Magazine research

1. RESEARCH FOR
MAGAZINE

2. Genre convention for entertainment magazines
■ Masthead-Typically at the top of the page, font that makes it instantly recognisable
for target audience so its on brand. Use a simple font (usually san serif) to not make it
to not make it less confusing and stand out, making a bold statement.
■ Tagline-The purpose of this is to show a insight of the magazine, what its about and
who its aimed at. Could also be just one word which is eye catching as it’s a simplistic
way of giving a snippet of the magazine and getting target audience attention.
■ Cover lines- Give the audience a idea about what is in the magazine, storylines.
■ Central image- Large image that’s in the middle of the page, tends to be celebrities
(actors, singers, models). Attracts audience as it could be one of their favourite
celebrities or someone they may like, so they would buy it for that reason. However
doesn’t always have to be a famous person (in mine it will not). Cover stars tend to be
central image.
■ Colour scheme- entertainment magazines tend to have a colourful scheme to attract
the target audience. As the target audience is fairly young (16-25) a colourful scheme
would be fitting for this magazine.

3. Masthead
Masthead
Red and
white
colour
scheme
Cover lines
Storyline within the
magazine
Cover star/central image
Photograph
Contents of what
page each
storyline is on.

4. Hearst magazine
 Hearst UK publishes 21 brands including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping.
 It reaches over one in three UK women and one in four UK men every month.
 They sell over four million magazines a month and have 17 million UK digital unique users, reaching 22
million fans and followers through their social media platforms including Snapchat Discover.
 Founded in 1903.
 Head quarters in NewYork.
 The Hearst magazine website generally has a simple yet recognisable theme. Its black and white and has a
distinctive font throughout the website.
 They have a wide range of fashion/beauty, lifestyle, home/decor and well being/fitness magazines.
 The magazines are at a fairly affordable price, the best selling magazines being; country living at £10 for six
issues, good housekeeping at £9.99 for six issues, Prima at £6 for six issues and women's health being £6 for
six issues.
What the website looks
like

5. Masthead is always at
the top of the page,
simple and recognisable
font
Cover star always the
central image so all
eyes on them
Other/less
important
stories on the
front in smaller
font, however
still attracts the
audience
because they
can see what's
in the issue
Usually have
bright colours
for the
background to
make it stand
out
The magazines all have a fairly similar layout, simple yet recognisable and
eye-catching, but not too over bearing.
Layout of Hearst magazines

6. Target audience (16-25 year olds)
Hearst audience and demographic;
 ‘Hearst delivers a unique combination of size, affluence, passions and engagement that is
unmatched in the digital world. ’ from the Hearst website.
 Scaled and Growing Audiences. Women (25+): 71.1MM UVs / 72.4% Reach / 54.3% Comp UV /
Index 144.YoungWomen (18-24): 13MM UVs / 87.4% Reach / 10% Comp UV / Index 174. Men:
46.5MM UVs / 36% Reach / 35.5% Comp UV / Index Below Average (72).
 YoungWomen’s Group
UniqueVisitors: 52.7 Million
Male/Female: 29/71
 Fashion & Luxury Collection
UniqueVisitors: 40.2 Million
Male/Female: 28/72
 Men’s + Enthusiast Group
UniqueVisitors: 39.5 Million
Male/Female: 65/35
 Lifestyle + Design Group
UniqueVisitors: 65.9 Million
Male/Female: 24/76

7. Target audience (16-25 year olds)
A entertainment magazine catered for a audience of 16-25 year olds would tend to include;
 Events occurring around the time e.g. music festivals/raves are very popular with this demographic
 Current tv shows on at that period of time e.g. Love Island and other reality shows tend to be popular,
also current shows/films on Netflix.
 Songs/music artists that are popular right now (top 40 charts)
 Current affairs e.g. climate change
 Celebrity gossip
 Need to be very up to dates with current trends (beauty/fashion)
 Diet culture
 Award ceremonies e.g. Grammy’s,VMA’s, baftas, Oscars, met gala
 Competitions

8. Representation of social groups
 Gender- Most of the front covers of Hearst magazine have women on, other
than men's health which is specifically. Both are portrayed with lost of sex
appeal (topless men) which sells the magazine.Women's magazines tend to be
more colourful (clothes, background, font) where as the men's magazines tend
to be more monotone.
 Age- specific magazines for age groups. Older people seem to be dressed more
modestly and most of storylines with in the magazines are about diet culture.
Also tend to have more pastel and light colours opposing to the younger
audience ones which have brighter colours and tend to be more trendy.
 Ethnicities
 Social class

9. Fun loving aspects
■ Elements of entertainment magazines such as celebrity gossip, competitions and
entertaining storyline will make the magazine fun loving and entertaining.
■ I will also use a bight colour scheme to also make it fun loving.

10. Title- simplistic and on brand
Account for magazine/ the contact for
magazines
Examples of issues, proof of the
product
How to purchase the
magazine/promotion