1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Shaune Hazlehurst
Candidate Number: 3065
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio
2. Cover line
(Secondary Story)
Masthead
Main Headline
Use of
Punctuation to
sensationalize a
story
Web Address
(Cross Media
Convergence)
Main Image
(Usually shot at
a MCU)
3. • Masthead- “What’s On TV”, The denotation of the Masthead rhetorically poses a
question which people tend to ask when switching on the ‘TV’. This conveys to the
reader how the magazine will have information on all the interesting television
programmes that will be on within the next week. Due to the masthead being in
the top left of the magazine and being the colours white and red, it stands out to
the reader and catches the readers eye. As this is the largest text on the magazine
front cover it will be the first thing the reader will read attracting them to the rest
of the magazine.
• Web Address- The denotation of the web address being directly under the
masthead verifies that this is important information to the reader, however the text
is much smaller than the rest of the text on the page which conveys how it is not
important in attracting the reader, rather informing them. This is a use of “Cross
Media Convergence” as it allows the reader to go onto another media, the internet,
to learn more about the magazine itself and the specific issue.
• Cover Line- The denotation of the cover line “Alicia sent to prison!” reveals to the
reader how the magazine has many different interesting stories from different Soap
Opera’s. The use of this cover line together with the Masthead “Shock Murder
Twist” attracts the reader towards the magazine as there is evidently lots of action
detailed within the magazine.
4. • Main Image- The denotation of the main Image being two characters from
Eastenders taking up a large portion of the magazine conveys to the reader how
this specific storyline in Eastenders is much more relevant and interesting than the
other stories, within the magazine and on TV. Connotations of the characters
having pleased facial expressions appeals to the extremely wide audience of 16+. It
promotes positivity within the Soap Opera attracting more people towards the
magazine.
• Main Headline- The denotation of the headline “Shock Murder Twist” conveys to
the reader how shocking the main story of the magazine is. The word “twist”
promotes the idea to the reader how they will not be able to guess what
happened, due to the element of surprise within the “twist”. The denotation of the
colour of the text is red and yellow, through these contrasting colours the text
catches the readers attention making them want to buy the magazine and read
about the “Shock Murder Twist”.
• Punctuation- The use of the exclamation mark over the headlines creates a sense
of urgency for the reader to buy and read the magazine. Furthermore it conveys to
the reader how when the Soap episodes air there will be lots of shock, urgency and
action within them.
6. • Date- The denotation of the date is black writing and the text being much smaller
than the rest of the text on the front cover. This conveys how the information is
important enough to be on the front cover but it is not needed to attract the
reader.
• Strapline- The denotation of the strapline “Every Story! Every Secret! Every Week!”
conveys to the reader how on-top of the news this magazine is. This attracts the
reader to the magazine as it is revealed to have every secret and story, meaning
that it is the best magazine for information on Soap Operas. The use of the
strapline being in contrasting colours such as white and yellow on red background
stands out to the reader making the reader want to pick up the magazine and read
the rest of the magazine. The use of the verbal code “every” reveals how the topics
and stories discussed are varied and interesting.
• Price- The price of the magazine is an essential piece of information needed by the
reader so that they know how much the magazine costs and how much the other
issues will cost.
7. Conclusion
In conclusion I aim to ‘repeat’(Steve Neale) the use of a strong main Headline which
will attract the reader to my magazine. I will also aim to repeat the use of a
professional masthead that stands out to the reader so that they will instantly be
attracted tot reading the front cover and the rest of the magazine. I will repeat the use
of an attractive main image with the use of characters from the ‘Grange Road’ Soap
Opera that the reader will be able to see and recognize the characters and therefore
deducing what the main story of the magazine is. I will repeat the use of Date, Web
Address and Price as these are vital pieces of information for a magazine front cover.
