Magazine analysis

Magazine analysis

• 1.
  FRONT COVER- MAGAZINE1 There are many colours presented on this front cover. There is: white, black, yellow, red and blue. As there is a variety it makes it looks busy and a lot going on. Using these colours makes certain text stand out (key information) to attract your attention. Most of the text uses the same font; sans serif font. This is effective because it’s bold and eye catching in a way alerting. It seems to be a well-known magazine and they are confident having the image overlapping the title. Used rhetorical questions to make it feel direct and that you want to know ‘getting back together?’ The main image is famous 50 cent and diddy. They cover most of the page of the magazine. This aspires to the target audience because it’s a hip hop magazine, therefore including these people link to the genre and stories. The image also uses direct address. There are three other images included on the front cover which link with the stories in the magazine, they are key images that would attracted their target audience: Chris Brown, Rhianna and Dr. Dre. The title is white so does not stand out as much as everything else on the page. However it is bold with a black shadow that emphasises it. This is fine for this magazine as it is popular and well-known. The strapline ‘covering the entire hip hop culture’ is completely covered by the main image with just being able to see ‘culture’ this would not be good for a new magazine yet it being around for years people will recognise this. ‘Shocking’ is used to link with one of the stories. This
• 2.
  CONTENTS PAGE-MAGAZINE 1Thecontents page has a white background with red boarders and sub-titles, and black text. It makes it look important and alert. There are different colours of red (gradient) or dark and light red which breaks it up. Again sans serif font is used. This is good because it works with the front cover being consistent throughout the magazine. Having certain words bolder than others suggests key things the audience would want to find quickly. There are two main images on the contents page. Yet they have included an image of another one of their magazines. This allows the audience to see what’s next and get them to subscribe. The images used on the contents page would appeal to the reader because it links with the stories they are interested in. The first image is relaxed ‘Jamie Foxx’ (24) looks in his environment, and happy as he is smiling. He is surrounded by musical instruments which works well with the music ‘magazine. The second image ‘Quent’ (49) looks more like an organised shot. He is looking away from the camera as if he is focusing on something. The lens is focused on him so he stands out, with the blurred background. Yet you can see he is outside somewhere busy. You can identify the contents page from glance because the layout is clear. It’s separated with boxes and subheadings. It also includes folio, making it clear it is a contents page. It’s appealing to the reader by the images they have used (which I have already talked about). The text is quite small, however having important information bold or larger. Certain parts are sectioned off to break it up so it don’t look ‘flooded’. Overall this is good because of this and large text it’s easy to read from a distance. It uses language which addresses the reader and grabs their attention. This is done by using words such as ‘style’, ‘entertainment’, ‘music’ and ‘webwatch’. This is everything the reader wants to see in the magazine and what they are interested in so by using these words grabs their attention. I wouldn’t say it’s the best contents
• 3.
  DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD-MAGAZINE 1The colours used on the double page spread has been done quite clever. Where it is a ‘light’ story the colours green and gold have been used. When it’s a hard story the colours ‘red’ and ‘burgundy’ have been used. This makes you think it’s important, danger or something serious. There has been a mixture of fonts used, moreover serif and sans serif font. The sub titles are larger than the text information, this allows the reader to spot what they want to find on the page. The text all links with the images by being about the stories written about. It’s engaging with the target audience by always including celebrity’s names, which would be of interest to them. All the images on the double page spread represent the target audience. This is proven as established the stories are aimed for the target audience to aspire to them. Therefore so will the images as they all link with the text. All the images are photos of celebrity’s which instantly gives the reader the information they made need to find what they are looking for and make them keen in this double page spread. They words like ‘word on the street’. This could interest the reader as it’s what they want to find out in the magazine. This is well aimed at the target audience because its language the target audience uses and would relate to. I like the layout of the double page spread as it’s not too busy, it does this by breaking it up with boxes, colours and larger text. They have also used symbols/pictures which link in with the double page. This is because it’s a star = famous singers. With a microphone= music. This makes it look more interesting and fills the gap nicely. As I said before
• 4.
  FRONT COVER- MAGAZINE2The front cover easily stands out. This is because it has bright background; which is luminous orange then goes gradient to a red colour. It gives the impression that it is quite arty. All the colours link together using the same background colour on some of the text, and white and black text too. The main image is black and white, however because of such the bright background it makes it stand out more. The design of the front cover is very neat, most of the text goes around the image quite neatly. There are different fonts/styles of text. All different sizes and colours. This is all depending on what the text says. It tends to start of white then follows up with black or orange. This carries on throughout the page so it works well. The target audience is concentrating on music like classic rock, and older people for mature music lovers. The image displays this very. The image is engaging because it has direct address, and makes it feel personal. I like how the main image is in black white which replicates smart and sophisticating; which is perfect for the target audience. It also distracts you from such a bright background and makes it all work well together. There is a puff in the left hand corner; ‘FREE CD!’ …’plus 5 bonus tracks’. This is good because it’s going to attract, by doing this is sharing the love of music with the target audience, and this suggest there will be lots of interest in common inside as well. The title ‘MOJO’ is not clear, furthermore the main image covers it. However this is done because it’s a well-recognised magazine. This magazine would easily stand out on the shelf because of the bold fonts, image and mainly colour. It address the reader and grabs their attention by the language they use. ‘The only interview’ this makes the magazine important as it holds what other magazines don’t. It shows they are up to date and a professional magazine. They use written codes ‘…’ by doing this makes you want to find out more and turn the page. Overall I believe the front cover is effective. It has a good indication of what’s
• 5.
  CONTENTS PAGE-MAGAZINE 2 Thecontents page goes over two pages, which both look quite different. The first page is has a black background. With a clear title ‘Mojo’ which is in white, this is good because it stands out really well against the black background. The folio and title ‘features’ are red with all the other text white. By making the name of the page stand out its larger text and bold. Red, white and black all work well together and look smart. On the first page of the contents it has a large image of a boy holding a guitar. This works well as its not crowded, it makes the page simple and neat. The font is clear and sans serif, which is easy to read and works well with the front cover. However at the bottom of the page there is a quote which is in serif font. This shows the magazine varies and make it easy for the eye. The second page is white with ‘Mojo’ in black, which is a good contrast of the first page. It has a small collage of images all to do with music and art. It also links with the stories. As this is aimed at an older age group it is presented smartly and use good vocabulary. They have used words like ‘luxury’, ‘intelligence and ‘empowerment’. These all work with the demographic as it’s sophisticated. You can identify the contents from a glance because of the layout. The contents page is effective because it relates well to the target audience. It represents the
• 6.
  DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD-MAGAZINE 2The double page spread I chose linked with the target audience well and the front cover. The images are in black and white, as the background. The text has some gold but apart from that all black and white. I like this because it gives a feel of the history and looks smart which is the impression the magazine wants to give. In this double page spread there is quite a lot of text. However this good because it’s what the target audience would want to see; lots of information. It only has 3 images which are clear and not busy as the main focus in the information. The text is small and the same the whole way through which shows it’s a detailed article. The images on over the two pages are in black and white. The first images blends in with the black background, and is large which breaks it up nicely before a lot of text. The second image is the only thing in colour. It is broken away from the rest of the information as if it’s a completely different story. The words used are all very formal. The text starts off with a drop cap. This is good because there is a lot of text it really breaks it up. They have broken it up by using gaps and larger text. I think the double page spread is effective because it links with the front cover and target audience very well. It does this by using a black and white theme and using formal language. This wouldn’t appeal to a teenager because there is lots of small text and lots of