary and coursework task. Afterwards, I looked at all the variety of areas of magazines that are available to buy in the shops and these included:

• Fashion
• Food
• Finance
• Music
• Arts
• Photography
• Sports
• Environment                                            
• Animals
• Science and Engineering
• Politics
• Business and the Economy
• Computers and Technology
• Trade
• World
• Weather
• Health and Medicine
• Traffic