Today it class we were given the task to compare to different tv listings magazines featuring the same headline 'story'. The storyline is based around Heather from Eastenders and creating suspence as to who the potential father is to her new born baby.
My first thought was how much this resembles a Jeremy Kyle slogan, this could be due to the target audience similarities and tv culture popularity. The other obvious contrast is that the messages being communicated from both magazines are quite different to each other. The Tv Chioce (TC) magazine features Heather to be appearing rather lonesome, she's not grinning nor does she appear glamourised. Whereas, What's on Tv (WTV) magazine shows Heather to be smiling holding her new baby, it appears very commercial as though she has had a glamourous photoshoot. I think there's a mixed message being represented with the WTV cover; due to Heathers doubt of the Father of her baby i doubt she'll be as gleeful as most mothers as it can cause a damaging effect on the Baby's life. It seems a more ignorent viewer would believe that she's overly extatic in the new chapter of her life and so i believe TC has a more realistic representation of her feelings. I also believe TC cover of Heather looking uncertain and worried is a reflection of how audience members are most likely to react.
The main Headline featured on WTV is "Who's the daddy?" which is a slang term and can be intended as a pun. This also adds slightly more depth, the sub title reads "Baby joy for Heather - but will the father come forward?" which gives a blanaced view on the situation. It mentions Heathers joy and also deals with the serious issue of who the father may be. It's enigmatic and allows viewers to continue guessing and at the same time drawing them deeper into the drama and mystery. To the right of Heather a pug is superimposed highlighting all the potential Fathers, there names are present beside there image and question marks are present after each name. This technique is used so viewers can begin peicing the puzzle together and begin thinking of past storylines revolving Heather to see if they can make a prediction before all is revealed. This creates greater enigma's and adds that extra depth to the storyline.
WTV main headline says "The father is REVEALED! Shock as heather gives birth" it has much more presence as the fonts differ between the sentence and the exclaimation mark creates a more intense mood. It seems there's no intial thought process involved for the viewer, their request for wanting to know who the father is has now been revealed and doesn't allow any excitment of enigmatic questioning. In comparison to the image of Heather it proves the techniques used are for intial response with no further thought as to the underlying and, obvious issue. The potential Fathers are featured more as a puff on the right corner, this proves the careless attitude towards concern of the baby, as the fathers are insignificant in comprison to Heathers happiness (which is a selfish and shallow minded perception). The 4 men have smaller images and their photographs appear as a mug shots which sets of a negative mood and creates an impression of their insignificance'.
Although i disagree and strongly dislike WTV representation it's never-the-less a positive technique for advertisment of the soap as Eastenders proves to be appealing to a diverse audience and proves successful in directive approach.
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