Magazine Research

I have already decided that for my magazine I wish to pursue the route of creating a standard film magazine and having a special horror theme. This is because upon looking around there is not a large selection of specific horror magazines, although this could potentially be a gap in the market, I actually believe its because there is not enough demand for a specific genre magazine. Any that I have found have been low budget and not the highest of standard so did not want to use them in helping me create my own.

Here is a few example on what I have been looking at.

Whats similar between all 3 examples here is that the title is in large bold font, this is too make the magazine recognisable to its audience. In the Max Payne example the image itself covers some of the title, this is present in a lot of well established magazines as although some of its covered you are still aware that it is a total film mag. This I will have to consider when creating my magazine cover as although I plan to make it several issues in, because its a "Horror Special" I will make sure I keep my title well in view and not covered.

2 of these magazines are close ups on the face of the stars, this design I am actually really fond of and I may consider doing something similar to this with my magazine, Especially the black and white Star Trek version of Total Film. Another thing I have noticed with all magazines I have looked at is the constant eye contact the stars make to you the reader. This means I will have to choose an image in which the eyes are looking directly too the camera, this helps engage the audience and is a subtle feature that makes a large difference.

In all the magazines they make sure they have a large or very clear cover line about the cover picture, and a quick punchy subtext below that draws you in. the Star Trek Total Film uses "the boldest and coolest film of 2009" this are very bold claims by the mag but you cant help wonder what the magazine is going to say, so it entices you to read inside.