Heat case study: blog tasks

Introduction - Heat Media pack

1) Look at the Heat Media Pack. Go to page 2: the Heat mission. Write three things that Heat offers its readers under 'print'.

A-list access shoots

life hacks

travel food business  

2) Now go to page 3 of the Media Pack - celebrity focus. What does the page say that Heat offers readers?

heat offers the latest celebrity news and keep the audience in the latest news and conversation that the readers can talk to their friends about.

3) Now look at page 4 of the Heat Media Pack. What other content does Heat magazine offer its readers aside from celebrity news?

it offers it readers life hacks about food and fitness which is totally different to the latest celebrity gossip. it also offers new weekly fashion and what the latest fashion trends are to their readers.

4) Look at page 5. What is Heat magazine's audience profile? Write all the key details of their audience here.

female/male-90%/10%

average age-37

age profile-52% aged 15/34

segemnt-50%abc1

martial status-57%

heat magazines profile is mostly female middle aged women who are working class or lower middle class however nearly half of their readers aren't married which might mean they also have some younger readers as they might talk about influencers as well not just normal celebrities middle aged people will know.    

Media language

1) How are the cover lines written to make the audience want to buy the magazine?

the cover lines use name checks of royal family members and it uses a rhetorical question which suggests drama. They also have a cover line with a exclusive interview with a celebrity who at the time of release recently won a famous reality TV show. The main cover line uses a recognisable ex pop star posh spice from the spice girls which is another name check. 

2) What are the connotations of the Heat colour scheme on this particular front cover?

the connotations of heat colour schemes is it uses vibrant neon colours the pink fits their target audience of women and reinforces the stereotyped of women are associated with pink. The yellow is there to lure the readers in. 

3) How are images used to create interest in the magazine? Find three reasons for your answer. (E.g. paparazzi images or aspects of mise-en-scene such props, costume, make-up, body position, facial expression etc.)

there is an image of Christmas shopping offer which features Mariah Carey (pop singer) who is promoting adverts mostly female products which reinforces the stereotype that women enjoy shopping. it has 6 central images on the front cover which are examples of paparazzi shots which reinforces that Heat is a gossip magazine. The images of Cheryl and Liam where there is a suggested affair between them where they make Liam looks guilty and Cheryl looks innocent and reinforces the stereotype that men cheat.     

4) What differences can you find between the use of design and typography between Tatler and Heat? List at least three differences and explain the effect on audiences.

most of the storylines are written in sans serif whereas in tatler the storylines are written in serif which shows the different audiences they have. in the heat magazine they have lots of different images on the front cover whereas tatler only has one central image on the front cover. on the heat magazine front cover it has special offers for shopping whereas tatler has no special offers and only has cover lines and other stories on the front cover.

Media Representations

1) What type of celebrities appear on the front cover of Heat? List them here.

Mariah Carey-pop singer

Victoria Beckham (posh spice)-pop singer

Prince Harry-Royal family

Cheryl Cole-singer  

2) How are celebrities represented in Heat? (Positively? Negatively? Reinforcing or challenging stereotypes?)

posh spice is represented in a negative way. name check price harry on a cover line and uses a rhetorical question which suggests drama.6 images on front cover which are examples of paparazzi shots which reinforces gossip magazine. They represent Dani in a negative way and says she is doing a reality tv scandal which reinforces the gossip magazine.

3) How are women represented on the cover of Heat? Think about both images and cover lines here.

women are represented as innocent and guilty at the same time as Cheryl face looks innocent as she is smiling in her picture and Giovanna is smiling and happy as she just won a reality tv show also Mariah Carey is happy as she is showing offers in her image. however Meghan looks guilty as it is a paparazzi shots and posh spice looks guilty as her image is taken by the paparazzi.  

4) How do Heat and Tatler represent social class? What different social classes can you find in the features and celebrities on the cover? (E.g. middle/upper class / working class)

tatler represent upper class by their celebrities are all upper class people and looking inside their life's whereas heat shows upper class people but their target audience is for working class and lower middle class as they are looking at the gossip of the celebrities not trying to be like them and see what clothes they are wearing and what their lifestyle is .