Shay Onojaife
Biggest type on page. Presents the magazine as superior to even the cover stories and feature articles. Brand identity.
The gold colour suggests something expensive and superior as it has connotations of royalty. This is significant as it gives the magazine exclusivity and presents it as something the audience will want to buy into.
Clear structured columns to present the magazine as organised and professional
The artist is making eye contact with the camera and therefore the audience which invites the audience in and relates them to the magazine.
Pull quote to make the audience interested in the feature story / dps article enough to want to buy the maagzine and read it in full.
General
Name: Q
• Which company produces the magazine?
Bauer Media Group
• Circulation 52,781 (ABC Jul - Dec 2013)[1]
Print and digital editions.
• How much does it cost?
£3.95
• How often is it published?
Monthly
The cover
• The masthead/title logo – analyse it.
the title is in font serif which is more formal than san serif font as it haas a flick at the end of the letters. The colour red behind the title makes the title stand out adn establishes the magazine as the audience will see it and be able to distinguish the magazine logo from just a letter 'Q'.
• Is there a strapline? Analyse it.
the strapline says 'discover great music' suggesting that the magazaine has somke exclusivity to it and holds something other maagzines don't have and this makes audiences want to buy into the magazine to see what they have to offer. It also suggests that if the audience hasn't read the magazine before they haven't experienced great music and this supports the artists featured in theri magazine.
• What is the main image? Analyse the facial expression, direction of gaze,
body language, clothing etc. How does this reach out towards the ideal
reader identified above?
The main image is of the artist Adele. She is half turned towards the audience which presents her as superior to them. It also suggests they have a secret with the magazine and gives it therefore some exclusivity. The audience are going to want to buy the magazine to find out the main feature and what the picture is hinting towards. As well as this she is conventionally looking out to the camera and making eey contact with the audience which outs them on the same level and makes the audience feel involved and comfortable.
• What other images appear on the cover? Why?
There are no other images on the front cover of the magazine as it presents the magazine as more sophisticated and is able to draw more attention to the contents in the magazine. As well as this it means the audience will have to buy the magazine to see what is inside which gives it more exclusivity in comparison to a magazine with multiple pictures on the front.
• What content is promoted by the cover lines?
the cover line 'Adele blows us away' suggests an exclusive interview or performance from the artist, specifically one that the audience can identify with or likes. This gives the magazine exclusivity which sets it part from other magazines and makes people want to buy it as they have something you can't get/find anywhere else.
• Explain the connotations of typefaces (fonts), graphics, colours etc.
The typefaces included on the front cover are mostly san serif, which presents the magazine and it's brand ethos as less formal and more relaxed. Through this it forms a relationship from the magazine to the audience. However the parts that are serif font are the words 'the 300th issue' which suggests some sophistication through the words and the formal font type.
• What sort of language/language features/language devices can you identify?
How does the cover “talk” to its reader?
The magazine uses a more relaxed, comfortable one when speaking to the audience 'secret stash' for example uses alliteration and casual words to relate to the audience more and make them want to buy the magazine as it presents itself as a 'best friend' type, this shows the audience the magazine's brand identity.