4. The Masthead The Header (and footer)
The colours are bright and the Including these features
red and white contrast against break up the considered
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS each other making it standout, as
well as the fact the letters are
norm layout and also
allows extra information
capitalised of contents to be
The Flasher displayed. They have
The text included such as ‘Wowee stuck with the house
Zowee’ shows informality towards the colours of Black, White
reader, suggesting it is more of easy and Red also.
read and being located just under the
title and corresponding with the rule of The Sell Lines)
thirds draws attention to it. There are few sell lines on
this magazine and I believe
this is to not overwhelm the
The Image reader but we can see they
Again even his clothes correspond are again in bold which
with the house colours, he is against attracts the eye of the reader.
a very colourful and busy background Furthermore, the colour white
which could suggest the theme of the contrasts against the
magazine as his excitement background making it easy to
expression on his face and the see.
canted angle shot which shows The Anchor
edginess. Nothing covers his neck The image of Dizzee Rascal is
upwards which shows importance. In anchored by his name so the reader
addition, looking into the camera automatically is educated on the
creates an emotional connection with main featurette. We can tell this is
the reader. the main feature as it is the biggest
piece of text on the cover, which
The Quote normally symbolises the most
A quote from an interview important.
being used as a title is a
really unique feature and Rule Of Thirds The Barcode
again the use of the word Rule of thirds has definitely been used in the All magazines include a
‘Man’ shows informality layout construction all the important information barcode to make it
and the word Joy along such as the flasher, masthead and main sell line sellable and also include
with the image implies this is in the left hand column also the artists face the date and price so the
magazine is quite positive matches that of an intersection point and also reader knows it’s the
and ‘fun’. made aware of large content available. current magazine.
5. I believe that NME isn't
TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE targeted at a specific
gender as some covers
The informality of the feature females and
magazine such as words others feature male (like
chosen i.e. ‘Woweee’, this one), but it is mainly
suggests that the magazine is male, we can tell this
aimed for the younger from the words like ‘Man’
generation as this is the and the 65% male
generation associated with proportion readers.
informality. In addition to the
However, because of the
bold bright colours which are
content, for example
eye-catching and therefore
Autumn Tour you could
encourage purchase, rather
argue that the individual
than pinks and purples
would need a higher
associated with younger
income to afford to go to
audience magazines.
such tours. Therefore
Teenagers and young adults
ruling out under 16s as
are also stereotypically known
they are very unlikely to
for their extreme interest in
have a disposable usual
music. income, therefore being
The artists listed in the cover lines are of between ages of 16-25.
an Indie/Rock genre, this being loud and
expressive music through the use of The price is £2.40 which would also be affordable
voice and percussions similarly for the chosen target audience, for example people
resembles the magazine’s vibe and in education or starter jobs with generally lower
possibly specific to the personalities of income.
the readers.
6. The Heading The Colours
Magazines contents must include The same colours
CONTENTS ANALYSIS the word ‘Contents’ so that the
reader understands what features
featured on the front
cover have been used
on that page as well as a date. again showing
The Logo
continuity.
By including the magazine
title/logo it shows continuity Categories
throughout making it more Categories make for
recognizable easier navigation
throughout the
The Background Image magazine as well as
The background image is that page numbers. The
of a case which would numbers are different
normally be used for colour to the rest of the
transporting musical copy making them
equipment, this idea ties in more visible and eye
with the theme of a ‘touring catching.
special’ and a music subject
magazine. The Copy
The introduction is normally
The Main Image from the editor which makes
Editing of the photo the magazine more personal
makes it look like a and establishes a
polaroid picture and relationship between
suggests it was taken audience and editor.
