textual analysis of a student magazine front cover

Textual analysis of a magazine cover

I have chosen to evaluate and analyse the popular magazine Company that is aimed at 16- 20+ year olds. By analysing this magazine it will give me some ideas as to what my magazine needs to have on the front cover.

The masthead is the name of the brand of magazine; the masthead is used to distinguish the brand from another. The font of the masthead is the same throughout every monthly issue of the magazine though the colour changes in almost every monthly issue.  The central image is obstructing some of the masthead, this shows that consumers can recognise a brand by the font of the masthead without looking at the name.

The price is in a black bubble with white bold writing, this makes the price stand out and connotes that it is good value for money. It also uses the buzz word ‘only’ to try and entice the consumer that it isn’t that much money and good value, a lot of women’s magazines are over £2 and quite expensive.

Magazines usually have a main image, commonly of a well-known celebrity such as Fearne Cotton. The image is central  and has a direct mode of address. Her body language and facial expression could connote that she’s inviting the reader/buyer into the magazine.

The colour scheme is almost appropriate for the time of year ‘November’ the magazine has soft colours and cold colours. The colours aren’t in your face and bold.

The font is all in capital letters, this makes the words stand out and connote a sense of importance.  There is another story going at a slant across the central image that isn’t in capitals but is bigger than the other text and it seems to be written in a different font, its an almost crayon effect.