Hannah Hughes is creating a magazine cover for a TV soap opera magazine as part of her OCR Media Studies coursework. She has researched existing soap opera magazines to gather ideas. Her summary includes identifying the target audience as socioeconomic groups C1, C2, D and E. She also considers design elements like the masthead, headlines, images and other features to include. Hannah will use Photoshop and Fireworks software to design the magazine cover to resemble a real product.

1. OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio
Mind Map and
Research
Generation of Ideas for Ancillary Product 1) –
Name: Hannah Hughes
Candidate Number: 4067
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
TV Magazine Front Cover

2. Source of Inspiration
Front Cover of
Inspiration
HERE
History of the Product
• First published in 1991 and goes straight to number 1
where it remains today.
Publisher
• TimeInc.UK
• Publishing Director: Angela O'Farrell
• Editor: Colin Tough
Circulation Figures – HOW many people read the magazine?
• What's on TV provides over 3.4 million readers a week
• What's on TV is the second largest actively purchased
magazine in the UK, enjoyed by over 3 million UK
consumers
Price range – 50p-60p
HOW does that establish WHO the target readership are in
accordance with: Socio-Economic Needs
The Target Audience will be based around the socio economic
groups C1, C2, D and E as these groups consist of the supervisory,
skilled and unskilled manual workers. Although all 6 groups could
read the magazine the low cost suggests that it may not be suitable
for the higher groups.

3. In some of the magazines that I have analysed they use words such as
Digest and Inside. This connotes an intake of information from the
magazine. This is a possible idea to bring forward in my magazine
design.
Soap: In many of the magazines I
analysed they use the word ‘Soap’, this
clearly displays the magazine genre to
the reader, and is a good aspect that I
could bring forward.
Masthead
ideas
Font styles:
Possible Mastheads:
Colour:
Red: 2 of the 5 products that I analysed in the Ancillary
Product had red in the masthead. This because red connotes
lust and danger, which are 2 main themes of Soap Operas. It
is therefore a good colour to consider for my masthead.
White: 3 out of the 5 products that I analysed in the Ancillary
Product have white mastheads. This seems to be a theme
that I could use in my magazine cover.
Position on the page:
Sans Serif: 3 of the 5 products that I
analysed in the Ancillary Product use
Sans Serif as their font style. This is
because it doesn’t look as fancy and
therefore connotes that it is for a less
wealthy class. This corresponds with the
working class audience of Soap Operas.
It if therefore a good font style to
consider.
Serif: 2 of the 5 products that I analysed
in the Ancillary Product. This font looks
upper class and therefore doesn’t
consider the target audience.
Bold: The use of a bold font for the
masthead will dramatics the magazine.
This would be a good way of drawing in
the reader.
Verbal Codes:
Tragedy: This is a popular word on
Soap Opera magazine covers. It
entices the audience and makes them
want to find out about the stories
within the magazine.
Soap Weekly: I think this is a standard
and basic idea for a Soap Opera
Magazine. It tells you exactly what it is
and how often it comes out.
Soapy Bath: This is a play on words,
and entices the audience to read the
magazine. This is a funny name and
will put the reader in a good mood.
This will make them feel more
inclined to purchase the magazine.
Top Left of the Page: in most of the magazines that I
analysed the masthead was on the top left hand side of
the page. This is a definite theme with Soap Opera
magazines, and is therefore a clear consideration for my
magazine cover.
Top of the Page: In one of the magazine covers the
masthead when across the top of the page. this is
another consideration for my magazine cover because it
means that the masthead wont be crammed up in the
top left but can be spread out over the top of the
magazine.

