How Are Other School Magazine Covers Laid Out?

For my planning for my preliminary task, I have looked at other existing magazine covers for schools to find out how they're generally presented so I can follow the layout for my own school magazine cover.

The covers I have used to find the information are below:

1.) http://www.yourcover.com/Browse-Covers/milestone-magazine-cover-templates/graduation

2.) https://joshuapowellblog.wordpress.com/

3.) http://etbulletin.org/2012/03/junior-stands-tall-on-magazine-cover/

4.) https://mmoorechs.wordpress.com/tag/school/

From looking at these four examples I have come up with a typical layout of these school magazines using 'InDesign':

• I have found out that on all of my examples the masthead is always at the top.
• The examples I looked out showed the price as 'Free' as it is typical that a school wouldn't profit out of a school magazine and the purpose would be to inform.
• An incentive would usually be available - however it is most likely not to increase sales but rather for people to read it so they can be informed.
• Cover lines are present on every example around the sides of the pictures, these are used to inform the audience what is included in the magazine - this is shown through a smaller font underneath the main cover line to provide extra information of it. The main cover line is usually a lot bigger than the others to stand out more, and to draw people in more.
• The image on the cover usually stretches through the entire cover with text written on it.
• At the bottom of the cover there usually the main feature or the title of the edition of the magazine which allows people to know what the magazine is mainly about this edition.
• Bar-codes are sometimes present on school magazines but not all the time mainly due to the fact that they're never really sold at price (they're usually free)
• Media convergence is used on these magazines - mostly websites to the school's website. This is used to enhance the product even further.
• Additionally, all of my examples follow a house style throughout the entire cover.

From tthis information I am going to carry out my preliminary task following this general layout. 

Action Plan

I have wrote an action plan to my 'Foundation Portfolio'. I have done this as it will keep me organised and it means that throughout the process I will know what I need to do and it can act as a checklist to make sure I have done everything I need to do. To devise this I have used my previous research into other blogs and a list from my teacher of things to include. 

Research & Planning From Other Blogs

I've made a table using a previous Media Students' blog which shows what they included in Research & Planning and how it was presented. I have done this as it will help me to devise my action plan for all of my upcoming Research & Planning. 

Blog used to acquire information: http://flemjems.blogspot.co.uk/

Brief

I have decided to chose the print brief for my 'Foundation Portfolio'.

After reading the 2 briefs, I feel that this brief will be challenging but exciting at the same time, as I enjoy music and also producing things using Photoshop and other DTP software. The preliminary task involves making a front cover of school magazine as well as a mock-up of the layout of the contents page. The main task involves making the front cover, contents pages and a double page spread of a new music magazine.