This document analyzes the front covers of two soap opera magazines - "What's on TV" and "Inside Soap". It discusses various design elements of the magazines including the mastheads, headlines, images, and other textual elements. It explains how these elements are used to attract readers' attention, convey important information about storylines, and create a sense of drama. The document also discusses techniques these magazines use that the author intends to replicate in their own soap opera magazine cover, such as the use of bold red colors and large attention-grabbing text.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Phoebe Regnault
Candidate Number: 1212
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. Analysis
• Masthead- The connotations behind ‘What's on TV’ suggest what this magazine is going to include.
The masthead ‘informs’ (Katz) the reader that this magazine is going to include the up and coming
television such as what to expect and where the soap is taking the story line/ characters. This can
capture the readers attention as they will be anxious to find out what's going to happen next. The
red background could represent the drama, passion and violence which frequently features within
soaps. The masthead is fairly big and the bright colours would draw the reader towards the
magazine. Being drawn towards the masthead is important for the magazine because it makes their
brand identity more memorable which creates brand loyalty.
• Web Address (Cross Media Convergence)- The magazine has included their web address which
signifies that their magazine and its content are available on different platforms. This gives the
reader opportunity to access the magazine on a portable device which would make the magazine
constantly available.
• Main Image- The main image is one of the most important visual aspects of the magazine. On this
issue both characters featuring on the front cover are making direct eye contact. This is a way of the
magazine connecting with the audience as it feels as if the actors on the front cover are looking at
them. The image is a mid-shot of both actors but the main focus is on their faces as the text covers
their body. This focal point allows the reader to clearly see their facial expressions. The male
character is set back from the female character which depicts the main head line ‘Stacey's dark
secret’.

4. • Main head line- The verbal code ‘dark secret’ ‘signifies’ (De Saussure) to the
reader that the next story line could be very mysterious and full of drama. The
head line gives an insight to the reader of what type of story is coming up and
what type of mood it will contain. It also suggests what type of character role
will be played, the word ‘dark’ highlights that a villain may be present within
the storyline.
• Use of Punctuation to sensationalize a story- The use of the exclamation
mark are used to express excitement. By including this at the end of the main
head line exaggerates and makes the text look more exhilarating.
• Cover line (secondary story)- The text is writing in upper case capital letters
which makes the words stand out more and makes them seen important to
the reader. The cover line says ‘Lovers again!’, which depicts the stereotype
that soaps are often based around relationships and the drama within them.
The word ‘again’ can relate to the viewers who have been watching the show
for a long period of time because they will know the characters and their
history, which makes the reader more involved.
Continued

5. Strapline
Date
Price
Masthead
Main Headline
Cover line
With pictures

6. • Masthead – The masthead says ‘inside soap’ which detonates the idea that
the magazine will go deep inside the soaps to produce good content for the
reader. The test is in red bold writing which is very eye catching as it spreads
across the width of the page. The colour red indicates drama and danger
which is frequently included within soaps such as Eastenders which is
included on the front cover.
• Main Headline- ‘summer of shocks’ suggests that some big story lines are
about to be revealed as it prepares the reader and audience member for
some shocks’. The word ‘shock’ suggests something dramatic and
unexpected is about to come which is stereotypical of a soap.
• Cover lines With pictures- The cover lines annotate the pictures and make it
clear for the audience to understand what the pictures are trying to connote.
By adding the text makes it easier for the consumer to understand the
relevance of the picture and what storyline in the soap they go along side.
Analysis Continued

7. • Strapline - The connotations behind the verbal code ‘every story, every
secret, every week’ suggest that this magazine is very insightful, informative
and worth the read. This would encourage the audience to buy the magazine
as they are intrigued what “secrets” will be revealed. The strap line uses the
rule of three as it repeats ‘every’ three times exaggerates the word and
makes the strapline more memorable and reliable for the reader.
• Price - The magazine includes the price in the top middle of the magazine.
The magazine costs £1.60 which is a very reasonable price to pay for a
magazine. By including the price the magazine are being up front about how
much it costs instead of the customers getting a surprise at the till and not
wanting to buy the magazine again. By the magazine being fairly cheap it will
encourage the consumer to keep buying the weekly magazine which will
provide loyal customers for ‘inside soap’.
• Date- By including the date on the front cover of the magazine will help the
reader keep up with all the issues. This is very important for a soap magazine
as stories lines within the soap move on very quickly and there is a lot of
content. If the reader didn't’t know what week the issue was from they may
get confused and expect something to happen in the soap which was from
months ago.
Analysis

8. What I will to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale)
In my own Ancillary Product Front Cover I will ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale)..
• I will include the colour red in my masthead like both ‘What's on TV’ and
‘Inside Soap’ as this colour is bright and catches the audiences attention.
The connotations being the colour red are passion, anger and romance.
These are all key elements which soaps daily include and which I will
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) in my own trailer and on my soap magazine
front cover.
• Furthermore I will also ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) how ‘What's on TV’ made its
main head line big and bold. By the text being in white with a red border
makes it pop out the page which is why it is one of the first things you see
when you look at the page. This is important because the main head line is
the biggest story within the magazine so it should stand out.
• Lastly I will try and ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) how ‘ Inside Soap’ have included
the date. This will help the reader keep track of what's going on within the
soap. Including the date will also show the reader how the magazine is
very informative and it highlights that there are weekly releases and all its
content is up to date.