4. Possible Headlines:
Tragedy Hits The Wells!: This headline draws the reader in. it makes them wonder what ‘Tragedy’ has ‘hit The
Wells’. The use of ‘The Wells’ connotes that this is the Soap Opera to be watching this week. This is because it is
the only Soap Opera mentioned in the headline and is clearly a bigger font then the others Sub Headings.
Who Kidnapped Holly?: This Headline again draws the attention of the reader in. This is because the reader may
thing that by reading the magazine they may find out the answer to the question. This entices them to purchase
the magazine, even though there is no guarantee of the question being answered.
Kidnapper Exposed!: This doesn’t draw
the attention of the reader in
because of the Soap Opera, but
because of the words. When the
Main Headline
reader sees the words ‘kidnapper
Exposed’ they will want to find out
who the kidnapper is and who they
Ideas
kidnapped. This makes people want to
buy the magazine, as that’s the only
way they will find out.
Where it will be positioned:
Below the Middle: In all the magazines I
analysed in the Ancillary Product the main
headline is positioned just below the middle
belt. This could be to allow space for the
main image, but without hiding the
headline from the reader.
Slight Angle: Again in all the magazines
that I have analysed the main headline is
at a sight angle heading up. This could be
to make the magazine look more fun and
interesting, so that it appeals to the
reader.
Capital Letters: This draws the attention of the reader because it
makers the story look more dramatic and important.
Pink Letters: When analysing the magazines in the Ancillary Product
I noticed that if the main story is about a child, for example ‘Kat’s
Birth Shock!’ or ‘Baby Switch Exposed!’ the text is usually in pink.
This could be because pink connotes love and nurturing. This could
be an aspect that I bring forward into my magazines main headline.

5. All the magazines I analysed were face on, mid shot. These shots
demonstrate what the reader should be looking at. This is important for a
magazine because it draws the reader in. If there is no obvious main image
the reader may not want to purchase the magazine.
Mid Shot: In Soap Opera magazines Mid Shots are very popular. This is
because you can see most of the characters body and therefore have the
ability to see all the emotions. This is because you can clearly see their faces
and tell what the character is trying to portray, and by the body language
you can see what they feel.
Images
Needed
Cover Line Imagery:
Main Image:
Outskirts: In most Soap Opera
magazines the cover line imagery is
on the outskirts of the page. This is
to ensure they don’t take the
attention away from the main image.
Boxes around the images: this is
again to ensure that they don’t take
the attention away from the main
image. It also clearly demonstrates
that they are different stories.
Other Soaps to include:
EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street: By
using these Soap Operas in my magazine I am
making my magazine more popular, as it can
appeal to a wider audience. This is because not
everyone may be interested in my Soap Opera,
however if a person is looking at Soap Opera
magazines, they will probable be interested in
the other Soaps. This will lead to more people
purchasing my magazine.
Example Images:

6. Others
Puffs:
Synergy with Social Media:
Price:
Strapline Language: Facebook and Twitter: when designing my
magazine I will have Facebook and Twitter
logos visible and their handles. This is because
many magazines have these clearly visible on
their magazine covers. This could be to appeal
to a younger audience.
Straplines often use buzz words similarly to puffs, so
that they can draw in the attention of the reader. These
can create brand recognition when a magazine used the
same buzz word in all magazine covers. These include
words such as WIN!, TRAGEDY! Or EXCLUSIVE!. These all
suggest that there is amazing information within the
magazine and therefore encourages people to purchase
the magazine.
Magazines vary in cost. Many magazines stick
to under £1 often charging 50-60p. However
other magazines such as Inside Soap charges
£1.60. I think that this is too much for a Soap
Opera magazine, this is why I will be charging
around 50-60p for my magazine.
Buzz words: Many magazines have big puffs to draw
attention from the reader. They do with by using
Buzz words. These could include ‘Sneak’ or ‘Secret’.
This catches the readers attention and will make
them want to read on and find out the secret or see
the sneak peek.
Bubble around words: The bubble around the
words also draw the attention of the reader in. this
is because there aren’t lots of bubbles
on the page. This therefore isn’t the
norm for the magazine cover and
makes people want to see the Puff.

7. Mind Map - Conclusion
What you need to do next
• In order to get a good idea of what to put in my magazine I should consider purchasing a
Soap Opera magazine of inspiration. This is to get an incite into what goes in as Soap
Opera magazine and what I could therefore include.
What you’ll need to organise/arrange
• In order to create my magazine I will need to arrange for pictures to be taken. These
could be taken on the day of filming, or I could take them in my own time. The props will
also need to be arranged. As a group we need to discuss what we need, who will bring
them in and when. Another idea that I need to organise is finding a suitable font style for
my magazine. This is because this it will help make my magazine look professional and
appeal to the target audience.
What software you will use to create the product and Why?
• When creating my magazine I will be using multiple software's. These include Photoshop
CS5 and Fireworks. Photoshop CS5 will make my magazine look professional and will
allow me to make the magazine look like a real magazine. Fireworks will allow me to edit
images so that they are suitable to use on my magazine cover. This could include
removing the background or editing colours.
Name: Hannah Hughes
Candidate Number: 4067
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135