listing magazines (research)

Part of my coursework is to create the front cover of a listings magazine for the new soap, after getting an understanding of the basics of soaps, i now want to research into the different TV listing magazines to help me to identify the conventions of these magazines.

Listing magazines are based around this weeks biggest soap storylines, they will include features from all the main soaps: Eastenders, Corination Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Home and away and Neighbours.
The magazines promote the programme as before it is shown on TV, major story lines will be told in these magazines.
These magazines also encourage their target audience to gossip between themselves about their views on what is happening and what they think will happen.
Many dedicated soap watchers will buy these magazines weekly, in order to find out about all the storylines this week, before they actually watch the episode.
They often feature interviews with the characters in the biggest storylines this week, this enables the reader to get a connection with the actor and understand what it was like to film the scenes.

Current Listing magazines

Inside Soap:
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom.
Inside Soap traditionally provides interviews from actors who play characters in the soap operas and outlines current storylines; occasionally past storylines are included in featurettes. Readers are invited to email their questions to soap stars and entries are published in interview format. Soap stars' personal lives are also covered, including tips on fashion and where to purchase clothes worn by the stars. A weekly TV guide is also provided