A Level Media Studies: A2 Media Advanced Production Magazine Cover Analysis An element of my A2 Media Studies coursework. The full project, including all magazine cover design work and full analysis, can be found at www.rachelashby14.blogspot.com

1. During my analysis I found that
My soap listing poster follows the convention of
listings magazines used a lot of
the route of the eye as it follows through all the
rhetorical questions to address the
important features of the magazine. It starts of
audience directly. These got the
the masthead, which is the largest thing on the
audience involved and would make
page, which the audience see first to identify the
The masthead is the main piece of text on the the reader feel like they were
genre of the magazine. It follows through to the
page, other than the main coverline. It is placed talking straight to them. This
main image of the main storyline featured on
in the primary optical area so it is the first thing intractability would be appeal to
the page. This is fitting with the convention of
the reader looks at. It stands out. The reader is my type of audience. By using ‘Can
having one or two characters involved in the
able to see the masthead and know that this is a YOU win’ the audience would feel
featured soap. The route of the eye then follows
soap listings magazine, through the brand of ‘TV challenged directly.
through to the other teaser storylines featured
on the magazine, along with the barcode. weekly’.
For customer convenience
all magazines When displaying the
conventionally feature the price I made this in
price, bar code and issue bright and bold colours
number. I continued the use as the low price is
of these on my magazine to something that would
make it look more be attracting the
professional and included audience once they
all the smaller features such have picked up the
as these that magazine magazine. Using ‘only’
would have conventionally. makes it seem like a
kind of incentive for the
audience as they feel
Many magazine layouts are
like they are getting a
designed to have an
good deal.
asymmetrical offset to the
right. I followed this
convention as they key
coverlines are kept to the
left so they are seen on
The main coverline is
newsstands in shops when
conventionally just one
the magazines are layered
or two words; this is to
on top of each other on the
keep it short and
right side.
snappy, something that
would attract the
Conventionally the barcode
reader’s attention if
is placed in the ‘dead’ areas
they glanced at it in a
of the cover. This is
shop. By using the word
something the reader
‘Betrayed!’ it helps to
doesn’t necessarily need to
create a feel of the
see, but it is essential to
dramatic storyline that
have on all magazine
the magazine will detail.
covers.
Throughout my research I On many of the existing magazines I found that colour was used to In the terminal area I
found that all magazines connote the storylines advertised. Red and black connotes danger and placed another
feature many soaps on the mystery, a convention I stuck to for the ‘Murder?!’ teaser placed on my coverline. This was
cover, not just one. I stuck to cover. The fresh white and blue colours went well with the idea of something
this convention as the having a ‘New cast’. I also used yellow and black which are particularly continually seen in
magazine would then appeal autumn colours, to link with the ‘Sneak Peek! Autumn shows’ coverline. all magazine covers I
to a wide range of audience saw. It is the last
not just the 11-19 intended On the magazine covers I analysed I found that conventionally the main place on the route of
age audience of my soap image on a soap listings magazine was of one or two of the main the eye, and the last
Hatton Park. Using four characters. This would be something that is instantly recognisable with thing that the reader
teasers from other soaps the reader. I chose to use the two main characters of my soap Hatton would see.
meant the cover could be Park, as they are the main focus of the storylines in the soap. I found Therefore it would
appealing to others who are that most of the magazines have the characters looking directly at the stay in their mind as
not necessarily attracted to camera from a mid shot on covers; this creates a direct relationship they turn the page
watch Hatton Park. with the audience and builds a connection. of the magazine.