Case study- EMPIRE magazine: Double-page spread analysis

Formative blog feedback - Miss Hunter

Gwion, your blog is looking very good. Well done.



So far:



WWW: Your ideas are thorough, detailed and thoughtful. You understand the conventions of a magazine and I can see that you have used them in the preliminary task. Your recent case study analysis of 'Empire' is mainly very well-developed.



EBI: Your contents page analysis of 'Empire' is significantly less detailed than your other posts. Develop this, considering how each aspect appeals to the target audience of the magazine.



Next steps:

• Continue with your case study of a magazine of your choice.
• Create a presentation explaining what the target audience will be for your own music magazine.

Keep up the good effort.

Case study- EMPIRE magazine: Contents page analysis

Case study- EMPIRE magazine: Colour analysis

All colours used in this extract are bright, luminescent and eye-stimulating. These effects make it almost impossible to look away from the stunning view. The colours of course are meant to catch a customer's eye while browsing through some magazines but also are used to represent the character being advertised, "the joker". Although the character is known worldwide this representation of almost maddening colour is beneficial for introducing the new rebooted actor or even the joker himself for new fans of the franchise. The Joker is a psychotic and unpredictable character, his characteristics and personality are therefore reflected in the theme of the magazine. The joker is a person like no other, and so is the theme of this cover.

Case study- EMPIRE magazine: Cover analysis

Magazine colour analysis

Red is the stand out colour for this magazine, even it's logo is simply the title in white on a red box and it is one of the first things noticed about the cover because of it's vibrant colour. Red is very representative of different themes and ideas, for example danger. The colour may be being used for this, showing that this magazine is not for the weak or faint-hearted, this challenge of manliness only makes the magazine more encouraging to read so that readers can "prove themselves". Red is also a seductive colour, a common dress colour and also used regularly for lipstick. This promiscuousness  attracts the male target audience as an obvious thing that would attract them more than music is women. Finally this energetic and ambitious colour let's the reader know at first glance the excitement embedded into the pages of the magazine.

Comparing Language in Magazines

The language used in modern music magazines like "Q Magazine" are very colloquial, although still using a vast vocabulary and being informative the overall tone used is very relaxed, casual and unpressured. The words used also have some advanced potty mouth, and the censoring does vary depending on the article, this gives the reader a sense of freedom, they no longer have to behave badly behind their mummy's back. It gives that really rocky feel.

The language used in young teen magazines like "we love pop" are simplistic, childish and attempts at constant zingers. Though the content and topics discussed are quite grown up discussing style and celebs the overall tone is very youthful and generally unprofessional. For example when a page on football is found they do not discuss the player's skill but his looks. There are almost no actual articles to be found, everything written is short, to the point and scrawled across the page without a layout.

Market Research Questionnaire

Market Research Questionnaire

How much on average would you spend on a magazine?

∘ £1 or less

∘ £1-£2

∘ £3-£5

∘ More than £5

How often do you think that issues should be published?

∘ Daily

∘ Weekly

∘ Monthly

What is your favourite genre of magazine?

∘ Music

∘ Fashion

∘ Movie

∘ Other (please specify)

What would you like to see in our issues? (Tick as many as you like)

∘ Interviews with students

∘ Tips about school work

∘ An Agony Aunt

∘ Quizzes/Games

∘ Arts and poetry submitted by students

My first contents page

Analysed editor's letters

Editor's letter

A Message from the Editor

Hey y'all, welcome to a brand new year at Hampstead School especially to newly come year 7s, sixth formers and other various students from around the school. We'd also like to welcome back our very own students and thank them for stickin' around. I'd also like to thank you in particular reader for picking up the very first issue of this year's "Hello Hampstead" magazine; inside you will find useful tips, a few good laughs and of course the latest news & trends to be catching up with inside and outside of school. I am approaching the end of my career as the magazine's editor as this will be my last year, so let's make it a good 'un. We are always looking for new talent so do contact the us to join the team or just to post an idea/article. Enjoy the rest of the mag and I'll see you soon.

Warmly,

School Magazine cover draft

Possible titles, coverlines and images

Possible Titles

-Hello Hampstead

-The Hampstead Herald

-What's happening Hampstead

Possible Cover-lines

- Welcoming New students

-Sporting Victories

-GCSE past papers published

Possible images

School Magazine Ideas

Analysed magazine covers

Contents page analysis