CSP: Heat Case Study

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'.

- Heat editors ensure that they have celeb contacts to give readers the exclusive every time

- Their style section - Wear It's At - combines an aspirational yet affordable weekly fashion edit

- Their team tests fashion and beauty products to make sure readers spend their hard-earned pennies wisely

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

Heat ensures heat readers are always in the know and give them conversation starters they can show off about to their mates down the pub and their journalists also have the answers to questions before they've been asked.

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

Besides celebrity news, they also offer their readers 'the best, most beautiful and affordable edit of the high street and online’s hottest must-buys.' The magazine also covers food, fitness, well being, travel and homes.

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

Heat's audience profile portrays Heat as a predominantly women magazine with 90% women and 10% men. The age profile also varies from 15-34 years old - solely middle aged people with the average age being 37 years old. 57% of the magazines audience are married people or living with partners which leaves 47% single.

Media language

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

Cover lines ensure the audience are aware of what stories are  featuring in the article on the front cover. Each cover line is snappy and scandalous.  

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

The colour scheme in the Heat magazine contains the colours: white, pink, yellow and red. These are all colours that relate to the title and also stands out to intrigue audiences to pick up the magazine which is important as the magazine doesn't have a central image.

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.)

- Paparazzi images are used to show audiences that celebrities are normal people too and walk around without always looking their best. This also has audiences feeling as if they can relate to the celebrities they look up to.

- The celebrities' facial expression also has them somewhat caught off guard to add suspense to their cover lines/stories.

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.

The design and typography in the 'Heat' uses Sans Serif font to make the magazine feel more modern and updated. Only the word 'Posh' is written in Serif to reference the word itself. The design of Heat is apparent to consumers in supermarkets and gain attention as the text is big and bold as well as bright.

Media Representations

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

Pop stars, well-known actors, reality television stars and the Royal family.

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

The ideology of Heat is that celebrities’ lives should be broadcasted to the world and they make their profits from celebrity relationships, lives and scandals. The magazine subverts stereotypes that celebrities are always desirable and important and instead focuses on the scandalous sector of their life.

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

The magazine reinforces the idea that women only exist to satisfy men. Women are represented as melodramatic and their relationship is exposed to others for their satisfaction. The cover consist of paparazzi pictures of distraught women and cover lines heavily invested in their love life.

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)

Heat represents the working class/middle class middle aged women in the UK who are aspirers and main streamers to the celebrities feauturing the magazine. Aspirers who are dedicated to fashion and appearance where as main streamers follow trends, are domestic, conventional and favor to brands that are promoted on the magazine. This is different to Tater which is about the upper middle class and is also consumed about the upper class.

 

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

1) How does the front cover engage audiences with possible narratives? Look for stories, cliffhangers, dramatic cover lines etc.

2) What are paparazzi images and why are they crucial to the front cover of Heat? 

3) How does the front cover juxtapose text and images to create contrast and narrative on the front cover of Heat?

4) What do these two magazines suggest about representations of social class in the British media?