Codes and Conventions in Magazine covers

Entertainment Magazines cover on 'The Maze Runner'

The main image on this cover of Entertainment Weekly is of Dylan O'Brien for his new film 'The Maze Runner' (coming to cinemas on October 10th 2014). A key aspect of most main images for magazines which is shown here is that the model usually makes direct eye contact with the reader. The fact that the picture of Dylan O'Brien is covering part of the magazines name (the masthead) shows that it is well known enough that the name doesn't have to be completely visible for it to be recognisable. The representation that is being given off from the front cover of this magazine is that it is aimed at an audience of film, television, book and music loves - not only do we get this idea from the slogan 'best movies*TV*music*books' but also from the masthead of the magazine 'Entertainment Weekly' and from the fact that the main image and cover line, focusing on one of the new films that is coming out. The age range for the magazine can be quite varied - as can the audience group (a, b, c1, c2, etc) - because people from different social integration's can have a common interest in films and other types of entertainment, however because of the topics that are shown in the cover lines (naming some other films that appeal to a younger age e.g Percy Jackson) the audience is probably in the age group of 13-25 and the audience demographic is most likely d and e (being students and those of a more average income) as they are more likely to spend some of their spare time going to the cinema or listening to music. Another group of people who are likely to buy this magazine are teenage girls because of the main image being Dylan O'Brien and the fact that he is seen as attractive and that he's popular among that age and gender group.