By Holly Sheldon

I have investigated into a wide variety of

magazines of a different genre, ranging from a

younger to an older audience and ranging from a

feminine to masculine appeal.

This method of research is known as ‘inductive

research’. I have conducted this research to see if

I can identify any patterns within in the range of

magazines.

During Year 12 we will be investigating the genre

of school based and music magazines, I have

decided to deconstruct one of each category.

The language choice of the

Masthead ‘Pinch of Salt’ is an

effective play on words, a

device used to catch the

readers attention. It also

insinuates that the reader only

receiving a ‘Pinch’ of the

information and that there is

more to be revealed.. An

effective marketing technique

that encourages readers to

follow on to the next issue.

This helps the magazine to

become a reliable and stable

product in the market.

The masthead is in large blue

font to attract the readers

attention but can be

identified with the school’s

colour scheme. This gives the

sense of a cooperate image

and makes the readers

associate the colour blue with

professionalism and order,

which is reflected in the

school’s principles.

The slogan situated at the bottom of

the page is a specific lexical set as it

uses 3 words associating with the

school’s learning attitude –

encouragement, progression and

achievement. This shows parents how

the school uses language choice to

influence the students and encourage

them to get the best outcome in their

future.

The contrast of the two feature models

( a White boy and an Asian girl) on the

front cover, shows a diverse range of

students which represents the school

as an all rounded community.

The colour palette involves the use of

various shades of blue which represents the

school and identifies with the school

uniform.

The fact that there is no barcode situated at

the bottom ,right hand corner of the page

shows the magazine is not for sale , and

that the magazine was produced for

publicity and marketing.

I have investigated further into the ‘Pinch

of Salt’ school based magazine which is

targeted at parents and carers to inform

them of the school’s extra curricular

activities, revision sessions and to

introduce new learning methods.

The students are surrounded

by school work portraying a

good learning attitude and

their dedication to exceed

their target grades. This the

type of students that the

school embrace and the aim

the school have to make

learning fun.

The central image is taken at a mid shot in

order to give the readers an overview of

the situation and gain a perspective on it ,

as well as the two feature models (in this

case students). The students have happy

facial expressions in order to create a

positive and friendly atmosphere, this

reflects on Titus Salts being a welcoming

school.

I have decided to investigate further into the theme of ‘Pop’ music magazines. From analysing a popular pop based magazine ‘Top of the Pops’ I have discovered the target audience is tweenies' (fashion conscious girls ranging from 8 – 12 years). The purpose of this magazine is to inform as well as entertain.

The magazines feminism is made

obvious through the design on the

front cover as the use of pink and

purple give the denotation of

feminism, passion and nurturing.

The masthead is in large pink

font with the unimportant words

‘of the’ inside a circle centred

between the title. This is in

order to highlight the main words

and attract the readers’.

The central image is taken at a mid shot to allow

the readers to have an overview of the feature

model (in this case Cher Lloyd ) and gain a

perspective on her. Mode of address is used as Cher

is looking directly at the camera in order to engage

the readers and make them feel as if the

information they are reading is being targeted at

them personally. The technique ‘celebrity

endorsement’ is used to attract the reader as it

makes them aware that they are going to be

reading information on a celebrity, therefore they

want to purchase this issue.

The main cover line is an

advertisement on its own as the

language used ‘the real Cher

Lloyd’ suggests there is a

different secret side to Cher that

no one knows about and will be

interpreted in this magazine

article.

A plug is used - the posters of the

newest hottest boy band ,the fact that

this particular boy band is used shows

the magazine is aimed at not only a

feminine but a contemporary target

audience and shows the magazine to

be mainstream.

The magazines feminism is made

obvious through the design and

colour scheme on the front cover is

pink and purple ,contrasted onto a

white background. The white

background gives connotations of

pure and innocent, and the colours

pink and purple give connotations of

femininity, indicating clearly the

target audience the magazine is

aimed at.

The language choice “our experts

to the rescue” makes the

tweenies feel the need to aspire

to this particular magazine as the

producers of this magazine want

to build a relationship with them.

They do this by making

themselves trustworthy to the

readers’ by being there to help

solve their ‘crisis’.

The target audience for this magazine is

‘tweenies’ (fashion conscious 8-12 year olds).

Due to the naivety of this age and the desire

they have to find out who they are and

develop as a person. They use celebrities to

aspire to in order to achieve this and develop

their as a person. This is why Cher Llyod is

used to feature the front cover because ‘Top

of the Pops’ is aware of this and take

advantage of this.

The layout is the main

articles (cover lines)

sectioned off in order

to give the readers’

more of an insight into

the articles they will be

reading.

Alliteration is used to

amuse the readers’ and

allow them to

remember this phrase

with accuracy, they will

then associate this

phrase with this media

product (school based

magazine).

