Evaluation

Whilest creating my School magazine I followed the genral codes and conventions of a magazine.

Concerning my front cover I used a medium close up picture taken with the subject using direct address. Moreover, I used one main cover line with a tagline to anchor the story to the reader and this was in context to the main image. Additionaly, I had 4 other stories on the cover in order to highlight in contents and intice the audience. The Masthead was made up of the title of the magzine, the date and issue number, which were placed in the top left. Furthermore, a barcode was placed in the bottom right corner. In context to my contents page, I used images that related to my cover stories and regular feature. It contained, regular features and cover stories. The images had page numbers on them in order to anchor them to the story and allow easy access for reader. The top of the page had 'contents' in large text and the title of the magazine above it. Page number were on the left of the story with a subline beneath the main story line.

However, I did deviate from the usual codes and conventions of the magazine genre. Seen promitely through the title and colours used on my front cover, the colours are uncoodinating and lack boldness that most magzines contain. In additon, the lack of oringnality in my font in my title is apparate, as although I changed it to some extend it does not stand out so it would be difficult to associate this font with a magazine.

Using technology such as Photoshop and Quark express haved allowed us to create a proffessional and oringinal appeal to the preliminary exercise. Photoshop, although at first difficult to use it becomes a brillent tool to creating a front cover. Furthermore, Quark express being a proffessional journilsim device allows us to reach a excellent standard to our work. More so in that it is very easy to use and having used it for our preliminary exercise it will prepare us for using it in our music magazine.

Having completed the exercise, it has highlighted my strengths and weaknesses with useage of design and production of a magazine. For example, my photography skills and photoshop skills needed improving and this exercie has helped me build upon skills. Moreover, by using my creative strengths I think this will estblish a good foundation for creating a music magazine in my coursework.