straight from the
camera from the tour Three Columns
she was on. Three different columns distinguishes Promotional Advert
between different parts. This informs readers of promotional
subscription and gives in an insight
into future issues, encouraging the
reader to buy them next time
7. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD ANALYSIS The By-line
House Style It is important to give credit to Sub Heading
The same colours have been used again both author and photographer. This quickly
but more subtly, for example the red sums up the
The Title
jacket and partially white background. article for the
Firstly, the title is bold and
reader and also
black which is eye-catching
educates the
and contrasts with the pale
reader to what
background. It is also a play
the article is
on words; ‘rags to riches’ this
about.
is a well known phrase that is
well known and so the
audience already feel The Main Image
acquainted with the article. In Mise-en-scene has
addition it also links in with been used to rectify a
the image as graffiti is graffiti scene which is
associated with antisocial associated with the age
behaviour which is also range of the target
connected with tags. audience. Also it
expresses informality
and represents the
theme of the magazine,
being urban. A midshot
Page Number, Logo and allows us to see both
Date his actions and facial
Every page of a magazine expressions, by looking
should include the page over his shoulder it
number. NME have chosen to The Copy represents his
include their logo so that the There is relatively little writing therefore a Drops Cap at the personality as a
audience don’t forget the beginning has been inserted to alert the reader that the mischievous type.
brand of magazine they are article is about to start. Columns are commonly used to Because the image
reading. Also, the date make it easier for the reader to read the text as it would be takes up the whole side
ensures that it is the most hard to keep track of what part your at. It's also used to of the image, this could
current issue. make room for text or pictures on the page, for instance the also double up as a
text wraps around the stereo. poster which creates a
more reader useable
product.
8. ANALYSIS OF COPY CONTENT
The main premise of the article is about how the
music artist, Dizzee Rascal has achieved his
success. This is a suitable article for the targeted
audience as it represents achievement and
inspires individuals, at a key stage in their life;
early adulthood. Moreover, the articles tone is that
of informality, by using this style it makes the
article more of an easy read which suits the
appropriate audience.
The layout of the text also known as typography is
also important. By being in column positioning on
a page, columns are most commonly used to
break up large bodies of text that cannot fit in a
single block of text on a page. Additionally,
columns are used to improve page composition
and readability. It also gives the impression of a
less overall amount of writing which would visually
appeal rather than a big block of writing. The main
heading/headline is quite dramatic which means it
is eye-catching and unusual due to the play on
words which encourages people to continue and
read on through the article.
9. The Institution: NME
http://www.nme.com/magazine
NME Magazine is produced by IPC
Media who is the UK's leading
consumer magazine and digital
publisher, with more than 60 iconic
media brands apart from NME.
NME (New Musical Express) itself is
the longest published and most
respected music weekly in the world.
The magazine reaches over 1.1 million
music fans every week and has been
around since 1952, when it was
originally published as a newspaper
and gradually moved toward a
magazine format during the 1980s.
INFORMATION NME.COM is the world's biggest
LAUNCH DATE: 1952 standalone music site, promoted from
FREQUENCY: Weekly
the NME Magazine, serving an
COVER PRICE: £2.40
AUDIENCE: 66% male, 34% female aged 15-34
intensely engaged audience of 16-24
MEDIAN AGE: 24 year-olds.
10.
11.
12. Analysis of Magazine Front Cover
Cover 2. Q July 2012
Tribute To Amy Winehouse Edition
13. Like many magazines, Q stick to the colours Red, White,
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS Orange and Black these are known as the house colours.
However, these colours are very similar to that of NME which
The slight header portraying it as an ‘Exclusive’ in shows market competition, basically on break through hoping
bold writing and a different colour stands out as it the consumer will pick up the wrong magazine and then decided
in the left third (in relation to rule of thirds) which to swap due to better content(?)
receives the most attention/
Although the main image had
Including the masthead which not been taken solely for this
is also the logo and tagline magazine front cover as it is a
makes the institution tribute magazine to Amy
recognizable and establishes Winehouse, they have chosen a
itself in a market. It even medium close up of the artist.
