Generic Research: Language and Digital Convergence

After looking at and analysing multiple front covers and websites of current affairs magazine I feel much more confident in how to create cross media convergence and what types of features I should include for my magazine and website.

How do media producers use language to communicate meaning?

Example no.1

• This front cover does not really have any intertextuality. The heading of her becoming "America's lighting rod" anchors the serious and professional tone of the image.
• Media producers in the magazine industry use language such as typography, layout, colour palettes, language used (such as headings and subheadings) and images as just a few of the tools they use to communicate meaning with the readers. However each falls into different categories:
• Such as - every image can connote something different and it can be packed with coded messages through intertextuality, shot types, posture of the model, wardrobe of the model, lighting, illustrations surrounding the model
• Looking at example no.1, this front cover is packed with meaning, her wardrobe for example is professional and not distracting in colour nor is it revealing. By not overly sexualising her like most other women models are in magazines, it shows that TIME magazine is supportive of strong and successful women and does not use them for the male gaze
• In this scenario they also use their famous red colour palette to highlight the heading as their masthead is in white and mostly hidden which shows they want the close up (layout of page) of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to be the most important thing on the front cover. They also give her a bold red lip which is a reference to their colour palette but also it's  a powerful bold statement lip since the rest of her outfit is monotones. 
• They use a formal mode of address and sans-serif typography connotes a sense of importance and authority. This front cover is very much similar to the other front covers of TIME magazine representing women's achievements and success rather than using their bodies to sell the magazine, this is a really important encoded message the magazine wants to put across.

From TIME article

This is who she is and it's reflective in the tone of the images and photo shoot. Her gaze into a distance connotes her gazing into the bright future of America that she wants to shape.

This is an example for intertextuality, this front cover is
a reference to the viral Baby Yoda meme.

How do producers use digital convergence to link their products?

From my previous posts surrounding current affairs magazines' websites, I listed and point out key examples of cross media/digital convergence. They do this by replicating the same language examples I showed above and cohesively replicating it online to create a great sense of brand identity, such as Time magazine carries on it's red colour palette, sans-serif typography and formal mode of address onto their website. Alongside very similar articles from the print version and the online version with the same use of images and content. Some adding more technology based features such as podcasts to further anchor the article's messages, and/or more images and videos or hyperlinks that take you to another page which expands further on the content in the article. A common theme also was linking their social medias on the articles and all around on the website to promote visiting all the platforms they have content available, which all have more comment boxes and more of a chance of increased audience interaction which is what all the current target demographic want more of. A really good example is also in print versions, such as for The Spectator, they've put the link to their website at the bottom of all the pages to promote their readers to interact with both. In conclusion, all of these examples help companies with cross media convergence and creating a strong sense of brand identity.

Example of brand identity in Time magazine online

Generic Research : Website Research 3

Generic Research : Website Research 2

Generic Research: Websites research 1

Cross Media Convergence 

Cross media convergence between the magazine The Spectator's print and online website can be seen through a consistent colour palette, such as the red for the Masthead, cohesive typography style, which you can is consistent between print version and the online article and through similar themes or images, which in this example case are identical. They've decided to use the same image as they have on the print version to create brand identity and similarity for their cross media convergence.

                             Print version                                                      Online website

I purchased the 2nd of May 'The Spectator' print magazine and this is is what I found similar and intertextuality in reference to Boris Johnson and other famous politicians that are shown to be cutting their way through the thick dense Corona virus Jungle. There is so much that can be said regarding the colour palette, such as the green jungle and green slime on the trees is meant to replicate the effect that a virus has on our bodies but also the virus is presented red and green (which after some researching, is accurate). The snake on the far right is meant to represent the evil and bad that corona virus has brought, and shows the uncertainty Boris has in himself by his worried facial expression. The whole front cover is riddled with intertextuality but the main conclusion to be drawn is that although The Spectator is more conservative, it shows that even our Prime Minister is finding it difficult to navigate through this difficult uncertain times.

different between the print and online. The online article used the same front cover image which has a lot of

     In regard to cross media convergence however, it's interesting they used the same image for their podcasts, the intertextuality and messages encoded in it are so significant to The Spectator that they felt they had to put it on their online website also. 

