Analysing Magazine Covers

Focus on Seventeen with Beyonce on the front on the cover- Alternatively you can use another magazine aimed at a teenage girls.



1) Who is the audience for seventeen magazine?

http://www.mondotimes.com/2/topics/5/entertainment/58/4384

2) What does the title suggest about the style and content of the magazine? What does it also suggest about the audience? How is the title block designed to reflect this image?

3) How has the image of  Beyonce been constructed – hair, make-up, costume, pose, camera shot, facial expression? How is this different to the way Mariah Carey is represented on FHM and why is this?

4) Also how is Beyonce represented through the anchorage text?

5) What colours are used? What are the connotations of these colours? What fonts are used and why?

6) What do the puffs around the page suggest about the content of the magazine and the audience’s interests?

7) What stereotypes does the magazine reinforce about the target audience?

Analysing Magazine Covers

As part of your magazines coursework you need to analyse a range of magazines in order to prepare for the production task. Answer the questions below to help structure your analysis.

Focus on FHM with Mariah Carey on the cover- (Alternatively you can choose another FHM cover)

1) What type of magazine is this (mainstream or niche)?

2) Who is the target audience for this magazine?

3) Who publishes FHM magazine (you can visit the FHM website to find this out)? Who is the target audience for this magazine (what are their interests and what do they value? How many international editions are there? What does the company claim are the aims of this magazine? What are the different ways that the audience can access the FHM brand? http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/FHM/

4) What does the title of the magazine suggest about the content (what does FHM stand for?!)? Where is the title placed? How big is it and why?

5) The central image is very important when selling magazines. How has the image of Mariah been constructed to attract the audience? Comment on the camera shot used, her costume, pose, facial expressions and colours.

6) What is the anchorage text and what does it suggest the Mariah article will be about? Is it suggestive in any way?

7) Look at the puffs around the page. What other issues or stars are featured inside. Are any particular words used to entice the audience? Do you think these will appeal to the target audience?

8) Look at the overall layout of the page. How many different fonts are used and how many different colours? Do you think this is effective?

9) Who might be the secondary audience for this magazine?

Magazine Unit Checklist

Below is a list of the work you will need to complete for the magazine unit. The magazine unit is worth 50 % of your total coursework grade (30% of your Media GCSE).

The deadline for all research work is Tuesday 14th December

Research

1. Label the front cover
2. Analysis of Magazine cover x2
3. Analysis of Contents page
4. Analysis of Double page article
5. Questionnaire 
6. Questionnaire results in graphs with analysis

Planning

6. Layout of magazine cover, contents page, article

Production

7. Create a magazine cover, contents page & double page article 
8.  Supporting Account (800 words)