Magazine Analysis (Research)

Here is my magazine research. 

 For your Component 1 project you will need to analyse:

 - 2 magazine covers in full detail 
 - 4 magazines (cover, contents, double page) less detail

Here is an example of what your Research post should look like:

Magazines have to compete with one another for audience attention. The most valuable spot on the shelf in a shop or supermarket is at eye-level, and publishing companies will pay lots of money to gain this advantage. Within a single sub genre there may be many similar titles, and so a magazine has only its front cover to attract eyes away from the competitors and toward itself. This is made even more difficult when you see the way in which magazines are put onto shelves. They overlap in ways that often may only the upper third or left third visible to potential audiences. This research has shown the importance of these areas of my magazine cover, I will put my most appealing content here. 

National Geographic 

National Geographic Partners

National Geographic is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. It features articles on humanity and the natural world and is aimed at educated with a critical view of the world. 

Media Language

The codes and conventions for typical nature magazine is to feature wildlife or scenes of nature on the cover. National Geographic conforms to these conventions by including a portrait image of a dog. However this photo appears to be staged and not taken in an outdoor or natural setting. This could indicate that the dog belongs in the human world and that the magazine’s focus will be the dog’s position in our society. The magazine is clearly aimed toward dog lovers, and featuring a very polished and high quality image of one will be very appealing to that audience. Furthermore the language used on the cover also supports this, the inclusion of words like ‘companion’ and ‘into our homes’ have connotations of comfort and friendship, cementing the animal os man’s best friend.  

Representations

Dog’s have been represented in a positive light on the front cover of this magazine. The choice of dog breed is key to this, the inclusion of a Golden Retriever has been used because they are associated with being outgoing, playful, and trustworthy. The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in America, so it’s inclusion on the cover will be very relatable and familiar to an audience. The connection between man and dog is amplified inside the magazine in a double page spread that features a German Shepherd with a service member in uniform. The dog is injured, leading us to believe that it has been injured in the line of duty. This is a striking image because the connotations of military members are often very positive in the media, invoking feelings of heroism and devotion.  

Audience

The target audience for National Geographic are typically educated individuals who want to explore more on a topic. According to the Uses and Gratification Theory, they would want to consume this media text for Surveillance. They might have a curiosity about dogs, or maybe just want to learn more about their ‘canine companions’. The medium-close up of the dog emphasises its face and expression, showing its healthy nose and coat of fur. This would be noticeable to a dog owner who could recognise this characteristics. Another point is that the dog is looking right into the camera lens, and in turn right at the audience, giving the magazine a direct mode of address. It might be hard for a dog lover to pass this front page without picking it up to skim the pages. 

Industry

This edition is actually a rerelease of a popular edition from the past. This is a great way for the magazine to increase its circulation and reach new target audiences without having to create an entirely new edition. With the introduction of new media, traditional forms of media like magazines have had to adapt to stay alive. On one of the inside pages of this magazine is a website that will take readers to an online version of the articles. This free version is easily accessible and can be updated and added to on a regular basis, not just monthly like the printed version.

FourFourTwo

January 23, Future

FourFourTwo is a football magazine in the UK, this edition was released in December 2022 and features Harry Kane as the primary image.

Media Language

The genre conventions of a sports magazine are to include a sports star on the cover. This magazine conforms to that convention, however they often include the athlete in an action pose to appear more dynamic. This cover differs by having the athlete striking a pose and staring directly at the camera, giving it a direct mode of address. The strapline is FourFourTwo, which is common football terminology, the magazine uses this terminology to attract its audience (Fans of Football). The other coverlines on the page also feature famous footballers; "Klopp", "Ally McCoist", "Zinedine Zidane", this use of Star Appeal will be very attractive to the consumer. 

Representations

The magazine chooses the England football team captain as it's primary image. In the shot the camera is at a low angle, making the footballer appear dominant and in control. An audience which is predominantly from England will have the preferred reading of this that Harry Kane is a sports icon, even a legend. In the shot he is also wearing an England Jersey, and the background is blue to match the shirt. This is building a sense of national pride and representing Kane as a patriot. 

Audience

The target audience is quite young, probably males aged 11-18. They will view Harry Kane as a role model, and may be reading this magazine as a form of personal identity (Uses and Gratification). They want to hear directly from Kane about his opinions on football, possibly his training methods and a look toward his future. The cover entices the audience into buying the magazine by teasing the stories inside, The lead article is about Harry Kane, and the cover even features the buzzword "EXCLUSIVE". The bottom banner of the cover features a host of puff pieces, all using football words/celebrities that a football fan base will find appealing.

Kane's face as well as the magzine title are featured in the upper third, this is so that when it is placed on a shelf with competing magazines, it will stand out and grab the viewers attention.  

Industry

FourFourTwo also publishes articles on its website. They followed the common trend of publishing companies to have an online presence. This is especially important for FourFourTwo as their audience are younger and much more internet literate. The magazine is published in 16 languages in countries across the world. This means that they in the same month they might have different interviews and stars featured in their magazine depending on the market. 

BBC History

Immediate Media Company

 

Here are the questions you can answer in your analysis: