The front cover of the magazine shows an aggressive facial expression of the artist to express the target audience. Common conventions like having the main image fill the frame and placing the masthead in the same location in every issue to maintain brand identity. The use of words like "exclusive" and promises of gifts are intended to entice readers to buy the magazine. While some conventions are not followed, like direct address, the lack of conventions reflects the target audience that does not strictly follow conventions.

1. Front cover analysis
The main image shows the artist with a very
The main image has filled the “frame”; this is a very common
aggressive facial expression. This can be used to
convention among magazines. This will increase the
express the target audience of the magazine and is
importance of the image and the artist who the image is of.
a common convention of Rap/hip-hop magazines.
The artist may be popular so by making him or her as the main
image will draw fans/readers into buying this issue
The masthead is kept in
the same place in ever
issue keeping its brand
The names of popular artists within the
identity and therefore the
magazine will again draw readers into
audience can familiarise
buying it if they support or enjoy those
their selves with the
artists music. With the addition of more
magazine layout.
well known artists in the magazine, the
readers will feel like they are getting more
“value for their money”
The word “Exclusive” adds to
the importance of the article
inside the magazine. It can also
make the reader feel exclusive The main sell line is kept to
and important if they buy it and the left. As it is the most
read it. important issue inside the
magazine it should be kept
on the left hand side as this
is where the reader’s eye
The Sell line of “We’ve got will go first
gifts” draws the readers into
buying the magazine.
Readers love to receive stuff
for free and will therefore
feel more incline to buy the The barcode and price are hidden away and
magazine in order to get the kept at the bottom of the page as it is the least
“free” gift. important piece of information. The target
audience will also have to search for the price The sell line featuring Keri Hilson as a “Very bad girl” may entice
meaning they will see most of what’s on the readers to buy the magazine and look inside. This will also give an
cover, and therefore more likely to see content idea of the Target audience of the magazine.
they like in the magazine.

2. The masthead is in uppercase and in a bold
Some Conventions within magazines has not been kept by this edition
solid display font. This suggests a male target
of “The source”; the main central image Does Not fill the “frame” as
audience. The image covering the letter “O”
most, if not all normally would, this may suggest that the artist that
of a fist holding a microphone also represents
features as the main image does not need to fill the whole “frame” as
what type of magazine it is and also shows
he is very well known. However even though he does not fill the
masculinity which enhances the thought of it
“frame” it doesn’t mean that his importance is lowered. In fact his
being targeted at a male audience.
importance will be heightened a little bit as readers will still buy the
The strapline of “The bible of Hip-Hop Music, Culture and magazine based on the fact that Jay-Z is the artist.
Politics” will further entice readers into buying the magazine as
they will believe that they will know everything there is to
know about those three particular subjects from reading this Direct address is also another important and very common
magazine alone, which is what this strapline suggests. convention amongst magazines however yet again this edition of
“The Source” has chosen to ignore that. This can reflect heavily on
The main sell line is kept to the left. As it is the the target audience. This can suggest that like the artist on the
most important issue inside the magazine it cover of the magazine that the target audience are also laid back
should be kept on the left hand side as this is and “Don’t care much” for “conventions” and that they do what
where the reader’s eye will go first. The Sell line they like.
is Bolded and placed in a bigger font size than
the other sell lines, highlighting its importance.
The barcode and price are hidden away and The masthead is kept in the
kept at the bottom of the page as it is the same place in ever issue
least important piece of information. The keeping its brand identity
target audience will also have to search for and therefore the audience
the price meaning they will see most of what’s can familiarise their selves
on the cover, and therefore more likely to see with the magazine layout.
content they like in the magazine.
The names of popular artists within the
magazine will again draw readers into
buying it if they support or enjoy those
artists’s music. With the addition of more
well known artists in the magazine, the
readers will feel like they are getting more
“value for their money”