Media Language and Representation: The Big Issue

Dark background, serious topic. 

Direct address.
Celebrity endorsement.
Organ donation endorsement.
Individualism.

Martin Luther King's famous speech is referenced.
Can be sad as it makes it seem we have not followed MLK's ideals
Questioning if his legacy has been honoured
(50th anniversary of his death)
Religious imagery almost as he seems like a secular saint
Look of confidence juxtaposed with symbols of America
Anti racism and individualism

Serious interview (in-depth)
Harry and Meghan endorsement, royals find it important so public should too, role models - also treats them as a casual acquaintance which connotes recognition and approval
Serious direct address
Tagline is a quote from David Tennant himself
Celebrity culture
Exclusive story about Tennant
Ideology of helping others as the royals are supporting the magazine so others should too

INTERTEXTUALITY 

The MLK cover does not make a direct reference to other media products, but the image used suggests a media representation of the man - King as a cultural product as much as a real person, a product whose positive connotations of highly moral political activism the magazine might appropriate.

DT cover references 'the shape of water', a newly released film, and 'The Doctor' a reference to David Tennant's role as Doctor Who in the past. Suggesting shared knowledge as none are explained, assumed famous enough for audience to understand.

REPRESENTATION

MLK cover. chooses to combine icons of america - stars and stripes and outline of mainland usa with a stylised image of MLK and a reference to his most famous inspirational speech from 60s. It positions the issue of civil rights in contemporary America within the context of a long political struggle. This suggests solidarity with civil rights protestors, an affiliation with the less powerful in society and a thoughtful, historically informed view of current events. 'what happened to the dream'. Red represents danger and may show that America is no longer following his legacy.

DT cover chooses to combine an apparently unstaged photograph of a famous actor with language suggesting vulnerability. Both conventional interest in the culture and entertainment industries and a concern with the authentic person behind the glossy appearances 'love' and 'loss'
The magazine boasts of its association with royalty but does so in a down-to-earth way 'Meghan and Harry: coffee with the Big Issue' avoids fawning over the monarchy.

SOCIAL CULTURAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS

Consumerism, lifestyle magazines reflect consumer society's ideals of a 'good life'. Big Issue attempts to highlight and alleviate homelessness and poverty (political context). neither are adequately addressed - little power and status, but magazine deliberately celebrates their individuality and achievements.

Celebrity culture is a major influence on DT and ML. They expect audience to recognise and understand their cultural role without explanation

Multiculturalism has influenced the representation of MLK as the cover expects its audience to adopt the perspective of people of colour without difficulty. Liberal news sources in the 60s would have covered the events sympathetically but from a whiter perspective.

IDEOLOGIES AND POSITIONING

MLK position the audience as concerned about political issues and current affairs, knowledgeable about King and the civil rights movement and sympathetic to their arms. Internationalists.

DT positions audience as cinephiles interested in the entertainment news and inner life of actors, especially David Tennant and royal family. Doggerland reference is deliberately enigmatic to entice readers.

Both covers embody individualism as a core ideology as both focus on individuals. DT is more ethnocentric, but the MLK is clearly internationalist therefore it suggests there isnt a systematic bias

Underrepresentation of women shows there may be a systematic bias which reflect the influence of sexism, and underepresentation of POC may be influence of racism. This is not necessarily conscious racism and sexism by publishers and may be a reflection of inequality in the world