The document analyzes conventions used in magazine covers for soap opera audiences. It discusses several magazines' use of headlines, images, colors, and other design elements to attract readers. For example, sensationalized headlines with punctuation intrigue audiences, and price points appeal to working-class readers. The analysis also notes design conventions the author would repeat, such as overlapping images and outlines around headlines to draw attention. Overall, the document examines how magazine covers employ visual rhetoric to target soap opera fans.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Hannah Hughes
Candidate Number: 4067
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Puffs: This is used to attract the
attention of the working class
audience. This sis because they are the
stereotypical group that are interested
in ‘sneak peeks’ and prizes which are
usually written in a puff.
Masthead: The masthead is very big,
so that it draws attention in from
the reader. This is because the
institution want brand recognition,
so that readers will continue to buy
their magazines rather that another
competitor soap opera magazine.
Main Headline: The colour pink is used
on the main heading to connote love
and nurturing. This is clearly related to
the heading as it described Kat giving
birth. It is also the biggest bit of text
because it related to the main image.
This is because you wouldn’t have a
main text relating to any other image
other then the main image.
Use of Punctuation to sensationalize a
story: This it to dramatize the main
headline. This draw emphasis on the
fact that they want the reader to read
this article. The punctuation intrigues
the audience and makes them want to
purchase the magazine and find out
what happens to make ‘Kat’s Birth
Shocking!’
Web Address (Cross Media
Convergence): This has been placed
on the cover of the magazine to
draw in a younger audience. This
attracts the attention of young
people and connotes they can view
the magazine online.
Main Image
(Usually shot at a MCU):
This is a traditional shot for magazine
covers. It is used to clearly
demonstrate that this is the main
image and that readers should focus
on this image rather then any others.
This is probable because this is the
biggest story of the week.
Price: The price is very low. This is
probably to appeal to a working
class audience, as the target
audience for soap operas are the
working class.
Background colour blue: The
colour blue is consistently
used in the background of
What’s on TV Magazine.
This would be to create brand
identity and brand recognition.
Secondary cover story: This has a
yellow outline to show that this is a
different story/Soap Opera to the
main image. This connotes that it
may not be as important as the main
image.
Bold outline of text: This is to
outline the fact that this is an
important article and it successfully
draws attention in from the reader,
and suggests that every reader
needs to read.
Logos on text: This is used to ‘inform’
(Katz) the readers what Soap Operas all
the image relate to.it could also be to
attract big fans of certain shows into
buying the magazine, purely because
their show is mention in it.

3. Analysis of What’s On TV Magazine
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980):
– Having the main image overlapping the masthead. This is
because it makes the magazine look more professional and
brings in attention to the main story.
– Having the main headline covering a large portion of the page.
This is again because it draws the attention of the reader and
makes them want to read the article.
– Having punctuation to dramatize and add scandal/shock value
the story. This is because it will again make the reader want to
read the article.
– The huge outline of the headlines is another convention that I
would repeat. This is because it draws attention in and makes
the reader interested in finding out what the story will be about.

4. Strapline: This has the rule of
three within it. This is to connote
the repeating stories that are
within soap operas. It could also be
used as a buzz word. The reader
could see the words from the
strapline and then think of the
magazine and therefore feel they
should go and purchase the
magazine.
Date: The use of the date is very
important in a magazine because it
makes the it look professional and
tells the reader that the
information is up-to-date. This is
good because for a big fan of soap
operas they want to know all the
sneak peeks for the week ahead
and the date helps them know the
information will relate to this
weeks soaps.
Price: This magazine costs a lot
more then other magazines such as
What’s on TV. This could be
because it is targeted at a richer/
higher class market.
Barcode: This is a typical
convention of a magazine front
cover and connotes a simple
layout, as they haven’t tried to
hide the barcode or move it to the
back cover of the magazine.
Use of the colour red (theme):
Throughout the magazine red is a
continuing theme. This is probable
because red connotes lust and
danger, which are 2 main themes
of a soap opera.
Secondary cover story: This has a
yellow outline to show that this is a
different story/Soap Opera to the
main image. The connotations of
the colour yellow are to draw in
attention. This is probable why the
colour yellow is used in magazine
covers.
Tragedy: This verbal code is
repeated in many of Inside
Soaps magazines. This could
be used so that the company
have brand recognize .
Logos on text: This is used to tell the readers what Soap Operas all the
image relate to.it could also be to attract big fans of certain shows into
buying the magazine, purely because their show is mention in it.
Main Headline: The colours red and
yellow are used in this main heading
to connote danger and attracts the
attention of the audience. This is
clearly related to the heading as it
describes ‘Deadly Showdowns!’. It is
also the biggest bit of text because it
probable the biggest story of that
week in all soap operas.
Use of Punctuation to sensationalize a
story: This it to dramatize the main
headline. This draw emphasis on the
fact that they want the reader to read
this article. The punctuation intrigues
the audience and makes them want to
purchase the magazine and find out
what happens to make ‘Kat’s Birth
Shocking!’

5. Analysis of Inside Soap Magazine
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980):
– The use of theme colours in a convention that I would
repeat in my magazine cover. This is because it boosts
brand recognition.
– I would also repeat having the price and barcode on
display. These are two typical and basic items that
should be on every magazine cover, they have a way
of making the magazine look professional and full up.
– Another convention that I would repeat would be the
outline of all the secondary stories. This sis because it
clearly shows the reader that they are from separate
soap operas and makes the page look more filled up.

