SCHOOL MAG:IT'S YEAR six of The Irish TimesSchool Mag competition and we're pleased to announce that information packs will be arriving in schools next week. Last year's competition was another huge success with a number of new schools getting involved and scoring very highly in the overall final ranking.

Making a school magazine is great fun, at least that’s what competitors tell us, and many former School Mag competitors have gone on to study media with their magazine proudly displayed in their portfolio. The best thing about School Mag is that serious student journalists and photographers get a chance to document the news that matters to them.

Between now and Easter, Transition Times will feature a guide to the most important aspects of producing a magazine – writing, illustrating, designing, printing, interviewing and a great deal more. If you or your class has a subject you’d like to see covered in this column, you can get in touch using the details below. In the meantime, check out the pack and start planning your school magazine for 2010 now.

– Louise Holden

Next week: Putting your SchoolMag team together

Contact: lholden@irishtimes.com or visit the website irishtimesschoolmag.ie