Generic Research - Summary of sixth form/college magazine analyses.

What forms and conventions can you identify in sixth form/college magazines?

• Branding: like all magazines, there is a sense of branding. Demonstrated through the use of a school logo and the iconography of the school colours. 

• Masthead: for two out of three of the magazines I analysed, the masthead was placed in the top third of the front cover. This is also often the case with other magazines from other genres, implying this is the norm - a convention. On "The Novaportan" magazine, the masthead was in the lower third, showing how it is a magazine that is perhaps marketed for a more niche audience since it does not follow the regular codes and conventions of magazines.

• Contents page: there is often an editor's note welcoming readers - this may also take the form of a "headteacher's introduction" in sixth form magazine.

How are students and young people represented in these publications?

In these magazines, young people are often presented as youthful and full of joy. The abundance of colours on the magazine reflects this and how a teenager's time at school is supposedly one of the best times of their life. It reflects nostalgia and happy memories. 

Who would the audience be for these publications? How can you tell? What techniques have been used?

The primary target audience would undoubtedly be the students. The magazines' format are broken up and easy to read, suitable for a young audience. The content is aimed for a student audience - the magazines are written by students, for students.

There would be a secondary audience of parents and teachers - the magazine also has aspects for these demographics. For example, "The Novaportan's" house style is very formal and suitable for a more mature audience with the way the font is all serif and the colour scheme is very mature.