School Magazine Conventions

For the front cover, the conventions used are clear. Strong, bold shapes highlight features, and bright colours make the magazine attractive. A theme of colours across the cover produce a cohesive look, whilst meaning that each feature stands out from the others, as it’s a different colour. Capital letters are almost exclusively used for titles, to make them pop out at the potential buyer. The fonts used across the different titles differ, but is always in the same style – again, producing a varied, yet cohesive image.

          The rule of thirds is featured very prominently in all of these magazines – the positioning of objects on the page is always dictated by the rule. However, the stronger the rule is adhered to (for example, one magazine has 3 clear columns, dividing the page equally into three, with images filling two of them) the better it appears. Conversely, another magazine has images seemingly placed near-randomly covering two thirds – this simply looks chaotic.

          The quality of the images used is equally as important – one magazine features badly lit, poorly composed pictures, and this impacts negatively on how the magazine seems to present itself. It looks shabby and as though thought hasn’t been put into it – on the other hand, a magazine with better quality, better composed photos looks far more impressive and professional, and therefore attractive.

          The cover has features from inside the magazine listed on it, to show the reader what the magazine contains. The language used is all present tense, and assertive – this shows that the magazine is up to date and relevant, and has a voice of authority on the issues it discusses.

          The contents page typically, is very clearly split into sections, most often adhering to the rule of thirds. The colour scheme from the front page is continued, keeping the adhesive feel of the magazine.

          Unlike the front cover, the contents page uses only one or very few different fonts, but several sizes to distinguish descriptions from feature titles, for example.

          Another common feature is a message from the editor – written in a friendly tone, it explains what has occurred between issues of the magazine, and talks directly to the reader. Unlike the front cover, it doesn’t vie for the consumer’s attention, but instead aims to make the reader feel comfortable and want to read on.