Initial Research

I researched some student magazines to see what techniques previous students had used on successful covers. This collage is of snippets of different covers and shows why different sections were good.

• The top left photo shows The Kooks (current alt. rock band) on the cover of a student magazine, which means fans of the band will be interested in reading the magazine.
• The centre top photo is offering advice to older students. This is the age they go to uni and it is a very important time in a student's life, so they will want all the advice they can get.
• The top right shows two things. It mentions Blackberry mobiles which is relevant to the youths and students of today who want the latest technology. The second offers advice on how to make money on campus. As university is expensive and a lot of money is spent on socialising, this will turn out a big draw for the magazine.
• The left middle photo shows quite a 'cool' cover model. He obviously spends a lot of time on his image which is shown in his hair, but not to a massively high extent which is shown in his beard. This is the kind of guy that students aspire to be like. His image gives off confidence and style which may indicate a good social life. 
• The centre cover shows a student magazine with the main article about an American football team, which will attract the sporting students. Although this is very specific and shows exactly what it needs to show, it has a very finite and specific audience.
• The centre right picture shows a very alternative style of image on a person. He is wearing make up and has piercings. This kind of magazine will appeal to other alternative style people, the 'social stereotypes.' This will widen the magazine audience.
• The image showing the words "University Application" shows them written in a scruffy handwritten kind of way which will appeal to students more. It is a lot less formal and goes along with the whole idea and theme of a student/college magazine. This wouldn't work on a magazine like Gentleman's Quarterly.
• The bottom left photo shows a cover line saying "She's 15 & pregnant." This is gossip which is something associated with youths and college students, which means it will appeal to and attract most students.
• The bottom right photo mentions the popular singer Mike Posner. This is something teenagers would like. A lot of young girls fancy him, and a lot of young singers aspire to be like him. This will become a main selling point for the magazine.

below shows a cover with its conventions;