"Campus Mango" Preliminary Student Magazine Evaluation

Our magazine is aimed at a student reader, which inspired the name "Campus Mango", which refers to college whilst being slightly comedic. The photograph of our model on the front is bright and friendly, making the magazine look approachable, encouraging the reader to pick up the magazine. We tried to include witty cover lines and strap lines to appeal to the demographic of our audience, whilst including articles which they may find interesting or useful. This is similar to other college magazines we've studied, which included each of these features.
However, we have created our magazine so it is slightly different to the typical college magazine; it is aimed at mainly a mature female audience, which is similar to a women’s magazine. Nevertheless, it is still slightly upbeat and includes humorous features which create a more college feel. We felt it quite simple to relate to the audience as it is aimed at people similar to us. To portray this, we used language and font which was easy to read, and included topics that we felt we could relate to as the ideal audience.

Through creating the college magazine, I have learnt how to use ‘Photoshop’ more effectively, thus I am now able to edit and improve a photograph. We also used a programme called ‘Quark Xpress’, which I found was a useful tool for creating a contents page. I hadn’t used the programme prior to this project, and I have now learnt how to successfully arrange text and pictures on a page in order to make it look professional.

"Campus Mango" Contents Page

This is the contents page for our student magazine.

"Campus Mango" Magazine Cover

This is the cover of our student magazine.

Contents Page Research

Contents page links:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2175964086_25f79a70ca.jpg
http://beauchampcollegemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/contents-page-11.jpg
http://www.ephraimgregor.com/images/print/libertycont.jpg

Each of the contents pages i've viewed have featured a bold title to make it clear to the reader what's on the page. They all contain various lists, as the contents page is designed to tell the reader what's in the issue. I find that the most effective contents pages are the ones with a simple colour scheme, as it doesn't overwhelm the reader with a busy layout and discourage them from looking at the page.
The language used throughout is simple and straight to the point, in order to engage the readers interest without giving too much information away. On some contents pages however, there are eye catching subtitles followed by a small amount of explainitry text which i think is effective because it gives away a little more detail about what is to follow in the magazine.
On the contents pages i've viewed, they each contain simular fonts to those featured on the front cover. The information given on the contents page usually links to the front cover, and the colour scheme is often simular.

AS Media Preliminary Project

I have found a student magazine called "The Eye" from Lewisham College in London, which I think is effective for a wider college audience because the content is varied.
Features included are things such as: music, job oppurtunities, nights out etc.
I can take ideas from this such as their use of colour; it's bold and stands out on the page, entising the readers interest.

http://www.lewisham.ac.uk/media/122445/eye%20issue%208.pdf

I came up with this audience profile inspired by student magazines I've previously looked at:
- You would rather live off pot noodle for a week than cook your own food.
- Nothing is more terrifying to you than not having enough clothes to last you the week of college.
- You refuse to go a week without updating your iPod.
- You feel it is completely necessary to check your facebook page everytime you log on to a computer.
- You claim to shop at Topshop, but somehow half your wardrobe has a Primark label.
- A night out down the park with friends translates to your parents as "a girly night in".

College Magazine Analysis.

Magazines Used:

• "Whats On" - http://www.utsunion.uts.edu.au/images/student-magazine/coverWhatsOned8web.jpg
• "State College" - http://home.comcast.net/~tberner2003/scmcover.jpg
• "Campus Life" - http://www.campuslifemagazine.ca/images/campus_life_magazine_cover_spring2008_large.gif

All three magazine covers have simular features; articles such as how to find the best college wardrobe and top places to visit. The mastheads are common throughout, having similar fonts and layouts. The masthead on each also fits in with the colour scheme used on the rest of the page. For example, on "Campus Life" the colour of the text on the page uses the same colours as those featured on the background image.

I would prefer to read "Campus Life" because its more approachable; the person in the photograph appeals to my demographic by appearing friendly and genuine. The picture and layout itself I find quirky and original, plus there is a colour scheme which links the content of the magazine together, making it easier to digest.

The typical reader who would pick up "Campus Life" would be a post-modernist student, who would typically have an interest in music. These people would most likely have a moto or mantra, like "to have, to be, to play." The reader would also have simular fashion sense to that of the guy in the photograph.

Audience Profiles.

Bella Magazine.

• Aimed at aspirers and underachievers; people who want a better life or wish they were suceeders.
• For people who are post-modernists and hedonists.
• Mainly C1 or C2; people who are inbetween the middle class and working class scale.
• Aimed at middle aged woman.