Analysing front covers 1

The mast head behind the models head suggests that the magazine is popular and well established to have part of it covered by the main model. This also suggests there is a loyal readership for this magazine, and tells us the magazine sees  the huge selling power of the artist on the front cover. The model will possibly attract a different target audience, if they love Justin Bieber then they will not be that concerned about the name of the magazine.

The masthead has a unusual feature as the shape of the text is outlined in a white bubble type of shape- which is youthful, fun and innocent. The masthead being pink suggests that the magazine is targeted at the stereo-type-girly-girl younger girls. The masthead being outlined in the white bubble-type-text, gives the magazine a softer appearance, from bright pink to white contrasts the first impression of the magazine. Bright pink makes the audience think that this magazine is daring and fun but the white background to the text makes the audience re-think their initial thoughts as the colour white implies the magazine is pure and will not contain any controversial articles. The colours in the masthead could also be to reflect the audience as the audience can have a fun, out spoken personality, but they are good, honest people.

There is an unusual use of the ‘BBC’ logo in the top right corner of the magazine, this is to remind the public that the magazine belongs to the ‘BBC’ and as the magazine gives of a young vibe, they may want to encourage people to use or purchase other media items that they deal with such as TV and the internet website. There is also an unusual graphic on the top left of the magazine, it appears to be a hypnotic spiral. The use of the spiral reinforces the idea that the TA is youthful, female and fun. It’s also the magazine’s attempt at being ‘funky’. The magazine is showing that the audience will be hypnotised by what is in the magazine as it is very interesting. Again the same colours are used as in the masthead, simple but eye catching as the colours are bright, but also helps give the magazine an identity, for example people who buy and read the magazine regularly will look for pink and white on the cover to find ‘top of the pops’.

The spiral gives the magazine a sort of status and authenticity, as no other magazine employs the same logo. The television program was on the BBC and by now having magazines to replace the television it suggests, that the audience value something that they can hold and have access to at any time. Rather than having to watch the program at a certain time and certain channel.

The background colour appeals to the targeted audience younger girls, but the magazine is not stereo-typing as much, as girls who like the colour purple may not be seen as ‘girly’ as those who like the colour pink. The colour appears to be darker at the top of the magazine and gradually gets lighter going towards the bottom, this may have been employed to let the eye naturally flow down the magazine cover. The colour may relate to the artist as he has been seen often wearing the colour purple or it may be his favourite colour! Lilac purple is a very feminine colour which will appeal to the target audience.

The artist on the front cover is Justin Bieber, he is known for his ‘love’ songs and is attractive to younger girls. He is smiling showing his teeth, which in turn suggests he is happy and gives him an innocent look. His body is angled slightly, and his head tilted as well- this gives him a more approachable look, and does not make him seem like a untouchable star. He looking and pointing directly at the camera, which means the audience, will sense a sort of connection as he is directly addressing them.

Justin Bieber has a ‘boy-next-door’ appearance, and is seen as very wholesome and unassuming, and while he maintains an innocence about him. Very sincere, sometimes shy, this makes him popular with young teenage girls who admire his music and the lyrics he uses.

Justin is wearing a white shirt, which implies that he is innocent and pure, and would never hurt a girl- making more young teenage girls ‘fall’ for him. It is conventional for this magazine to feature boy “crushes” on the front.

There is a use of a graphic, it looks like a hypnotic spiral, that appears to be disappearing or getting smaller and going into the covers background, this could be to show that the information inside the magazine will hypnotise you because it is so great, or to show that the magazine will hypnotise you to buy it, or to first open it, it is provoking the reader to want to be hypnotised. There is also the logo of ‘BBC’ in the top left hand corner which reminds the reader that the ‘BBC’ own the magazine and may want to remind the general public that they are still young and know what the public want in media. It may also be to remind people that the ‘BBC’ have other mediums of media other than just television, but magazines and internet websites.

Taylor Lautner- another boy “crush”- also appears on the cover and is the second largest image on the magazine. He may appeal to an older girl who enjoys watching films and reading books that he is in, there is a sell-line under his image saying “Could you be Taylor’s girl? Find out inside!” This would really appeal to a Taylor Launtner fan, they would love to be his girl!. This is addressing the audience directly by using the word ‘you’ it also entices the reader to look inside to find out if they are could be ‘Taylor’s girl’. Underneath that is another sell-line which is targeted at the overall target audience “BOYS What they really think about!” the word ‘BOYS’ being in upper case letters grabs the reader’s attention as the majority of the target audience enjoy listening to music and are also interested in boys. On the bottom of the magazine there is half a banner- which suggests that you will find out more inside the magazine. It has an image of Cheryl Cole- who is a role model for younger girls and is has a sell line on ‘Cheryl’s £3.89 beauty secret’ and ‘OMG’. This mode of address to the audience is for younger teenagers, as it uses the shorter version of ‘oh my God’ as ‘OMG’ which is also used in texting- which teenagers do often- the magazine is on the same wavelength and is like a friend. ‘Beauty secret’ makes the reader feel special that they will know a secret that no one else will know and that they will possibly get to look more like their role model.

 On the left of the small banner is a purple puff with the text ‘Win! MEET JLS’ and a small image of the group. This is drawing in the reader as the majority like the group and would love to meet them. The wording makes it sound more possible that you could meet JLS.  Underneath this is a sell line, with slim white text, with a black background, it reads “Dying for a tan? The shocking truth about sun bathing”. ‘Shocking” has an effect of shock as most people believe everything the magazine says. The black background suggests that there is in fact a ‘dark’ side to sun bathing, and reinforces the idea that the reader does not know the truth about sun bathing. This article is aimed less at music fans and more at gossip magazine fans, making the magazine appeal to more than one type of audience member.

The largest sell-line is a pull quote from an interview saying “Wanna see my bedroom” this may be shocking and scandalising to younger girls as they my love the artist and want to find out as much as they can about him. To a older audience member it seems more innocent and appealing as they feel they will get time with Justin Bieber. It also looks scandalous as fans will want to see something that is personal to him. The sell line ‘PRIVATE PICS!’ is reinforcing the idea that not a lot of people will get to see this and the mode of address is relaxed as ‘pics’ is used instead of ‘pictures’. There is also a small puff saying “yes really” again reminding the audience that this does not happen often and that this is a luxury to see his bedroom. Most of this section is coloured yellow which is where the eye is drawn to first.

Above that sell-line is a sell-line saying “Love your summer! make it your best yet” this is addressing the target audience directly as they will have a long summer holiday and it is suggesting that the magazine wants the reader to have a good summer- acting like a friend, and boasting self-confidence of the reader.