This document analyzes and summarizes two soap opera magazines. It discusses several key elements of each magazine's design including the masthead, date, price, main images, headlines, cover lines, and inclusion of websites. It notes design choices meant to attract audiences like bold fonts, vibrant colors, and inclusion of multiple storylines. The document then discusses conventions it seeks to repeat from the magazines like variety of images and bold headlines. It also discusses offering differences like including social media for audience engagement and minimizing colors used for a less chaotic design.

1. Magazine AnalysisBy Yunus Kasim

2. Masthead – The masthead is clearly
illustrated by the contrasting colours of
white, black and red. It states ‘What’s on TV’
in big as well as bold writing and so it looks
at soap opera storylines. Then, the locations
of London, Anglla and Midlands are shown
so that the audience know where to buy it.
Date – The date show here ‘23 Feb – 1 March
2013’ distribute there magazine frequently and
so the demographic are able to receive constant
news from the magazine.
Price – The price ‘Only 52p’ is
cheap and so can attract young
audiences as they can afford the
magazine on a weekly basis. It is
illustrated in pink, blue and pink,
so it is clear for the audience to
see.
Main Image – The characters of Phil and Jack,
are influential images due to the importance
both have within the soap, furthermore the
images connote that they are a main part of the
current affairs within the storyline. The audience
are able to ‘relate’ (Katz) with either Jack or Phil
and so take sides and therefore build tension
before the next episode begins.
Main Headline – The
connection between the
main headline ‘It’s Murder?
Jack kills Phil?’ as well as the
images was appealing
towards the audience who
were ‘Caregivers’ (Maslow),
due to knowing the
background of both of the
characters of which will
make the empathise for Phil
if he died. The font is bold
and the lining is red whilst
the writing itself is yellow
and so the audience
instantly see the headline.
Cover Lines – This brings in the multi –
stranded aspect and it is something that is
needed within a soap opera magazine.
This will allow an expansion of audiences,
as different people enjoy viewing other
soaps, and so by included cover lines such
as the ones expressed here enables
audiences to discover what is going on
within different soap operas.
Convergence – The website gives the
audience an option to explore online and
find out more information on their selective
soap operas.

3. Price – The price is cheap as well as
affordable for the audience, and so
they will be willing to go and buy
the soap opera magazine. The
audience will feel that its worth
buying as their favorite soap is in
the magazine. It is shown twice so
that the audience will be alerted
that its cheap.
Masthead – The soap opera magazines
masthead ‘tv choice’ has a unique design, as
it has a circle with a rectangular shape, of
which enables the audience to see who is
supplying the magazine.
Cover Lines – The three cover llines at
the bottom of the page are effective
because they indicate a range of
storylines, and so everyone who buys the
magazine can ‘relate’ (Katz) with the
soap that they enjoy most.
Main Image – The serious look
of the women, denotes that
something serious has occurred,
and foreshadows that there will
be dilemmas that she will face.
The audience would want to buy
the magazine as they would like
to have a glimpse of what may
have happened.
Background – The
background colour of light
blue was vibrant as it made
each aspect of the magazine
stand out, and look
coherent.

4. Conventions I look to “repeat”? (Steave Neale)
There are many codes as well as conventions within the Soap magazines of which I look to ‘repeat’ for my own magazine. One aspect is
the variety of images across the magaines, as I feel that my young target audience will be attracted more with the inclusion of multiple of
images. I will also look to make the main headline big, bold and vibrant as this is what instantly catches the attention of the audience once
they pick up a soap opera magazine. Finally, having a selection of cover lines is essential, and I look to implement this part into my own
magazine, as it keeps the audience entertained whilst going through the magazine.
In what way will my soap opera offer “difference?” (Steve Neale)
One negative factor of both magazines is that there are no social networks included. This therefore doesn’t enable the audience to get
more involved and give there personal verdict of the magazine or the soaps within the magazine; hence why I will be looking to include
social media into my magazine so that my audience can comment on their thoughts and feelings about the magazine. In addition, I feel
that although colour is important, the use of all the colours is too much and so may not be as appealing to audiences or as effective, so I
will be looking to minimise the amount of colours I use so that my magazine looks less chaotic.
Repetition and Difference (Steve Neale)
from the magazine analysis