regards itself as the world’s Amy Winehouse is known for
greatest music magazine being quirky and different so this
which makes the audience fits well with the Alternative
question this and the way to theme; even if you do not know
prove such a fact is to read the of her, her extreme hair,
content. A smart buying makeup and body modification
stimulus. represents well. In addition, she
Exciting sell lines such as is looking straight into the
‘fights’ create an incentive for camera lens creating a
purchase as its an interesting connection with the audience,
and very rare topic. In addition this works especially well as it is
the word ‘VINYL’ suggests an a tribute and our hearts go out
vintage stance which is very to her. Music magazines do
‘alternative’ to the modern day have a male proportionally
music society. dominant sale, due to this I
believe Amy has been portrayed
as a sex symbol by a low
The image is cleavage top.
anchored by a caption A flasher informs the reader of extra
which educates the content inside, all are names of bands
audience. which shows what kind of music A barcode makes the magazine suitable for
genre the magazine, in this case retail and the price and date is always included
classes itself as ‘Alternative’. on magazines to show validity.
14. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE The layout is quite bland
but structured showing
The nature of the formality, compared to
magazine features such as other magazines, such as
the Rolling Stones (who NME, showing a
formed in 1962) shows the difference in target
marginal age range of this audience.
magazine . This is not
produced for young
teenagers but more people The main image would
who were actually around also be that of similar
when they were at their age to the target
peak success which could audience (Amy
suggest around the 40 Winehouse was 27
mark but as it is entwined years old when she
with features from current died), this creates an
artists such as ‘Rizzle emotional connection
Kicks’, I would say that it is between audience and
more aged at slightly magazine as us, as
younger, maybe people readers, can relate to
who know of the Rolling ‘revelations about....her’.
Stones from parents, for
example 20 year olds (20
years per generation)
Words such as ‘we’ and our show
The price of this magazine is relatively expensive the magazine as a community and
being £3.99, this high price shows that the target makes the reader feel more involved
audience it is aimed at has a high disposable as they are no longer an individual
income but a group.
15. CONTENTS PAGE ANALYSIS
The logo and name of the page are situated in the footer, which
The contents are breaks up the layout and is distinguishable. The reason behind
categorised into different constantly including the logo is that they enable products and
items such as ‘features, packages that would otherwise look the same to stand apart.
2008 Preview and every
month’. This makes The main image is probably not
navigation of the magazine your typical image, mise-en-scene
easier say if the reader is has created an atmosphere
only interested in the preview different to the norm, which
section. Moreover, the ‘every matches the recognised theme of
month’ category shows that alternative. It is also quite dark,
credibility to the magazine using a shallow focus and low key
subtly showing success in lighting which casts shadows
retail. makes the darkness contrast with
The font is a key factor in the the white background but still
success of a magazine, by remains within house colour
using a basic font it makes it guidelines.
easier to read. Also the
smaller font size allows for
extra information that can The main image is probably not
simply be overlooked if your typical image, mise-en-scene
desired. Page titles and has created an atmosphere
numbers are also different different to the norm, which
colours to differentiate matches the recognised theme of
against each other. alternative. It is also quite dark,
using a shallow focus and low key
lighting which casts shadows
makes the darkness contrast with
the white background but still
Although, usually rule of thirds refers to the front cover. I believe it
remains within house colour
also has been used on the construction of this contents page layout
guidelines.
as all the most important information has been situated on the left
and the artist (Madonna)’s face hits an intersection.
16. Including the subtitle
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD ANALYSIS educates the reader about
the subject of the copy, in
It is a well known that the average person looks at the right case they weren't
page first on a magazine and this is reason behind the chosen knowledgeable.
The women layout, by placing all the text on the right, it is the first thing Accommodating for
photographed in the main they are drawn to and so are more likely to read it than look at different members of the
image is successful the image first. audience.
