Analysis of Magazine Covers

Here is a selection of magazines in which I am going to analyse:

1) Teen Vogue

Technical Codes:

Layout of the page:

The layout of the page is structured and the text is overlapping the main image.

Typeface/ font:

They are bubbly, girly, bold and the colours are feminine and suttle.

Size/ quality of photos:

It is clear, fills up the whole page and the background is neutral and plain.

How do the photos relate to stories? 

This is because the main interview is given by Nina Dobrev about the Vampire Diaries.

Why pictures have been used?

To relate back to the main article to show who it is about.

Written Codes:

Size of cover lines:

They vary due to their importance and to add emphasis and grab the readers attention.

Key words:

Ultimate, Amazing, Pushy, Hottest, Partying and Kisses & Tells

Missing Information/ Fullfilling Expectations:

Yes because it is suitable for the target audience of female teenagers aged 13-19, easy to read, inticing and gripping.

Persuasive language used:

N/A

Picture Captions:

They are situated at the side for the main image (top right hand corner below the title.)

Symbolic Codes:

Masthead/ name of magazine:

It has two fonts for the two separate words which can show that it is unique and the font used on the word 'Vogue' is the same on the adult version and the word 'teen' is done in a more teen appropriate font so that they know it has been designed just for them.

Any other graphics:

N/A

Symbols:

N/A

Overall impression:

It fits its purpose and target audience and it is a good representaion of a magazine I could aspire to when designing mine.

2) Closer Magazine UK

Technical Codes:

Layout of the page:

It is structured in a creative way through the way the images have been postioned and cropped.

Typeface/ font:

Bold, feminine, simple and girly.

Size/ Quality of photos:

Clear, cropped to show what and who they are discussing about in the articles.

Written Codes:

Size of cover lines:

Easy to view but doesn't over power the page to distract the reader from the other parts mentioned that are going to be within the magazine.

Key words:

'Ready, Fattest, Steamy, Humiliating, Incrediable, Bounces and Snubs.

Missing Expectations/ Fulfilling Expectations: 

Yes because it fits in with its purpose and target audience of women aged 20-40.

Persuasive Language Used: 

N/A

Picture Captions: 

They are summarises of the stories inside to try and make the reader to read on to find out more.

Symbolic Codes: 

Masthead/ Name of Magazine: 

Bold, girly and stylised.

Any Other Graphics: 

N/A

Colours:

Feminine, girly, suitable for target audience and the colours used in the cover titles backgrounds highlighting them all complement the main colour used in the background.

Symbols:

N/A

Overall Impression:

Fits it purpose and target audience and there are some useful elements that can perhaps inspire me for my own magazine.