Analysis of Existing Magazines

I am going to analyse my competitor’s magazines in order to make my magazine just as good, if not better than theirs. 

Grimsby Institute



Language-

Cover -The masthead is big, colourful and eye catching which would make it stand out on a magazine stand.

The background image is dominant of the page this also makes its stand out because its colourful in a cartoon like style.

The people are taken at a full length shot which isn’t a usual magazine convention, in my magazine I will be using a MCU (Medium close up) as my main background image.

There are two small boxes at the bottom of the page containing other news in the college which uses persuasive writing although it isn’t every big or eye catching, in my magazine the other stories will be more visible to the viewers.

There isn’t a price or a bar code on the magazine so I will make sure that my magazine has a visible price and bar code.

There is the website address so people can find out more on the website.

There isn't a main story on the front cover so you could be a bit unsure about what articles are going to be in the magazine.

Contents- The blue and white colours on the contents work really well together and along with the added pink it contrasts good together and looks very professional because it appears to have a consistent house style. Where it tells you what page what story is on, beneath the article title it tells you a little bit about what the article which could  persuade you to read about it further.

Institution-

It’s a college magazine for Grimsby Institute.

Ideology –

The magazines key idea connotates as a social magazine, this is because on the main image there are students who are in a casual pose with a brick background that is also been edited into a cartoon. This makes it eye catching and allows it to stand out.

Audience -

The target audiences the magazine would be aimed at the students of Grimsby institute and the visitors of the college for example students looking to join the college or inspectors.

Representation -

The college have done this positively by making the institute look like a good place to make friends and an interesting place to be. It does this through the sub headings at the bottom of the page telling you about the interesting activities the students have been getting up to along with some small pictures.

East Riding College

Language-

Cover - The masthead isn't very eye catching. It is simply white on a black background and not in bold.

The  main image isn't very dominant on the page as it only takes up the middle of it. The image is an extreme long shot of a group of people with their backs turned, there is a caption saying “Media students in Berlin” and the page that this story is on. The whole magazine uses very dull colours which doesn't make it very eye catching. In my magazine I will ensure that it uses bright colours and stands out.

There are a few small lines at the bottom of the page informing you about the other news in the magazine but its not very persuasive.

There is text saying that the magazine is free but no bar code.

Contents-  The black and white colours are very plain and they haven't stuck to a consistent house style because the lime green colour wasn't on the front cover. Also the pictures on the contents appear to be placed randomly with uneven sizes borders which looks very amateur.

Institiution-

It's a student magazine for East Riding college

Ideology-

The magazine appears to be emphasising the activities you get to do at East Riding College because it is showing you t he media trips picture and in the other news it informs you that in the magazine there will be an article about the art exhibition, student reps and anti bullying. This could persuade people to read about all the interesting activities the college have done.

Audience-

The target audience would be the students of Easy Riding College and any visitors or possible students who may be interested in the college.

Representation-

The college is represented positively by making the college look like a college that does a lot of interesting activities, persuading you to study at East Riding college.

Wyke College

Language -

Small masthead saying "wyke world" only dominating the top left corner of the magazine.

Main image of student working dominating the page. Medium close up.

There is a small box randomly placed at the bottom with the picture of a building.

There is a bar code but no price

The title "exams" is eye catching and bold. The other news is bold and bubbly writing that makes it stand out.

Institution –

It is a past student magazine for wyke college.

Ideology-

The magazine is about the upcoming exams of 2009, the new buildings and questions about exams being too much stress on students and whether there should be a rose garden or not.

Audience-

The target audience would be the students of wyke college because it has information about exams and their opinion on whether there should be a rose garden or not.

Representation-

The magazine appears to be about the upcoming exams of 2009 so it is an informative magazine; with an article about how stressful exams can be, the rose garden and about the new buildings. This creates a positive vibe about the college, which makes it seem new and modern.