A mission statement is

used to give the school a

meaning of authority and

power. It looks good towards

parents as it shows that their

children will be encouraged to

constantly succeed and exceed

their target grades and overall

performance at school.

The language used at the

start ‘girls’ shows that

girls are the dominant

gender in this article as

they have succeeded in a

rugby game. This gives

the connotation of the

school having equality.

The masthead is written in bold

and large letters in order to

initiate that the main subject of

the contents page is sport. This

indicates to the readers’

(parents) that their children will

be engaging in plenty of physical

activity in order to achieve

outside of learning. This shows

the school cares about the

children’s success but health as

well.

Lots of use of

imagery, students

are looking straight

at the camera to

draw the readers’

attention.

Use of synergy as other companies are

advertised through the use of logos in

order to portray that Titus Salts is an

inclusive and embracive school.

Simple and colloquial language

used to make the readers’ feel

comfortable and at ease

because this is the language

they can easily interpret and

respond to.

Aiming to change the readers’

ideology and prepare them

from the change from

childhood to adolescence. Part

of becoming an adult is

developing close relationships

with the opposite sex, by using

the phrase “We love boys” the

readers are getting more

familiar and comfortable with

this idea.

Semiotics – a popular

Media theory is used

to help the readers’

understand the

information better as

the heart symbol

makes it easier for

the readers’ to

visualise the idea of

‘love’.

This is the dominant image

of the contents page of

one of the most popular

boy bands present. This

shows the magazines

attempt to keep up with

the latest trends – helping

the reader and the

magazine to form a

relationship as they both

have things in common.

Bold and large numbers are used to

categorise the information offered to

the readers’ – this gives the option for

the readers’ to skip to their favourite

section first. This adds an appealing

quality to the magazine.

Subheadings are

used to categorise

the information

making the layout

readable and easy.

Imagery is used to make

the page more appealing

and interesting,

feminine products are

used to show that

‘fashion’ is a sub section

in the magazine as well

as reminding us who the

target audience is.

The colour pink is used to

represent girly and feminine,

which represents who the

magazine is aimed at.

Some articles are

highlighted to show

specific importance

and suggest to the

readers’ which ones

are the best reads.

A photo story board

is used in order to

make the

information easier to

interpret. It also

allows the readers’

to be able to go to a

certain piece of

information if they

wish and don’t

intend to read the

whole article.

Alliteration is used

to make the article

more interesting

and appears as a

catch phrase that

readers’ are likely

to remember. The

reader will then

associate this

phrase with this

particular media

product, and it

reinforces the idea

of success.

Action shots are used to

portray a lively active

school and insinuate

dynamism.

The tag line is a

persuasive

technique used to

persuade the

readers’ (parents’)

that the school

wants the best for

their children and

provide additional

information to the

title in order to

clarify what the

school magazine is

about.

Use of imagery showing a mum and

her son close together to reinforce

the idea of age not being a

restriction when it comes to

forming close relationships.

Buttons are displayed all over

the page ranging percentages in

the top 90’s, this presents the

school as successful without

having to pay too much

attention to the information

wrote in the bubbles.

Solo imagery is used as well as

multiple – person shots to show that

despite team work being encouraged,

children are also encouraged to work

solely to find out what they are

capable of and exceed their targets.

Neutral colours are used

for the background and

text – (white and grey) in

order to make us focus on

the two main people

featuring the double page

spread. It also reinforces

their gender with the use

of the colour blue which

gives the connotation of

masculinity.

The pull quote is written in

a white and bold font to

contrast with the simple

background making it stand

out. The language used “I

felt like I didn’t fit in” was

selected carefully to

reinforce the idea to

readers’ that Zayn may be

a celebrity, but is a genuine

down to earth guy who has

confessions of his own to

share, readers’ will be able

to form a bond with the

information they are

reading as they can

associate themselves with

Zayn’s problems.

The photos used are taken

at a mid shot making the

readers’ feel at ease and

comfortable when reading

the articles featured. Both

Zayn and Harry are looking

directly at the camera to

engage with the readers’

and make it feel more

personal.

The language used

in this pull quote is

dramatic and

causes tension

allowing the reader

to skip to that

section in the

article to find out

what happened.

Bright bold text is

used for the

subheadings to

attract attention and

section off the

information. Making it

easier to interpret

the text and get a

good idea of what

topic each section

will be focusing on.

A semiotic sign is used to represent

the motion of turning over the page

allowing the reader to find another

interesting article. The reader can

relate to the action and reinforce it as

they are intrigued to find out what

other information is that is displayed

on the following page.

Zayn is stood at an angle, with his

arm reaching across his front, this

makes us feel as if Zayn has

something to hide which is

supported by his confession in the

format of a pull quote “I felt like I

didn’t fit in”.