Analysing Magazines

Key Tips: Don’t just annotate the pages, write a detailed analysis for each

page Use media terminology Refer to specific examples from the magazine pages Explain the effect of each example you use Use terms like connotations or signifies Make sure you are analysing a professionally produced magazine,

not another student’s coursework

Typography – what font styles are used? What are the connotations of the font (what do they suggest)? What effect do you think the fonts are supposed to have on the audience? Why were the font styles chosen?

Layout – is the layout cluttered or order? What effect does this have? Does the layout follow the route of the eye and/or the principle of thirds? What is the ratio of image to text?

Colour – what colours are used? What do the colours connote? Why have these colours been chosen?

Images – what shot types and angles were used? What is the effect of the shot type and/or angle? What effect does the mise-en-scene have? Why were the props, costumes, locations, etc. used? What do they signify?

Mode of address – how does the magazine ‘speak’ to its audience? What language is used? What impression do the fonts, colours, etc. have?

KickerLayoutMastheadPull QuoteSerif FontSans Serif Font

HeadlineStandfirstBylineCaptionCoverlineCover StoryFeature