American singer Lady
Gaga, she is looking The copy is layout
directly at the camera very formally and
creating a relationship clearly in columns
with the audience , in which allows for easy
addition with her non reading. This amount
verbal communication is of text isn't normally
seductive. She also has a seen on magazine
lot of eye make up on and terms as it is
her hair is very big and normally seen as too
curly. There is no setting much, however there
just a grey background is a smaller
and low key lighting which introduction (top left)
makes her seem which sums up the
mysterious. Her make-up proceeding text.
choices also relates back
to her costume with the
‘nude’ theme.
The costume chosen Including the logo and date shows
Drop caps (large initial letters)at the start of a that it is recent and individual,;
would appeal to the male
paragraph or document, adds style and focus to the basically a copy right stance so
audience because she is
copy or they are used at the start of an article to help people cannot copy the article
topless although you
readers' eyes find their way through the page and in without credit from Q.
cannot see any breasts.
this case to distinguish between main article and intro.
You could say that this is
to relate to ‘baring of all’ Q have a unique design for their most important double page
and that in the article spread, which is to include the starting letter of the subject
Lady Gaga bares all in concerned over the copy. This makes the magazine more
terms of her life. matchless by having distinct gimmicks.
17. ANALYSIS OF COPY CONTENT
The main principle of the article is to show Lady
Gaga’s personality and the experience of ups and
downs in her career. This encourages the target
audience as it gives a inspirational sense of
feeling which is what a lot of the younger
generation need to have for self confidence. The
content also compliments the image (featured
previously) as they both seem to be exposing all.
Unusually, this article wasn't constructed through
a interview, one-to-one basis, being ‘alternative’ to
other magazines, I believe this is to try and
represent a story; a story of the music artists life.
At one point in the copy, a swear word is
apparent, this reiterates the informality of the
magazine as this would be completely removed in
a professional aimed magazine or alternatively
masked my asteriks.
18. The Institution: Q
http://www.qthemusic.com/
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. It was first published in
October 1986, setting itself apart from much of the other music press with monthly production and
higher standards of photography and printing. This reputation is extended not only through the
magazine but across online, radio and on into Q's unique events, which encompass exclusive,
intimate live shows with major stars and the world famous annual Q Awards.
In the early years, it was to be called Cue (as in the sense of cueing a record, ready to play), but
the name was changed so that it wouldn't be mistaken for a snooker magazine. Another reason,
cited in Q's 200th edition, is that a single-letter title would be more prominent on newsstands.
19. Q is owned by Bauer Consumer Media, quoting themselves ‘We have more than eighty
influential media brands, spanning a wide range of interests, including heat, GRAZIA,
Closer, MCN, FHM, Parkers, MATCH, Magic 105.4, Kiss 100, Kerrang and 4Music. Our
business is built on millions of personal relationships with engaged audiences.’
The magazine has a close relationship with the Glastonbury Festival, producing a free
newspaper, which is one of the factors behind the young adults target audience as these are
the biggest proportion of people who go. In addition to the relatively costly, cover price of £3.90
meaning a social class of ABC1 of the 100,000(approx) circulation figures.
Although, Q does not offer an online version, encouraging store sale; often, promotional gifts
are given away, such as cover-mounted CDs or books.
Finally, every issue of Q has a different message on the spine. Readers then try to work out
what the message has to do with the contents of the mag. This practice — known as the "spine
line" — has since become commonplace among British lifestyle magazines, this shows Q’s
market power amongst others and that they are now the one to copy.
20.
21. The fact that its the 16th annual juice issue shows success of the
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS magazine; that its reputable and recognised. But this is
juxtaposed with the phrase “aint nothin’ sweet”, this not only
shows the informality of the magazine by the slang used but also
Although these colours look the cheeky theme.
