Real Life Magazines Research

1. Real Life Magazines

2. “that’s life!” Magazine

3. “Take a Break” Magazine

4. Mastheads
• Simple font appeals to a wide range of audiences
• Uncapitalised masthead indicates an informal nature of the
magazine
• The use of the punctuation further insinuates the informal
nature of the magazine
• Red masthead appeals to many ages and could appeal to both
genders
• Pink masthead may be more targeted towards the female
demographic
• The use of the informal, commonly used term “that’s life!”
as the masthead instantly insinuates to the audience that
the magazine is about life, and real life stories
• Mastheads for both “that’s life” and “Take a Break”
magazine are very similar (colour, layout, informal
etc.)
• Simple font appeals to a wide range of audiences
• Red masthead appeals to many ages and could appeal to
both genders
• Imperative statement to engage the audience and command
them to do something, i.e. ‘take a break’

5. Costume
Fashion choices
from what we
can see are
very basic and
plain,
attainable for
the audience.
Pose
Typically open
mouthed smile,
usually showing
white, straight
teeth. All use
direct mode of
address to
connect to the
audience.
Proxemics
Single shots
are the main
focus around
the other
teaser
lines/photos.
C.A.G.E. (REPRESENTATION)
Class – Middle Class
Age – late 20s/early 30s – aimed up to
middle aged adults (28 - 50)
Gender – Represents females
Ethnicity – All white representations,
not very diverse in their front covers,
therefore may not be entirely reflecting
the demographic of the readers as they’re
not inclusive of different ethnicities.
Lighting and
Background
Typically mid
key light on
plain,
coloured
background.
Most of the
background is
covered by
photos/teaser
lines.
Shot Type
Close
up/M.C.U.
Typically shot
at eye level,
never an
inferior shot.

6. Costume
Fashion choices
from what we
can see are
very basic and
plain,
attainable for
the audience.
Pose
Typically open
mouthed smile,
usually showing
white, straight
teeth. All use
direct mode of
address to
connect to the
audience.
Proxemics
Single shots
are the main
focus around
the other
teaser
lines/photos.
C.A.G.E. (REPRESENTATION)
Class – Middle Class
Age – late 20s/early 30s – aimed up to
middle aged adults (28 - 50)
Gender – Represents females
Ethnicity – All white representations,
not very diverse in their front covers,
therefore may not be entirely reflecting
the demographic of the readers as they’re
not inclusive of different ethnicities.
Lighting and
Background
Typically mid
key light on
plain,
coloured
background.
Most of the
background is
covered by
photos/teaser
lines.
Shot Type
Close
up/M.C.U.
Typically shot
at eye level,
never an
inferior shot.

7. Sell Lines…Headline/Feature-line(Teaser Line)
• Headline is in bold, partial block capitals
• Text dominates the page insinuating it’s the main attraction of the
magazine and grabs readers attention
• Headline outlined in red – same red as masthead so grabs readers
attention, red is often a colour associated with danger or some sort
of urgency and therefore may attract attention from readers
• The idea of the red headline connoting danger may also conform to the
headline of ‘Is this taking FAT TOO FAR?’, insinuating there’s some
sort of issue or debate to be had over whether something is bad or not
• Teaser line: “Baby who didn’t look like daddy” – most of the teaser
lines are to do with family issues or, more specifically, family
drama/gossip
• Headline is in bold, partial block capitals
• Text dominates the page insinuating it’s the main attraction of the
magazine and grabs readers attention
• “My girl’s MURDER was on TikTok” – the use of ‘my girl’ insinuates
it’s a mother’s child that has had an issue with social media, this
may be something that a lot of parents either are concerned about or
are interested in, therefore grabbing their attention
• Teaser lines are revealing either gossipy or strange/intriguing
stories about other people’s ‘normal, everyday’ lives

8. Sell Lines…Headline/Feature-line(Teaser Line)
• Headline is in bold, partial block capitals
• Text dominates the page insinuating it’s the main attraction of the
magazine and grabs readers attention
• Headline outlined in red – red is often a colour associated with danger
or some sort of urgency and therefore may attract attention from
readers
• The words ‘kill’ and ‘twice’ are capitalised and in yellow, grabs
attention from readers
• The idea of the red headline connoting danger may also conform to the
headline of ‘My own mum tried to KILL my little girl TWICE’
• Teaser line: “I filmed my two-timing fella” – most of the teaser lines
are to do with family issues or, more specifically, family drama/gossip
• Headline is in bold, partial block capitals
• Pink text may conform to the target female demographic
• Text dominates the page insinuating it’s the main attraction of the
magazine and grabs readers attention
• “HUBBY had a secret BABY with my bets friend” – an issue that may
concern some of the readers in their own lives
• Teaser lines are revealing either gossipy or strange/intriguing
stories about other people’s ‘normal, everyday’ lives

9. General codes and conventions of the front covers
• Headlines tend to be about ‘everyday’ gossip/drama
• Most of the teaser lines are to do with family issues or, more specifically,
family drama/gossip
• Typically show stories of things that although are the complete extremes of
‘normal’ people’s lived, they could potentially happen to the readers in
their lives (e.g. ‘Hubby swapped me for the woman next door’
• Stories are typically gossipy which may be more interesting than the lives
of the readers

10. Contents pages

11. “Take a Break” online magazine
• 4 drop bar headers
(Magazine, Competitions,
Lifestyle, Get in
touch).
• Advertising their
physical copy of their
magazine as well as
their online magazine
(shown on iPad).
• Advertising their own
competition which
advertises their
physical magazine.
• 2 adverts for other
companies (outside
revenue).