Magazines and Audiences

COMPANY MAGAZINE - The Reader issue - Starring you! May 2011

Company Magazine is a popular; High Street Fashion magazine that sells monthly to the public from all major newsagents, bookstores and supermarkets.

This particular issue of Company has been created specifically for it's main audience -Young Women and Girls perhaps between the ages of 16-25; that are interested in the Fashion industry. However, Company magazine unlike the likes of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, is not an 'Upmarket' publication - it has been targeted at women whose bank budgets will only accommodate for the High Street (as opposed to High End Couture).

This issue is called The Reader's Issue with it's cover model's actually being Company readers! This helps to draw in the reader as they can relate to these so called 'real' girls instead of pouring over models such as Bambi Northwood-Blyth.

This cover has included two readers: Lisa, 21 and Sarah, 24. This has been clearly noted to the reader in bold, black text boxes placed over the image, shouting out to the reader that these are people like them. It also gives a good insight into the magazine's ideal Reader Persona and their desired age ranges.

The cover has also targeted it's High Street shopper reader's by placing a huge banner across the bottom of the publication stating that "summer style has landed" which is in a Font that looks as if it has almost been 'stamped' on using a rubber block stamp and ink; the edges seem to have an ink bleed effect and the character's look very structured - perhaps as if they've been created using a typewriter. As a subheading to the "summer style has arrived"; is a smaller statement claiming that the magazine has discovered "fashions most wanted hit the high street" which appeals to the young, fashion conscious audience not only due to the fact that it's appealing to their budgets with the high street shops, but also appealing to the fashionista readers.

The images printed onto the banner are also great for the reader's as it shows collection's from the main fashion shows in Spring/Summer2011's collections - though it also shows that this is where the high street have got their inspiration from and directs the reader on how to find the designers key pieces at cheaper prices.

The background of the banner is a floral print of pink and muted green daisies - which looks young and fresh.

Also appealing to the ages of the audience; is the colour of the main banner containing the name of the magazine - in this case: COMPANY - which has been featured (again tying in the theme of muted, fresh colours) in a dusty pink alongside the date of publication (in black). Above the main heading is the subject point of the issue - "The Reader's Issue - Starring you!" which is printed in a black font colour and style relating to the typewriter effect seen below. The direct use of the word "You" draws in the reader as they feel it is appealing directly to them.

The cover page image also features titles of articles featured inside the issue -which makes the reader want to read on - again; these are featured either in Black for boldness or in Dusty pink to add the young and fun vibe. All the articles mentioned upon the front are scripted and directed toward the target audience as they know these subjects will appeal to them.

And finally; the main Photographic image is a shot of two, young and fun-styled reader's of the magazine which have been dressed in fresh clothes that also, inside the issue, are featured as High Street outfits! The poses and styling of the models appeal to the reader; as they will initially look to the cover for style inspiration - so this is very important.

I feel this is a very strong cover image - it has the direct appeal to the reader and their target audience - right from the colour palettes to the models and the articles to the text font.