Interesting Cross Media Convergence Features

I really liked their idea of using a Podcast instead of just publishing the full article. Moreover, in the right hand side of the printed article, there's a reference and link to the online pod cast (diagram 1). This is a clear example of cross media convergence as they are encouraging their readers to interact with all the platforms they have to offer.

Diagram 2

Diagram 1

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

I was not able to find any Easter Eggs but Diagram 2 and 3 are clear examples of  The Spectator using hyperlinks for digital convergence for their social media platforms and encouraging users to access all of the platforms they share content on and to help them stay up to date with what current technology has to offer and to connect with their target audience.

• Diagram 4 was interesting because next to their podcast they linked other apps you could access their content on, they're advertising other apps whilst advertising themselves.

At the bottom of every page of the printed magazine, there is a link to their website which is a reminder for the readers to head over to their website.

• Diagram 3 shows they have a comment section to allow their audience to interact with the content they release which shows they have a clear understanding (and matches my previous research on my target demographic) of what readers today want. Print magazine doesn't allow readers to interact with the content as much as online would. 

Brand identity

• Consistent formal mode of address in the print article and the online podcast and consistent content, such as right winged conservative and with a serious tone that is both informative and educational. Such as, the podcast was focused and centered around very serious topics concerning Covid-19 and politics, how other countries such as Russia is dealing with the lock down.
• Consistent aesthetics, as mentioned before cohesive typography style (sans serif) and colour palette, red for the masthead and other features such as small sub headings to make them more accentuated and arrows or symbols. 
• The same images are used for the print articles as well as the online articles and I looked over other articles online that were also in the print version and they had extra images included relevant to the topic but unlike the mini version of 'The Way Out' article underneath the podcast (in the example above) it was actually the full length detailed article. They both also had mini cartoons illustrating the content in the article but the online version had fewer however, the specific style of those cartoons are an important part to their brand identity.
• In the print version the articles were written in columns whereas the online version was in a single column, the interesting feature they included was you could adjust the size and spacing of the words to help people read it better and how they find it most comfortable which is a unique selling point that the online version provides which the print could not. However, that just comes along with access to technology and does not affect the overall brand identity.

Values, attitudes and beliefs

• The intertextuality references they use in their illustrations and images for the articles and online podcasts etc. anchor their right leaning conservative views but also liberal leanings.
• I think the previous bullet point is also reflected in the nature of how they write however, when I originally looked at the front cover illustrations for The Spectator I thought they would be more left leaning because the caricatures of famous conservative politicians appeared to be insulting. In actual fact, that is just their style and is meant to be humorous and probably attract readers to purchase the front covers.
• Fun Fact! Boris Johnson was once an editor of The Spectator

Applicable Theorists 

R Barthes Semiology - The Spectator encodes their images and illustrations with plenty of  intertextuality and anchors and encapsulates their ideologies and conventions of the magazine (i.e. their values, attitudes and beliefs)

Gauntlett Theory of Identity - The audience is not passive and will not read or interact with a piece of media they do not agree with. Only readers who are right leaning conservatives are likely to read The Spectator

Shirky End of Audience Theory - He also believes that audiences are no longer passive and feel a need to interact with the media and content being presented to them. This likely contributes greatly to the decrease of sales in print magazines as readers want a more interactive experience which they can receive online on websites for the magazines that they can leave comments on.

Generic research: Textual Analysis 3

Please click on the image to make fullscreen

I chose this front cover for my third textual analysis as I really loved the layout of it and I'd

like to take inspiration from it for my mental health front cover.

Revision of Pitch

Things I will change:

• I'm going to really focus on all of these but add more of a focus to costume and make up and the way the models stance and appearance anchors the message I am trying to portray.
• The magazine covers themselves can't be 'informative' but I will try to make them appealing and use puns and superlatives and other language techniques to engage the audience.
• I will also include pugs which are things like bar codes and references to articles available in the magazine.
• I will still make sure to include a chance to win a prize and make it very apparent to the readers as it will be on the front cover
• I will use a big bold and colourful magazine name to stand out, a common colour used is red
• I will incorporate mis-en-scene in both, such as a business skyscraper building in the background of the famous business woman
• I won't present a strong political leaning as it's not relevant to my 2 chosen topics
• For my website I will still do mini videos of behind the scenes footage of my models getting ready but also maybe how I created the ensembles 
• From my initial questionnaire group feedback  I have decided to have a non famous model for the mental health front page because it will help make them more approachable and relatable :