This is my textual analysis for Top of the Pops magazine.

1. Top of the Pops

2. The MASTHEAD is written in sans-serif
THE MAIN IMAGE shows a current font which connotes with the young, ‘hip’
pop boy band who are showing image of a pop magazine, clearly aimed at The BANNER on this example
direct mode of address as they are modern, young girls . The sans-serif font shows a feature inside the
all looking directly at the camera. creates a more personal message for the magazine, this is not commonly
This technique creates a personal readers. The colour is bright pink which seen on a banner as it is usually
sense between the reader and instantly suggests who the target used as a sell line to convince the
magazine. Each member of the audience is and this would draw this reader into buying it. So this is an
band is smiling which is an particular type of reader in. odd way of advertising.
ideology of pop magazine covers in
particular. The magazine is similar
to others in the way that the main
image is centred and takes up most The BOOST on this cover is similar to those on
of the cover space. other pop magazines. They have WOB to
emphasise this more than everything else on the
cover. They have also used pink on white and
As there is an image of one direction(a popular made the font bigger than the other writing
teenage band) and Tulisa(n-dubz) this would making the main feature stand out.
create a great amount of sales for this
magazine because these people are incredibly Using the words
popular with the target audience. such as, ‘exclusive’
The MENU BAR is quite
makes the reader
large on this magazine
This cover has a style section feel as if they are
compared to others and it
which would highly appeal to getting the best
is located slightly below
the target audience as young gossip around
the main image. There are
girls love knowing the latest about their
images and lots of
fashion and what their favourite stars.
information about what
favourite celebrities are else is expected inside the
currently wearing. Like all magazines sold in magazine.
shops, Top of the Pops has a The BBC logo in the top left
small BARCODE at the corner is the producer and
This magazine uses lots of images on their
bottom of the cover. This distributor of this magazine.
covers as do other pop mags, this makes it
means it is not taking up too
more appealing to the audience as they can
much room or drawing
read about their favourite artists, therefore The COLOURSCHEME is pink, white and baby blue – all
attention away from the
they are more likely to buy the magazine. typical colours we associate with girls.
features inside the mag.

3. Using the words ‘INSIDE THE MAG…’
This contents is filled with exciting
makes the contents page seem much
features yet I think it is important that
more interesting. This part of the page
attention is paid to make sure that the
stands out as it is on a pink background
page is not over filled.
whereas the rest is on white.
As the descriptions of what is on each
page are in WOB, the page numbers,
coloured in pink stand out much more, This contents page is divided up into
making the instructions for which page sections of the magazine, which
to go to clear to the reader. makes it a lot easier for the reader
to understand. I t also makes the
magazine look interesting but not
The sub-heading’s are still written in cluttered.
sans-serif font, keeping the theme
throughout however this is a slightly
different type of font which is more
formal and mature looking, therefore
The same as the cover, the content
appealing to young girls.
page uses an image of the popular
boy band, one direction, this keeps
the magazine consistent and more
interesting for the readers.
The page numbers which are seen as
the most important are in a larger font
than all the others are.
Not many pop magazines feature an
image of the actual front cover on the
contents page, but I think this is a
Small cut outs, showing glimpses good idea as this particular mag is
of some certain features in the aimed at young girls and this feature
magazine. will take them directly to the main
The WOB(white on black) on each of the sub-
headings makes these stand out further than most story they were drawn into in the first
things apart from the title. place.

4. The words ‘Exclusive Interview’ are in WOB The introduction to the article stands out as it is
which make it stand out, again the word separated from the rest of the writing. The bands
exclusive suggests to the reader that they name is in BOLD CAPITALS which makes the These small
are getting the best story. reader certain who the article is about. little illustrations
on the callouts
make the page
more
aesthetically
The title ‘Back with a appealing.
splash’ is in the centre
of the page and is what
the reader is drawn to
immediately when they
look at the page. The The black page
font used is blue and numbers on blue
keeps with the ‘water’ background contrast
theme. well, and show the
reader which page
they are on clearly,
with no confusion
what so ever.
The small speech
bubbles have black
font on a blue
background, they
stand out from the
rest of the writing
which is good Indicates the reader
because they are the to tell them to turn
most interesting The article features an interview, with question and answer format. The over the page for
things that the answers are in a blue font, with the questions in the same colour but more on this
celebrities said in bold and the band members name is in black so it stands out and the interview.
their interview. reader can easily tell which person is giving the answer.