The document analyzes a magazine cover, contents page, and article from Kerrang magazine from December 2005. The 3 sentence summary is: The magazine cover features a striking masthead in the Kerrang style and a photo of Foo Fighters' lead singer to target rock fans. The contents page uses similar fonts and colors and images instead of words to emphasize the music focus. The article is image-driven with a two column layout to keep a magazine format while making it easier to read about a concert tour.

1. Task 1a - Analysis of magazine front covers, contents and
double page spreads.
Cover 3. – Kerrang December
2005

2. Masthead - visibly The header-summarises the main bands that will feature in
stands out of the top of the magazine. All of the bands are from the same genre as
the page, the masthead the magazine (rock)
is striking and even Main image - is a
though half of it is mid shot of the lead
covered you can still see singer of the Foo
it and relate it. The font fighters
is bold and rock related
looks like broken glass
this reflects the
Main coverline - anchors
rebellious nature
the main image so that
associated with Rock.
anyone can see who the
man is.
The cover follows all
of the house styles
and colours of the
magazine and also
keeps to the main
genre of the
magazine this will
help to interest all
regular readers. Barcode date and price
The Footer - lists some more Rock bands
that will feature in the magazine. Using the
word “Plus:” at the beginning makes its
seem as though loads is going on in the
magazine.

3. This contents is from a 2007 issue of Kerrang
Contents uses same
house style and colours
as cover makes the
reader feel at home with Contents masthead – also
the magazine. uses a similar broken glass
or shot font, this makes it
Follows the conventions relatable.
of a magazine and has
the editors note, this
helps the reader to know
what will be in the The 3 images also are part of
magazine, it is fairly the contents and they are 3
informal. articles, the use of just the
image instead of words makes
Has an image from it look like CD covers and
someone's tour that has a emphasises the fact it is a
heading ‘Dressed to kill’ music magazine but also
this reflects the rock genre makes it different from other
and the reader will be able magazines.
to relate.
Advertisement of the
subscription is on the
contents, this can help The contents has subheading
to make the reader under which any relating
subscribe to the articles are detailed, this
magazine, this is also an makes it easier for the reader
advert for previous to navigate around the
editions and future magazine.
editions.

4. The image is the main attention of the article, this
makes the article seem to anchor the image
Headline Byline making it more emphasised
Picture Colours used
credits are black and
red, these are
colours that are
The article is associated with
mainly image the rock genre.
driven.
Article has been spilt into 2 This copy gives an insight into
columns, this helps to keep what the concert had involved
conventions of a magazine but in it, this will entice the reader
also makes it easier to read as they will want to know what
went on

5. Target audience-
Smash Hits magazine is music magazine that was aimed at a young teenage audience, although it is
no longer being created. The magazine genre of Kerrang is that it is a Rock music magazine. The
demonstration of this in the magazine is that it is made to look dull, dark and exciting
The social class of someone that reads Kerrang would be aimed at families in the C2 area, as it
looks quite cheap and as cluttered in comparison to other music magazines such as NME. The
audience for Smash Hits is most young teenage females. Core target audience is 7 -15 year olds.
The typical reader is one that likes to follow a pop genre of music.
Target audience on cover – The specific targeting could be identified by the use of font and design
of the masthead, this masthead is the classic Kerrang style which makes the title look like broken
glass. Also on the cover there are bands from the music genre the magazine is based on this helps
to target the specific audience. One last way in which targeting could be identified is the house
styles and fonts used on the cover are relatable to each issue and this will entice any regular
customers.
Target audience on contents and in article – the colours, fonts, and layout are that of the Kerrang
house style this targets a specific fanbase of the magazine. The contents and article also use very
bold striking images that will catch the readers eye and make them interested in reading the
magazine