This document analyzes the front cover design of two soap opera magazines: InsideSoap and What's on TV. It discusses several key design elements and which elements would be effective to repeat across magazine covers. Specifically, it recommends repeating the bold masthead from InsideSoap, cover lines with pictures and pull quotes from both magazines, the bold and colorful main headline used in What's on TV, and the use of main images featuring two protagonists displaying contrasting emotions. Repeating these elements across magazine covers was said to increase audience appeal, identification, curiosity and recognition of the magazines.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Maximilian Stainer
Candidate Number: 3138
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Cover line
(Secondary Story)
The cover line that covers other
soap operas can appeal to a
wider audience by providing a
variety of news from all
programs. As well as this, it
allows the audience to have a
slight insight into the magazine
on what it has to cover.
Masthead
The masthead is very bold
making it appear even more to
the audience. In addition to this
the red colour adds to the
appeal as it is a very bright and
distinctive colour that stands
out. The ‘TV’ allows the
audience to recognise that this
is a TV related magazine. By
having the masthead in the
corner allows it to stand out on
the actual magazine stands out
as this is what they audience
will be attracted to as the rest
may be covered by other
magazines.
Main Headline
The main headline is designed in a
bright and bold font to really appeal
and stand out from the front cover.
The colours of the font can also be
argued to be more appealing to the
female gender, who are the target
audience of the soap opera genre.
Use of Punctuation to
sensationalize a story
The punctuation at the end of the
main headline emphasises the drama
towards the main headline.
Web Address (Cross Media
Convergence)
This allows the magazine to
interact with the audience on
multiple platforms and allows
the audience to contact the
company on any enquiries.
Main Image
(Usually shot at a MCU)
The main image of the front cover
highlights to the audience the prime
attraction on the soap opera. Due to
the medium close up it allows the
audience to focus on the facial
expression on the protagonist. For
instance, this image of Phil form
Eastenders looks very mischievous
and intimidating and makes the
audience feel uncomfortable
especially with the main headline and
gives the audience an enigma clue to
what will happen next.

3. Strapline
The strapline of the front cover
located below the masthead
stands out as is surrounded in a
red bold outline. The repetition
of ‘Every’ connotes that the
magazine covers all areas and
aspects of the soap opera
genre. By adding the ‘Story’
and ‘Secret’ gives the audience
an impression that they are
receiving exclusive news from
the magazine.
Date
The date allows the audience
to recognise the issue of the
magazine that they will buy. By
having the date highlight the
correct TV Guide for the
audience on the variety of
soap opera programmers that
are on TV. This will also allow
the audience to keep with the
latest news by buying the
latest date of the magazine,
keeping the high interests from
the audience
Price
The pricing of the magazine
firstly is quite affordable as
a new issue is released
every week. The price is
also placed at the center of
the magazine to be clear
and not hide the pricing of
the magazine.

4. What should I ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale)?
Firstly I would like to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) the masthead of InsideSoap. This s because the masthead
stands out more in my opinion compared to What’s on TV as the actual font size is much bigger and
covers a larger area of the front cover. As a result of this it will be much easier to identify and look more
appealing with the bold red font.
As well as this I would like to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) the cover lines styles both from What’s on TV and
InsideSoap. This is because the style fills empty space on the front cover with appropriate pictures from
soap operas as ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer). This is also assisted by the pull quotes that may intimidate
the audience into reading that certain area of the magazine.
From the magazine What's on TV I would like to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) the main headline. In my opinion
the main headline its very effective due to its bold font along with the vibrant colours. This will
immediately appeal to the audience as it is the biggest font on the page along with a captivating
headline with a rhetorical question or exclamation mark at the end. The colours are very effective as
they are associated more with the female gender. This is highly significant as the target audience is
mainly females.
Lastly, I would like to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) the main image in both front covers. The reason to this is
because they both incorporate two main protagonists as ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer) and this will seem
more appealing to the audience. As well as this to make it more effective I would have the two
characters to have very contrasting emotions to provide curiosity for the audience.