1 Magazine Cover

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'Pitching' a new magazine

You have been commissioned to design a pilot issue of a new magazine. The company you are working for is part of a larger group that already has several titles and will need convincing that there is an opportunity to launch a new title, so your magazine must be distinctive but meet readers' needs and expectations. You may wish to work as a group and allocate different tasks to different people as in a real magazine production process.


Task 1

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You need to decide upon the target audience. Draw up a profile of a 'typical reader' that also includes 'lifestyle'. Choose a name and price for the magazine. You could create a media pack for your magazine.



You must find an example of a magazine and in Microsoft Word answer the following questions:

The cover of the magazine:
  • Analyse the images on the cover; the types of facial expressions, body language, clothing, and so on. Describe what they are.
  • What do they tell us about the target audience for the magazine?
  • What else appears on the cover?
  • Why are particular items in the magazine featured?
  • Explain why particular typefaces, types of graphics, colours and other notable stylistic features are used.
  • Does the cover look similar to other magazine covers? If so, why? If not, how does it look different?

The 'style' of presentation of the magazine:
  • What do you notice about the magazine's presentation?
  • Does it look cheap or expensive?
  • How does it compare with other similar magazines?
  • How does it use colour, print style, artwork and other visuals to convey an overall effect?

Task 2



Design a front cover and...
  • Consider what types of products and brands the readership would be interested in and then make a list of possible advertisers and crosspromotional features. Consider how you would 'sell' the magazine and its readers to potential advertisers.
  • Draw up a list of the types of articles and features that should be included in the magazine. For the pilot you may wish to write up one or two of the features and design some advertisements. You could also write an editorial, from the editor to the readers, explaining what the new magazine offers them.

Notes: Read the following article Do's and don'ts of design

Task 3

Produce a 5 slide Powerpoint Presentation outlining the areas in Task 2:
  • Produce an advertising campaign for the launch, detailing where the advertisements for the magazine will appear. Again you may wish to produce a finished version of one of the advertisements.
  • You must consider what else, if anything, you should be doing to convince your company of the viability of the new magazine. You will need to work to a deadline and justify all your decisions and choices. You could present your findings to a selection of the target audience and ask them to vote on the probable success (or otherwise) of your magazine.


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