Textual analysis- Men's Health

The third and final magazine cover I chose to analyse was “Men’s Health”. Hopefully analysing these different covers help me extend my research into what media concepts are used on different magazine covers.

Men’s health is the world’s largest men’s magazine brand. It has 38 editions worldwide and a monthly circulation of 1.85 million. It covers fitness, nutrition, sexuality, lifestyle and other aspects of men's life and health. It was launched in 1987 by founding editor Mark Bricklin. It started off as a health-orientated magazine but its direction has changed and it is now more of a lifestyle magazine for men, covering all aspects of a man’s life. Men’s health is aimed at men aged 25-45, well educated and professional, C1-A.

The front cover is has a lot of headlines and writing and doesn’t rely on the pictures as much as other magazines might. The masthead is yet again the largest text on the page yet it does not dominant the page as much as “heat” and “vogue” did. Part of the masthead is covered up by the models head, this shows that publishers and editors are confident enough that audiences will recognise the magazine even though some of the masthead covered. The masthead is written in a red colour, this stands out agains the plain white back ground. The text is quite a plain, easy to read font, yet classy.

All the headlines on the page are in the same colours, either red, blue or black. This makes sure the page ties together without having lots of different colours. The background and main photograph are in black and white so this means the headlines stand out even more. The headlines cover lots of topics to highlight the different articles that will appear in the magazine. The articles covered; diet, exercise, sport, health, sex and even gossip, may once have been considered only appropriate to appear in womens magazines. However, now these ideas and issues are now being targeted towards men. In the past womens magazines have been critisied for being too stereotypical in trying to create the “ideal” women. Whereas the stereotype of the typical male was he would “age gracefully”. Now male magazines are redressing the balance by encouraging a new generation of men to become the “ideal” man. Subtley suggesting ways to become younger looking, fitter, healthier and sexier.

The main photograph is in black & white. It is a picture of a young man, in his twenties, in very good physical shape. The photograph has been taken in black & white to encourage men to buy the magazine; because it is considered more likely that a man would feel uncomfortable when buying a magazine if the half naked man on the cover is in colour. This is why Men’s Health have always has their pictures in black & white. The model also has a warm, friendly smile on his face to make readers feel comfortable when buying the magazine. There is also a smaller picture underneath one of the headline, it is about sex and valentines day. The picture of a woman in her underwear, is in colour rather than in black & white. To appeal to the male reader.