Assignments - Magazine Project

Magazine Project

MAGAZINE:
For this assignment, you will be analyzing the images and ad content of a mainstream teen girls’ magazine. You will then (as a group) write a summary of your findings. Your report should follow the following guidelines:

SECTION 1: The Cover/Layout
For this section, you will want to analyze the magazines choice of cover image. Did the magazine choose a model or a celebrity? How does this individual look? Etc. Next, analyze the list of cover stories. Why did these stories get promoted to cover status? How are the cover lines written? Etc. Finally, examine the “look” of the magazine’s cover and layouts. Does this reflect the personality of the magazine?

SECTION 2: The Numbers
For this section, you will need to calculate the number of advertising pages versus the number of editorial pages. This will not be an easy task. There is a specific way that I would like you to count. For example, if an ad image covers an entire page, then it’s equal to 1 page of advertising. But, if an ad image covers 1/3 of the page, and editorial content covers 2/3 of the page, then you need to record the numbers as 1/3 and 2/3 (or .33 and .66). Then total up the number of ad pages, the number of editorial pages, and calculate the percentage of ad content in the magazine. Next, you will create a master list of the breakdown of ads. You must begin by creating a list of ad categories – for example, makeup, perfume, hair care products, electronics, media, fashion, etc. If you’re really industrious, you could even break fashion into clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. Once you’ve created the categories, go through the ads and record the number of ads that can be placed into each unique category. Tally the totals, and then create a breakdown in terms of percentage (i.e., 20% of ad content is devoted to perfume). When you write this section up for the report, you should have grids giving me the breakdown of the numbers, but you should also include a couple of summary paragraphs that sum up your group’s views on the advertising in this particular title.

SECTION 3: Demographic
Who is this magazine’s ideal reader? Write a profile of this person – age, interests, hobbies, etc.

SECTION 4: Steinem’s “Sex, Lies, and Advertising”
You should have read this essay prior to meeting with your group. One aspect of Steinem’s “expose” is that advertisers try to force magazines to place their ads near articles promoting their products. Look at the title you’ve been assigned. How much editorial content could be considered advertorial? Do ads for nail polish appear next to articles about manicures? Etc. As a group, write up a summary of your findings concerning the issues Steinem raises.

SECTION 5: Closing thoughts/overall analysis

[Submitted by Lara Zeises]

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