The document analyzes conventions used on magazine covers for soap opera television shows. It discusses several key elements magazines use to attract readers' attention, such as large mastheads with bold colors to stand out, puffs in unusual shapes and colors to catch the eye, cover lines to promote additional stories, prominent images to convey the issue's focus, dates informing readers when episodes will air, and attention-grabbing headlines often in bright colors with punctuation for emphasis. The analysis suggests repeating these proven techniques to effectively market issues to audiences.

1. Soap Opera Genre-
Ancillary Product Analysis

2. Masthead
The masthead is big and stands out
from the rest of the magazine so it
can get brand recognition on the shelf
when other competitors are
surrounding it. The connotations of
the colour contrast of red and white
make the brand logo stand out and
catches the audiences eye.
The verbal code “What’s on TV”
connotes to the audience what is
actually on TV.
Puff
The use of the puff is another
technique to catch the eye of the
audience because it normally stands
by being a certain shape and a
different colour to the rest of the
cover. The verbal codes “Big Week”
connote how big the shows are that
are being scheduled and you need to
read about them in What’s on TV.
Cover Line
The cover line stories are essential
conventions to a front cover because
they are “backs ups” to the main
headline; if the main headline doesn’t
catch the attention then the cover line
might because it is a text they enjoy
and helps provide further USPs to the
magazine. The use of the cover lines
being separated from the main story
implies that they are not as significant
as the main story.
Bold Outlines
This is to represent the high
importance of the article in question
on this front cover. This successfully
draws the attention of the reader and
making them read the article.
Main Image (MCU)
The non-verbal code of the main image is
the convention that has to catch the eye
of the audience so it has to ‘inform’ (Katz)
the audience something.
This image connotes a feeling of Roxy
being under threat from Derek who is
portraying a monkey on the back of the
character with the use of a medium close
up.
Date
The date is highly important because it
lets the reader know when the actual
episode is going to be released in
comparison to the issue. This connotes
a way of engaging the audience with
the time frame that is given until the
episode is released.
Main Headline
The main headline is also a convention
that has to catch the readers eye if
they want it sell, because if it’s not
interesting they won’t read it. The use
of yellow connotes how important the
story is and for to stand out on the
page with the use of a black outline.
Use of punctuation to
sensationalise a story
This punctuation normally
expresses another side to the
story by putting across that this
story is impactful which draws in
the consumers of the magazine.
This connotes that the story is big
news and the audience have to
watch to find out was is going to
happen.
Background: the background colour is consistently blue in every
magazine from What’s on TV so it creates brand recognition for the
magazine.

3. Analysis of What’s On TV
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale – 1980):
• By having the main image overlapping the masthead. This gives off a
sense of professionalism and brings the main story to the centre of focus.
Furthermore the use of the positioning of the characters on the shot
portray the storyline.
• The main headline covering most of the page and taking most of the
attention. This attracts the audience to the article makes them want to
read the article.
• Sensationalising the punctuation is key to adding emotion such as shock to
the storyline. This will draw in the reader to the magazine and make them
want to read the article.
• The bold outlines to the headlines and cover lines are a convention that I
would like to repeat because makes the stories stand out by drawing the
attention of the reader.

4. Masthead
The verbal code of the
masthead is key to convincing
the audience to buy the
magazine because it has to
stand out from the rest in the
market. The colour contrast of
red and white connote a strong
way of portraying storylines
that will continue throughout
the issue.
Puff
The use of a puff is key to
catching the audiences eye
because it stands out from the
rest of the magazine by being a
different shape and colour so it
can be noticed. The text
connotes how the price of the
magazine is going to attract
new readers.
Cover Line
Cover lines are pivotal to a
magazine because it “backs
ups” the main stories so there
is more to read about in the
issue. The text ‘Corrie Shock’
presents a verbal code of
shock which connotes to how
important this cover story is.
Main Image
The main image is the convention that has to catch the eye of the consumer otherwise the
magazine won’t sell. The non-verbal code of this image connotes the severity of the issue being
covered with his facial expression in this medium close up.
Date
The date is key to ‘informing’
(Katz) the reader to know when
this story will be portrayed in
an episode in comparison to
the release date. This connotes
another way of engaging the
audience into the show being
promoted.
Main Headline
The verbal code of the main
headline has to catch the eye of
the audience otherwise the
consumers will not read or buy
the issue.
The use of yellow connotes the
importance of the story and so
it stands out on the page.
Use of punctuation
to sensationalise a
story
The punctuation in the main
headline is normally used to
increase the impact of the story
on the reader and how
important it is to the show. This
connotes the punctuation
expressing how big the story is
in terms of the show itself, as
well as being the same colour
as the headline which makes it
stand out more.

5. Analysis of TV Choice
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale – 1980):
• The use of the masthead dominating the top right hand
corner of the page to gain brand recognition. The contrasts in
colours make this stand out to the consumer.
• The use of a puff can be useful because it a convention is put
onto a magazine front cover stand out to the public either
expressing how cheap the magazine is or advertising stories.
• Using multiple images on the front cover. This makes the
cover look busy and connote to the audience that there is a
lot of content to read about.

6. Masthead
The masthead is big and has to
stand out from the rest of the
magazine so it can get brand
recognition. The colour contrast
with red and white make the
name of the magazine clearly
stand out from competitors.
The verbal code of ‘Inside Soap’
connotes what is happening in
the world of soaps to the
audience.
Puff
The use of the puff is way to
catch the consumers eye from
the rest of the page. This is
done by with it normally being
a different colour and in bold
type. The verbal code of ‘Corrie
Special’ connotes that this is a
one off big episode from the
show with a big storyline
coming to an end that you have
to watch.
Cover Line
The cover lines are the
conventions that look to back
with the main headline with
other interesting storylines that
could draw in the public. This
helps to provide more USP’s to
the magazine to help it stand
out from the rest of the market.
Main Image (MCU)
The non-verbal code of the
main image is the convention
that has to catch the eye of the
audience so it has to ‘inform’
(Katz) the audience something.
This image connotes the
feelings of the two characters
the kid and the woman with
the kid expressing a forlorn
look because of the context of
the event of ‘Kylie’s tragic
goodbye’.
Date
The date is highly important
because it lets the reader know
when the actual episode is
going to be released in
comparison to the issue. This
connotes a way of engaging the
audience with the time frame
that is given until the episode is
released.
Main Headline
The main headline is another
key convention in selling the
magazine because it is the first
text the customer see, so if it’s
not appealing they won’t buy it.
The orange standing out
connotes a warning feel to the
story and the importance of the
story is exclaimed by the bold
outlines.

7. Analysis of Inside Soap
• I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale – 1980):
• The use of the masthead going across the majority of the
page at the top to get clear brand recognition. Also with this
specific colour contrast allows it to stand out from the rest of
the page.
• The use of the date above the masthead is a key convention
because it allows the audience to know when the issue was
released and can relate when the episodes will be in the TV.
• Another convention that I would repeat would be the use of
cover lines scattering around the main headline. This is
because these stories can also catch the eye and back up the
main headline if it doesn’t appeal to the public.