slightly feminine, Vibe are very
individual with their house colours. The main image is key on
Unusually they are not consistent this front cover, the fact it
from issue to issue, they more masks the masthead shows
relate to the main image. For its importance. Vibe always
instance here Kelly Rowland is ensures to include ethnicity
known for being a girly girl as so in their magazines (strong
the colour pink fits the connotations of Hip-hop) and
connotations. The colour also fits so by including Kelly
that of the the issue theme; ‘juice’ Rowland of Black/African
as they are similar colours. decent they maintain their
values. Her make-up and
Like usual, there is a barcode and hair are both nicely done,
price which makes it eligible for which gives the magazine a
retail but in this case, it also has a bit of justice as it suggests
smart scanner which sends you the magazine its self isn't
automatically to an app when scruffy.
scanned with a smart phone The fact she is wearing no
which extends their market but clothes can not only be
also shows that the audience of viewed as a sex symbol
this magazine are more than likely (dominant male audience)
have interest in/own a smart but also conjoins with the
phone. fact that a sell line explains
that she finally bares all,
exposing both her personal
Minimal sell lines mean that the focus is not distracted from
life and herself.
the main image. In addition, using sell lines such as “Are
you a reality star?” involves the audience more as they are
The layout of this front cover sticks to
now encouraged to read on and using personification in the rule of thirds, key interception
regards to an album ‘turning 10’ adds comedy . points all fall in the main image, close
to her eyes and her breasts.
22. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE
Including a barcode app hints Informality shows that this
that the reader probably has, magazine isn't a serious read
like already mentioned, a of intellectual nature or
smart phone which shows his something similar and so
income, also not only probably aimed at younger
matched with the price . generations as slang is used
Smart phones have the quite often in younger culture,
association with professionals as being realistic an elderly
or experienced person wouldn’t be attracted to
workers(possible job). And the magazine as they would
equally, the price is not like the images used.
approximately £3.50 .
Humour is a pull fact.
(conversion rates) again this
‘Learn to Shave! You
is quite expensive to be
barbarian’ is not only
spending weekly, meaning
funny but also is relatable
that the individual would have
to a male target audience
to be in some type of
as I can only assume
employment suggesting over
many males have
the age of 16
experienced the feeling.
Words such as cash, star and soul all related
the hip-hop theme of the magazine. These are Vibe also have a sister magazine called Vixen
all aspirational words, this could imply to the which is mostly aimed at women, this
reader than by getting knowledgeable about suggests that this magazine is actually more
the magazine they too could become like a hip targeted at men, hence the need for a female
hop star. magazine.
23. The Institution: VIBE
http://www.vibe.com
Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine founded by
producer Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly
features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other
entertainers. Vibe made a consistent effort to feature models
of all ethnicities in their pages. Vibe Media is the advertising
network behind the publication which aims to engage
consumers via music, entertainment culture and lifestyle to
ages anywhere between 18-54.
However, after shutting down production in Summer 2009,
Vibe was purchased by the private equity investment fund
InterMedia Partners and is now issued every-other month
with a larger online presence. The magazine's target
demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip-
hop culture.
As of June 30, 2012, Vibe had a circulation of around 300,000.
(InterMedia Partners, LP is a private equity investment fund focusing on the media
industry across all platforms - television, radio, publishing, internet and marketing).
24. Vibe Magazine is known for the creative direction of their covers, such as TrioTLC were
photographed for the cover in firefighters' gear, referencing the fact that one of their members
burned down the house of then-boyfriend. The first non-photograph cover of Vibe was an
illustration of late singer Aaliyah by well known artist/illustrator Alvaro; this was Aaliyah's very
first appearance on the cover as well. Other famous cover subjects are, Snoop Dogg, Mariah
Carey, Beyoncé, Amerie, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, T.I., R. Kelly, Michael Jackson
Usually feature segments included the
back page list 20 Questions, Boomshots
column about reggae and Caribbean
music, Revolutions music reviews
and Vibe Confidential, a celebrity gossip
column. Next profiled up-and-coming
artists. The magazine also devoted
several pages to photo spreads
displaying high-end designer clothing as
well as sportswear by urban labels such
as Rocawear and Fubu.
Vibe made a consistent effort to feature
models of all ethnicities in these pages.
