The document analyzes magazine covers and their design elements. It discusses how colors, images, and text are used to attract readers and convey the magazine's brand. Key points made include: - Central images typically feature celebrities and convey the magazine's genre/target audience. Colors also reflect the magazine's content and intended readers. - Coverlines, bylines, and plugs/prizes draw attention to stories and extras to entice purchases. Shortened or informal language aims to seem accessible. - Layout, use of the masthead, and diverse content listings work to build recognition and show a wide appeal. Tracking information like price and issue details help readers. - Composition and styling unify

1. Analysis of Front
Covers

2. Published by Bauer Media Group The mise-en-sene Central Image is a slightly low angle long shot. This
shot shows the whole figure of the model, Lily Allen. Her stance shows
The masthead of ‘Q’ is in the house style of red her to portray a sexual nature and may attract people to the
and white. The white of the letter connotes magazine, this is highlighted by the costume chosen. Topless with
purity which contrasts which the passionate
and dangerous red of the background. These
colors also attract the target audience to the
magazine as well as being the colour scheme
throughout the magazine, drawing the eye
Q shorts and black tights will produce sexual connotations. Along side the
model are two black panthers. These add to the danger connoted from
the bright red colors as well as adding to the passionate sexual style of
this issue. The black of the models legs shows them to be slender and
draws the eye to the black big cats which expressing the dangerous and
across it. The font of the masthead is sans serif sexy meaning of the black. This image could also be seen as very
and kept the same each issue. The central stereotypical of a woman. The direct mode of address shows the model
image just slightly covers the masthead to be looking directly into the camera, this makes the reader feel like she
showing they have confidence in their brand. is talking to them.
This cover also contains coverlines. These are
features from inside the magazine that are usually
‘sexy beast Lily Allen & her wicked, wicked high in the media at the moment in time. They can
ways…’ The repetition of the buzz word ‘wicked’ also be popular feature that will also attract the
makes the story appear over the top and full. potential readers attention. The features on this
The different colours highlight different words cover also have anchor text. Explaining a little
throughout this coverline. This use of color about that particular content. These can also be
creates a house style and brand identity or the quotes from the extracts such as ‘I am a tiger!’ as
magazine and the colours connote different well as buzz words like ‘exclusive’.
meanings as well as drawing the eye of potential
readers to other coverlines that may persuade
them to buy. The use of blue promotes the ‘the 25 greatest rock movies’. This is a plug.
magazine to be chilled out and cool placed next It is a extra in the magazine that attracts the
to the dangerous reds. ‘sexy beast’ is slang, and reader to look inside. Puffs can also be
adds an informality to the magazine, this is placed on magazine covers likes this to
something that the readers could relate to. attract the reader as it offers a free prize.
Across the bottom of the front cover the The format and layout of this magazine it
potential readers eye is drawn by the very formal. There are no extra images from
colours to a list of contents that is in the inside which leaves the cover spaced out and
The price, bar code, date and issue
magazine. ‘elbow/how to buy queen/Pete bare compared to many other magazines.
number make the reader aware that
Doherty & the hardest worked corpses in Although there is not much going on this
the magazine is valid. It also keeps
music’. These not only add to the show of could attract attention as it is different from in
track on the number of issues and
the contents of the magazine but show its competitors. As the layout is formal it seems
date they are applied for.
diversity of the music it contains in contrast to give the magazine the a older target
to the slightly more modern music listed in audience. This also attracts the most
the coverlines. This widens the target attention to the central image which works
audience to so creates more of a main well with the dramatic images of the black
stream audience. panthers.

3. Published by Bauer Media Group
The central image of this magazine it an action
KERRANG!
shot. In from low angle at a medium-long shot. The masthead of ‘Kerrang!’ magazine is
The low angle of the camera gives the model the black, this connotes danger and evil which
impression of being superior and powerful. The expresses the social group of the target
black and red costume of the model connotes audience. The font of the masthead appears to
danger and evil, this reflects the behaviour and be cracked and broken. This could come
views of the target audience. The stance of the across as a way to repel and be unfixable. The
model and the guitar shows his confidence in central image covers a lot on the
himself, this could be something readers admire masthead, this shows that the magazine is
and wish to have. As well as the guitar and mise- confident in their brand and that potential
en-scene covers the sunglasses. The sunglasses readers will recognise their magazine. The font
appear to give the model superiority over the is also bold and san serif.
readers as they can not see his eyes, this also
makes his mysterious. ‘Access all areas!’ gives the impression
that this magazine can get to all places
and all gossip than no other magazine
can. This gives it an advantages over its
A puffs grabs the readers attention. It also competitors.
offers the reader a chance to win a prize if
they buy the magazine. the better prize that
there is to be won, the more enticing it will be This magazine front cover also holds features in the
to the reader and so will give that magazine an way of coverlines. Nine have been composed in
advantage of the others. The puff in this different places over the cover. This layout gives it a
magazine it to win a gig at your own house. mashed up busy effect, going well with the genre of
This fits in well with the genetic conventions of music. The one side mainly contains a list of bands
the magazine such as the genre. and musicians that will be featured in this
There are also free posters in the issue, showing the range of music it contains. The over
magazine, these can be got without having to side contains anchor texts to give slight explanation to
enter and win a competition. These will the stories. This is work to persuade the reader to buy.
convince the potential reader more as they
don’t even have to do anything to get these
free-bees.
The price, bar code, date and
issue number make the reader
aware that the magazine is
valid. It also keeps track on the
number of issues and date they
are applied for.

4. IPC media
‘NME’ is the masthead. The red text with
white and black outlines attracts attention.
Each colour connotes different meanings
such as red for passion, white for purity and
NME ‘Album of the week’ and ‘Glasto tickets’ and a plug and a
puff. These attract the potential readers to the magazine
as they are extras and prizes that can be got along with
black for evil. These reflect the musical
the purchase of the magazine. The shortening of
content of the magazine and the target
Glastonbury to ‘Glasto’ gives the magazine a informal
audience. The masthead is slightly covered
laidback style. As well as making the reader fee, more
showing confidence in the brand.
informed and more likely to be in with a chance to win.
The use of words such as ‘exclusive’ give
the impression that only this magazine can
The central image of this issue of ‘NME’ is make to
get the information and so placing it about
link with the house style of the magazine. The black
its competitors.
of the clothing is also the background to features
inside the magazine and some text, this draws the
eye across the magazine cover. The direct mode of
Using just the first name of the artist address of this image is because the model is
featured in the magazine ‘Pete’ gives looking directly into the cameras. This creates the
the magazine an informal appearance. effect that the model is directly looking at the reader
As well as this it gives the impression and that the magazine is focused on them. This is a
that the magazine knows the artist on a mid shot.
more personal level. This would also
give them a advantage over the other
magazines as they may appear to get
of the information that the readers
want.
The layout of this magazine is
compact and busy. This attracts
the eye to the magazine as it is full
of colour and features. It also
makes the magazine look full of
The long list of contents of magazine that is contents and so appear more for
placed on the front shows the diverse range or your money.
music that the magazine contains. The wide The price, bar code, date
range shows that the magazine caters for a and issue number make
mainstream audience. The features are the reader aware that the
coloured red and white which makes them magazine is valid. It also
stand out as well as fit with the house style. keeps track on the
The size of the font changes not only to fit them number of issues and
all it but to show which features are most date they are applied for.
popular or currently high in the media.