This document analyzes techniques used in magazine covers promoting soap operas. It discusses elements like the masthead, headlines, use of punctuation, puff promotions, cover lines, and social media links. The goal is to attract readers by highlighting exciting drama and gossip happening in the soap operas. The document concludes by stating the author's intent to repeat many of these techniques in their own soap opera magazine cover, such as using bold colors and fonts for the title, puff promotions to highlight key information, and a catchy strapline.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Sean Wayne
Candidate Number: 1254
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Masthead –
The connotations of the title
of the Masthead is that this
magazine is going to tell you
exactly what's on TV and at
what time. Underneath this
Masthead is the magazine
web address (cross-media
convergence), giving the
magazine a way to promote
its website. This will also
appeal to a younger
audience a it gives them a
means of looking at the
latest stories in the comfort
of their own home.
Main Headline –The
bold font that's white with a pink
outline is able to draw in the
attention of potential readers,
resulting in them becoming aware
of the soap opera and have an
interest in picking up the
magazine.
Use of
punctuation – The
use of exclamation marks is
able to give the audience the
impression that the stories
they are covering are exciting
and thrilling
Puff Promotion – Is
able to make the information,
such as ‘The Final’, ‘NEW’ and
‘Izzy’s Agony’, pop out of the
page, grabbing the readers
attention. It also ‘informs’ (Katz)
the reader of the topics the
magazine is covering.
The verbal codes of ‘Kills’,
‘Dies’, ‘Stolen’ and ‘Slept’ are
all verbs that have powerful or
controversial meanings that
will be able to attract the
stereotypical audience of a
soap opera. It is also able to
give the audience an insight
on what is happening in each
soap opera, and what each
article is about.
The connotation of the verbal code ‘92 pages of TV you love’ is able to appeal to the target
audience as it is can ensure that the readers know that there are many different stories and other
content the reader will be able to read within the magazine
Cover line – These
secondary stories are able to
attract the target audience as it
is able to give the audience an
insight of the different events
that are happening in the
different soaps (different
gossip). This connotes that two
people in EastEnders have
committed adultery , which is
likely to cause a lot of tension
between the different
characters in the show.
Social Networking Links –
These links are able to give the audience a method to find out more about
the soap, ask any questions or comment about what they thought of the
show

3. Masthead –
The connotation of this mast
head is that the magazine is
going to show the reader the
different meanings and
events that have occurred
within different soaps.
Strapline –
The verbal code of the
strapline ‘Every Story! Every
Secret! Every Week!’ is able
to connote that the
magazine aims to include
every story and secret
included in a soap in the last
week. Also the verbal code
‘Secret’ is able to appeal to
the target audience as gives
them the impression that
there is gossip or a scandal
that the magazine is
covering, peaking their
interest.
Banner –
This banner, through use of
the language ‘New Hell!’,
‘Desperate’ and ‘Secret’, the
magazine is able to inform
the reader that there is
something terrible brewing
within these soap operas.
This is able to appeal to the
target audience as it is able
to give them the thrill of
finding out what is going to
happen, satisfying their
desire for gossip.
Cover lines–
These are secondary stories
that attract the target
audience due to the
magazine informing the
readers of the different
stories that are going on
within the different soap
operas (gossip).
The verbal codes of ‘Horror’,
‘Terror’, ‘Steals’ and ‘Killing’ Are
all able to describe the emotions
or actions of the characters
within the soap opera. This is
able to appeal to the target
audience as it helps the audience
to understand the different
characters as well as have an
interest in the controversial
meanings of these words
Use of punctuation –
The use of exclamation marks is
able to give the audience the
impression that the stories they are
covering are exciting and thrilling,
making the target audience more
likely to look at and pick up the
magazine

4. ‘Repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980)
I intend to use and ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) many different techniques denoted and deployed in these two
soap publications. For example I intend to ‘repeat’ the type of language used in these two magazine covers.
This language is able to successfully attract the main target audience as a result of their controversial meanings
and ability to stir up the idea of gossip. Also I intend to ‘repeat’ the type of Masthead style shown in the first
magazine, ‘What’s On TV’, using similar language and similar colours and logo style. As well as that I would like
to ‘repeat’ the colours and fonts used in the title on the first of the two magazines. The bold text and the bright
pink outline is able to easily make the title stand out and attract readers. Also, because the target audience of
soap operas are primarily women, the colour pink will especially appeal to them. On top of that, finally, I intend
to ‘repeat’ The style of puff promotion used in both of the magazine, in order to make certain facts or
information I want the reader to know, pop out of the page. I would also like to ‘repeat’ the use of the strapline
in the second magazine page. This needs to be something simple and memorable that is able to quickly tell the
audience the type of stories or genres the magazine will be covering. This could also include a target that the
magazine wants to fulfill (for example to give the audiences the latest, most exciting gossip of the last week)