NEA: Magazine Pre-production Planning and Research: Lesson 1

Targeting an audience: The Week Magazine

The Week is a UK news magazine that covers how news articles have been reported across the British and International media outlets. It is a review of the top stories and public discourse surrounding important events.

This is the front cover of the magazine. It follows the normal conventions of magazines, but how does it create appeal for its adult readership?



Task 1: How does this magazine front cover use magazine Media Language (codes and conventions)? Label them on to your handout.

Task 2: Look closely at the content and consider how it will appeal to its audience.

The main image is a cartoon. This is a style of satirical cartoon that is often used to make comments about political figures. These tend to be humourous, as they are poking fun at politicians. The image is an intertextual reference to a well-known home from The Hobbit. If you have seen The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, you will know something about what they are trying to suggest about Teresa May, Michael Gove and the Conservative Party (which is also referred to as The Tory Party).
The anchorage text refers to 'green', which means environmental issues. The story is questioning the environmental policies of the Government and asking whether they are relevant at a time when protesters are lobbying Parliament to demand more changes to deal with the effects of Climate Change.

Bilbo Baggins' home in The Shire.

1. Explain how you think this front cover image and story might appeal to an adult audience? Consider what it is suggesting about how successfully politicians are dealing with environmental issues.
2. Look at the cover lines and consider what content appeals to the adult readers. Complete the table on your handout.

a) Will Oprah run for president?
b) Gary Oldman's Finest Hour.
c) The backlash against #metoo.