The document discusses the various elements that make up the front cover of a magazine, including the masthead, tagline, cover line, headlines, photos, and other graphical elements. It examines how these components are arranged and laid out, how they work together to create an overall style, tone, and mode of address, and what meanings or messages may be conveyed through color schemes, font usage, photographic techniques, and the use of space. The purpose is to analyze how magazine covers are conceptually designed and visually constructed.

1. Dan Porritt

2. What you get on front covers

3. 1. Masthead
8. Selling Line
or Banner
Web-links?
Ears?
9. Tagline
2. Kicker
3. Cover Line
10. Feature
Article Photo
11. Headline
4. Secondary Lead
12. Anchorage
13. Flash
5. Plug
6. Graphic
Feature or
Puff
7. Caption
14. Menu Strip
15. Bar Code
16. Date Line

4. 1. Masthead
8. Selling Line
or Banner
Web-links?
9. Tagline
Ears?
2. Kicker
10. Feature
Article Photo
3. Cover Line
11. Headline
12. Anchorage
4. Secondary Lead
13. Flash
14. Menu Strip
5. Plug
6. Graphic
Feature or
Puff
7. Caption
FREE –
15. Bar Code
Live music
downloads
16. Date Line

5. 





e.g.
Connotations of the Masthead
What meaning is added with the
interaction between anchorage and
photos
What lifestyles are hinted at in taglines,
kickers and use of language in general
What is regarded as most important on
the cover and why you think this is
What tone / type of language is used

6. How front covers are conceived and laid out

8. Indirect mode of
address can be
mysterious, lively,
sombre…
Direct mode of
address can appear
‘in yer face’, serious,
warm…
Creates a wacky, fun
image, sharing an
identity with the
reader that offers the
‘independence’ of
indie music.
Enigma – what are
they getting up to
now?

9. 




COLOUR - Is a colour scheme used? Is it the same with every issue or
switch according to the images? Is there a pattern as to where colour
is used? Does colour have its own meaning?
FONTS - Roughly how many different fonts (not sizes) are used? Can
you link the same fonts with the same conventions?
STYLE - What look and feel is created? How much does the cover
image contribute to this? What photographic techniques are used?
Describe the mode of address and overall look e.g. invitational,
mysterious etc. Is a theme used e.g. futuristic? Does an enigma
prompt the reader to ask questions?
USE OF SPACE - How has the rule of thirds been used? Does the leftthird dominate? Is the use of space typical e.g. masthead top-left,
headline sitting at the bottom of the mid-third etc.? Is it spread out,
blocky, chaotic? Is there any dead space or white space?
CONCLUDE – Why do you think it is designed as it is? Does it
reinforce or challenge the typical conventions? Is it: poster-style,
busy , loud, inyerface, smooth, slick, stylish, fun etc.?

10. 




COLOUR - Is a colour scheme used? Is it the same with every issue or
switch according to the images? Is there a pattern as to where colour
is used? Does colour have its own meaning?
FONTS - Roughly how many different fonts (not sizes) are used? Can
you link the same fonts with the same conventions?
STYLE - What look and feel is created? How much does the cover
image contribute to this? What photographic techniques are used?
Describe the mode of address and overall look e.g. invitational,
mysterious etc. Is a theme used e.g. futuristic? Does an enigma
prompt the reader to ask questions?
USE OF SPACE - How has the rule of thirds been used? Does the leftthird dominate? Is the use of space typical e.g. masthead top-left,
headline sitting at the bottom of the mid-third etc.? Is it spread out,
blocky, chaotic? Is there any dead space or white space?
CONCLUDE – Why do you think it is designed as it is? Does it
reinforce or challenge the typical conventions? Is it: poster-style,
busy , loud, inyerface, smooth, slick, stylish, fun etc.?