6. Main Headline: The colour pink is
used on the main heading to
connote love and nurturing. This is
clearly related to the heading as it
described ‘Baby Switch Exposed!’.
Secondary cover story: This has a
small and thin outline to show that
this is a different story/Soap Opera
to the main image. But also to
demonstrate that this magazine
doesn’t think the main story is any
less important them the other
soap operas stories.
Background colours yellow
and purple: The use of
these to colours is very
interesting for a soap opera
magazine. Purple connotes
royalty, whereas yellow
connotes attention. This
suggests that this magazine
thinks highly of itself and
wants the readers to pay
attention to them, rather
then another magazine.
Barcode: This is a typical
convention of a magazine front
cover and connotes a simple
layout, as they haven’t tried to
hide the barcode or move it to
the back cover of the magazine.
Colours: There are many different
colours used in this magazine front
cover. This could connote that the
magazine is really trying to raw
attention to itself. Maybe this
magazine isn’t as popular as
others such as, What’s on TV or
Inside Soap. However they are still
trying tot attract readers through
he vibrant use of colours.
Price: The price is very low. This is
probably deliberate in order to
appeal to a working class audience,
as the target audience for soap
operas are the working class.
Web Address (Cross Media
Convergence): This has been
placed on the cover of the
magazine to draw in a younger
audience. This attracts the
attention of young people it means
they can view the magazine online.
Date: The use of the date is very
important in a magazine because
it makes the it look professional
and tells the reader that the
information is up-to-date. This is
good because for a big fan of
soap operas they want to know
all the sneak peeks for the week
ahead and the date helps them
know the information will relate
to this weeks soaps.

7. Analysis of Soap Opera Digest Magazine
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980):
– The use of several different stories on the cover. This is
to draw in the attention of the reader, because there
are so many stories they can look at.
– The use of a header and footer on the front cover. This
adds emphasis on the main headline and image. It
also clearly displays prizes or less important or
exciting stories.
– Multiple images on the cover. This makes the
magazine look busy and full of information about
hundreds of different soap operas.

8. Logo: This is for brand
recognize. It allows the
audience to know what
channel this show is going
to be on. It is also displayed
as a ‘sticker’. This could be
to connote that this is for a
younger audience.
Main image: There is only one
image in this poster. This is
because the poster is only
about ‘Skins’. The use of 3
characters in the main image
draws the attention of the
audience. This is because they
could be the characters that
this weeks story is based
around. Another point about
the main image is that they
are playing teenager. This
could draw the attention of a
younger audience, as they feel
they can relate to the actors in
the image.
Series 3: This is a very typical
convention for a TV series to
have. This is because it makes
people want to go and watch
the show. As skins is on its
third series, this could suggest
that the show is popular or
very good. This displays to the
audience who don’t watch the
show that they should. This
overall enlarges the shows
audience.
Font: This is a fun and childish
font. This could connote that the
show is for a younger audience.
This is backed up by the young
actors in the main image and the
sticker affect on the channels
logo.
Use of the colour red: In this
point of call, the boy on the
right is wearing a red jacket.
This is probable because red
connotes lust and danger. They
are 2 main themes of a TV
show.
Use of the colour gold: In this point of call, the girl is wearing a
gold necklace. This is probable because gold connotes luxury,
triumph and prestige. In shows aimed at teenagers, there is
typically a female character that thinks highly of herself and
beliefs that she is a luxury and that a prize to be won.

9. Analysis of Skins Point of Call
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980):
– The font being appropriate for the target
audience. For a soap opera it is important to
ensure that all conventions display and appeal to
the target audience.
– Having lots of different colours that follow the
connotations, for example red for lust/danger.

10. Use of the colour red: In this poster,
the women is surrounded by a thick
red sky. This is probable because red
connotes lust and danger. They are 2
main themes of a TV show.
Infinity: In this poster the
g of Revenge is actually
the infinity symbol. This
could be a theme from
within the show, and
connote that the women
will not fail or let anyone
else win.
Font is white: The text on this
poster is white. This connotes
innocents and purity. This could
connote that the women has be
wrong done and feels that she
needs to get revenge on the
people who hurt her or her
family. This ties in with the
infinity symbol and could imply
that she wont give up until the
people who wronged her have
paid for what they did.
Sunday: The use of Sunday in
big fonts is to draw in the
attention of the audience. This
will make the audience what to
see what’s on Sunday. Once
they have looked at the poster
they may feel inclined to watch
the show.
Black: There are many reasons why
they would use the colour black. This
colours connotes elegance, power,
death and danger. This backs up the
characteristics of the actress.
Thorns: When researching this
show I discovered that the
characters name is ‘Emily
Thorn’. The use of thorns on
the black dress could be a play
on her name. It could also
connote that she is strong and
willing to fight.
Tag Line: In this poster the tag
line is ‘Her Next Move’. This
connotes that she is the one
seeking revenge on people and
that she is about to attack her
next victim. The tag line
successfully draws in the viewer
and makes them what to find out
what her next move will be.
ABC Channel: The use of the TV
channel it will be aired on is a good way
to promote the show. This is because
the audience will see that the show is
on ABC and can then may what to
watch it because it is on a popular
channel.
Gold Skin and Hair: The use of the
colour gold on the characters body
and hair could connote that she is
wealthy. It could also mean that she
will be triumphant. She is typically a
female character that thinks highly
of herself.
Premieres: In this poster the use of
the word Premiere could be seen as
the producers of Revenge trying to
make an event of the show. When you
think of a premiere you think of
glamour and elegance (which ties in to
the black dress).

11. Analysis of Revenge Poster
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980):
– Use of the TV channel on the poster. This could
add brand recognition because people will
recognise the channel and may want to watch the
show.
– Having lots of different colours that follow the
connotations. E.g. red for lust/danger