Research into similar products -'What's on TV' Cover

The layout of this cover is unconventional and dose not fit in with the other front covers, this can be seen because of the use of bubbles and the positioning of the main story. Having it on the left and not centralised. The rote of the eye follows conventions, with the title of the cover in the primal optical area. Having this as the first thing that the audience sees allowing them to know what the cover is. However the way in which the title is laid out is unconventional, using the boxes to put it in instead of having the headline across the front. Though having it only use up a one area allows the cover to use more teasers. This can be seen as the eye goes through the centre of the cover, this covers two stories. The main soap story and then going through the ‘Doctor Who’ teaser; going through these two teasers would appeal to a wide audience, being that both of these programmes have big audience but with this the both appeal to different audience. So having both of them in the rote of the eye makes the cover appeal to a wide audience. Then in the terminal area they show a teaser for ‘Corrie’ using this in the terminal area means that the audience will remember that trailer. This can be seen with the principle of thirds in the way the hot shorts are placed having them covering the title, main story and other teasers. Having the poster laid out like this makes sure that the audience sees all the stories. The cover is more disorder than the other covers I have looked at in the way in which the main stories and teasers are placed. Though with this it is clear to the audience what is being shown. The way in which the front cover is laid out is important, in getting the magazine distributed and bring in an audience for it. When creating my cover I need to think carefully about were I place the images and the stories because of the effect that it has on the audience.

Using the impact font makes the titles standout from the images and gets the audience attention. Where as the other covers I have looked at has had a house style on the fonts used, this one different styles of each teaser, doing this makes each teaser standout to the audience.

This can be seen with the main teaser in which they use two different styles; using ‘KICKED OUT!’ in capitals allows it to get the audiences attentions being that this is the main element of the cover and all the other teaser use smaller font, which allows phases to standout. The other writing used on that teaser is of a different colour and smaller writing. Having the two different styles on the teasers makes both of them to standout. Using this technique is effect and I feel will have good effect when creating my cover. The teasers around the outside each have their own style than fits in with the impact font, using this font is conventional to the font cover. Using this font makes the writing draw the audience in from the stand. This is something that is important when distributing the magazine.   

Using blue as the background appeals to a male audience and then having titles in more famine colour makes the cover appeal a female audience. Using these colours has a similar effect to that of ‘Inside Soap’ making the cover neutral and appeal to both genders, this is important in make the cover appeal to a wide audience. This is something that I need to think carefully about and the effect it has on which audience it appeals to.  

The headline box has a back colour of red with white writing. Having the red background makes it standout from the background, this is conventional and most of the magazine cover has a red title or background. Makes the writing white, allows it to standout from the red colour and gets the audience attentions. The colours used stands out because; using two colours gets the audience attentions to set words. This can be seen with the ‘Corrie’ teaser, having the names in blue

and then use the colour pink for ‘TWINS!’ makes it get the audience attentions and shows the way in which it is the important phase. Where as the ‘Doctor Who’ teaser uses a red with a white background, having this colour scheme is the opposite to the headline colours but has the same effect. With this teaser the writing starts off small and gets larger with the word ‘FINALE!’ having this big makes it standout, allows the audience to remember it. The teaser next to it, for the girl uses purple writing, this fits in with the representation of the girl and where the colour of ‘Doctor Who’ appeal to a more male audience using the purple appeal to a female audience. This can be seen throughout the cover, with the colours used appealing to both male and female audience. This is something that I feel is effect and would appeal to my target audience when creating my cover.   

The images used fit in with the convention, having the close and mid shots allows the audience to have an understanding of who the characters are. The main story shown use a close up shot of Kat and Alfie, using this allows the audience to see there facial expression and this gives them an idea of the type of characters they are. The way in which the characters are placed signifiers that they have a close relationship. Having the images of ‘Eastenders’ is typical and each cover I have looked at has had ‘Eastenders’ as the main image, this is because ‘Eastenders’ has a large audience. Showing the way in which this soap has a effect the audience buying the magazine, this means when it comes to choosing what images and soap to show it is important to look at the audience they get.  

Along with this they use images taken from the programme; this can be seen with the image use for ‘Corrie’ in which the two characters are placed in a hospitable, using this location fit in with the title, allowing the audience to clearly see what is happening. Also using this image the audience can see the characters relations to what is happening, doing this means that the audience can clearly understand what is going to happen with that storyline. Where as the image used for ‘Doctor Who’ has just the two characters looking out at the audience.  The mid shot used for these characters allows the audience to see their costume; this can be seen with Rive Song in which she is wearing a red dress. This connotes to the audience the way in which she is dangerous and having her behind the Doctor signifiers the relationship they have, the role in which she will play in the programme. The way in which the images are used is conventional and gives the audience information’s about the character through their conventional representations.         

The language which is used is informal and fits in with the conventions. Using this informal language appeal to the audience and from my research I have found that this is something used throughout soap magazine covers. When creating my cover I believe that using this style of writing will appeal to my audience and allow them to have a clear understanding of what is being said. This is something that I think this cover dose well, using the short snappy phase allows the audience to be able to read the cover lines from far. For each of the teaser there is only a small title such as with ‘Merlin’ in which the title of the programme and ‘New’ is all that is shown. Using this allows the audience to instantly now what the article is going to be about. This technique is used throughout the cover and I believe that it is more effect than using lots of information. When doing audience research I will find out what technique appeal to my target audience more.

The ways in which the different characters are representation are conventional to the way in which they are shown on their programme and allow the audience to connect with them. This can be seen by uses different types of characters such using the ‘Doctor’ to appeal to a male audience and then having ‘Robbie’ to appeal to a female audience. The representation of the characters is shown through the technique areas this allows the audience to know who the character is and what role they play. This is done in a very conventional by using the mid and close up shots of the characters. However the way in which the different teaser is laid out is unconventional and makes the layout look disorder. When choosing the type of layout I would like to use, I will show my target audience different layouts like this one to see which cover appeal to them most. Working out which conventions will best appeal to my target audience is important, in getting people to buy the magazine.