This document analyzes and compares two soap opera magazines to determine effective design techniques. Some techniques highlighted as effective include using bold mastheads and headlines to draw attention, featuring dramatic main images of characters, and including sub-stories from multiple popular soap operas to appeal to a wide audience. The document recommends replicating these techniques, as well as clearly displaying the price near the masthead, for the author's own soap opera magazine design. Techniques to avoid include cluttering the cover with too many sub-stories or including the issue date within the masthead.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Abigail Ronald
Candidate Number: 2121
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Masthead – the denotation of the masthead is a bold, eye catching
verbal code which draws the reader to want to purchase the magazine,
this is firstly due to the verbal code, such as the verbal code “Inside”.
By using this choice of noun, it makes the magazine appear to have
‘exclusive’ information about the following soaps presented on the front
cover, that other magazines do not offer. The colour red in the masthead
‘signifies’ (De Saussure) the publishers passion for the soaps in which
they review and write about, this makes the reader feel confident about
buying the magazine.
By using a strapline the magazine is able to sell themselves to the
reader in order to make them want to buy every issue of the magazine.
By claiming to include ‘Every Story’ and ‘Secret’ every single week, this
verbal code will entice the reader because they will feel that they can
get the latest information about their favourite soaps in this magazine.
The main image presented on this issue of InsideSoap is
similar to how they are in every issue, the characters
from the soap featured in the main headline are
normally looking shocked, angry, upset or an emotion
which makes the reader question what's happened to
them.
The headline presented on this cover anchors
the main image, this is because the headline
denotes how there is going to be an upcoming
crash which is putting lives at risk, which Is
supported by the expressions the
actors/actresses are portraying.
The Cover Lines used on this magazine front cover are extremely
effective. This is because the supporting stories are all corresponding
to different soaps which means that the magazine will apply to many
different members of the market (as different people like/prefer
certain soaps) because there are several different soaps present.
The barcode, issue number, date and price
are not assembled together on the front cover
of this magazine, the price is placed at the top
near the masthead, as well as the issue date.
This is effective because it makes it easy for
the consumer to find the price.

3. Cross Comparison
Masthead – Unlike InsideSoap, this
magazine does not have the
masthead spread across the entire
front cover. Similarly, they have
chosen to have the background of
their logo red, which yet again
presents passion about their
magazine which will make the
reader trust what they are reading.
The bold white font makes the
masthead stand out even thought it
is not stereotypically taking up the
full width of the page. Unusually,
the issue date is presented within
the masthead, this is not a feature I
would replicate on my magazine
front cover as it takes attention
away from the masthead.
The price of this magazine is
[positioned very effectively as it is
presented on top of a shape which
makes it stand out.
The main image on this magazine
front cover isn't very dramatic
which is what it should be in
order to attract as wide an
audience as possible. By having
one of the characters smiling, it
will disinterest the common
audience as they are looking for
drama and gossip about negative
storylines.
As the barcode is positioned
along the side of the magazine, it
means that there is more room
for the sub stories along the
bottom of the page. However,
the barcode being positioned
where it is taking attention away
front the main image.
This soap opera magazines use of
cover lines is very effective. They
not only include the most
frequently watched soaps within
the sublines, they also add ‘NEW’
onto the most popular
programmes. This is a technique I
wish to repeat because is makes
the reader feel like this magazine
can provide ‘Exclusive’
information about a particular
programme in which they are
interested in.
The layout of the headline is
effective because it is extremely bold
and eye catching which draws a
potential consumer to pick up the
magazine.

4. Conclusion
• To conclude, there are several features I wish to ‘repeat’ (Theorist) on to
my Soap Opera magazine I will be designing from both magazines in which
I have analysed, these include:
- Bold, Bright font colours and styles
- Headlines being to full width of the page
- Sub-Stories being presented along bottom of page + 1/2 along header
- Actors/Actresses facial expressions being scared/anxious/angry
- The price of magazine being located around masthead
- Barcode at bottom right hand corner or page
• Features I do not want to repeat:
- Issue date being within section of masthead (What’s on TV)
- Too many sub stories so that the main headline + main image becomes unclear
(InsideSoap)