Magazines are typically constructed with various elements to engage readers. These include headlines, bylines, captions, credits, crossheads, exclusives, features, and mastheads to introduce stories and photos. Magazines also include contents pages to outline what is inside, splashes with large headlines and photos on the front cover, and stand firsts, straplines, tags, kickers, and initial caps throughout the text. The construction aims to attract readers and convey what each story is about.

1. Form Research
FIND THEORETICAL RESEARCH FROM
BOOKS OR THE INTERNET WHICH GIVES
YOU INSIGHT INTO YOUR FORM

2. Sales Models for Distribution
Circulation
Meaning
Paid circulation
Paid circulation is where the magazine is
sold to readers for a specific price. This can
be on a per-issue basis or by subscription
price, where an annual or monthly cost is
payable and then issues will be sent via post
to the reader.
Non paid circulation
Non paid circulation is referring to a
magazine which has no cover price and these
kind of magazines are typically given away
for example in street dispensers, airline inflight magazines or sometimes included in
with other publications
Controlled circulation
This circulation is most commonly used by
insider magazines or industry publications
which are then only distributed to qualifying
readers, this is often for free.

3. Mastheads
The masthead is one of the most eye catching pieces of the magazine, so
therefore needs to stand out. I have noticed that uppercase letters make the
masthead stand out more, and therefore is a technique I will look into using for
my own magazine. The masthead for top of the pops is unique as the style of
the writing is one only seen for this magazine, and I like the fact the less
important words “of the” are in lower case in a circle, as this creates a good
effect towards the reader and is something you would easily recognise. The we
love pop masthead is clever because they include a love heart instead of the
word love and I think this appeals to the target audience, again the use of
uppercase letter is important and I like the fact the wording is surrounded by a
speech bubble.

4. Backgrounds
I have noticed that in the magazines I have looked at they feature a white
background and this is used to provide emphasis on the celebrity image on the front
cover. It also helps the masthead and title stand out, and therefore engage the reader
from the many different magazines that are around these days. If the background
was a bright colour it would take away from the significance of the celebrity image,
and this portrays a special message to the reader and allows them to feel part of the
magazine straight away.

5. Magazines
 Magazines, periodicals or serials are publications
which can be printed with ink onto paper, or
alternatively distributed online
 Magazines are published on a weekly or monthly
basis and contain a variety of content typical to the
genre and target audience they are aiming at.
 Magazines can be distributed through the mail, sales
by newsstands, bookstores or other vendors, or
sometimes even through free distribution at selected
locations.

6. How are magazines constructed?
Magazines follow a typical way of being constructed, for example:
By line – the name of the reporter, if they are important are often included at the beginning
of the feature, instead of the end.
Captions – text under photos which explain the image in a bit of detail, readers use this to
determine whether they think the story is interesting
Credits – the author of a feature may be given credit. Also, if photographs are added then
the photographer or agency that supplied the photos will be credited down the side of the
page.
Crosshead – a subheading that appears in the main body and is typically centred above the
column of text, if this is situated at the side then it is named a side head.
Exclusive – this is used typically in pop magazines and this encourages readers to pick up
the magazine, knowing that they wont have already read the story in a previous magazine as
the magazine company pay the interviewees and buy the story so therefore it can not be
used in a future magazine.
Feature – this is not necessarily a news item but consists of an interesting story which is
then elaborated on in a double page spread.
Headline – this is the main statement, which is usually the largest and boldest section of
the magazine, which describes the main story and what the magazine is mostly focused on.

7. How are magazines constructed?
Masthead – the title block or logo which makes the magazine completely unique. This is most
of the time situated at the top of the front page, occasionally a motto is inserted with the
masthead.
Contents – this page is vital in ensuring that readers know what they can find in the magazine.
Splash – the splash is the main story on the front of the magazine, this will also include the
largest headline and a photo which links with the spoken story.
Stand first – this is an introduction to the paragraph before the start of the feature. This is
most of the time bold.
Strapline – the introductory headline below the headline and therefore another simple way to
engage the reader.
Tag – this is a word or phrase used to engage a readers interest in a story by categorising it and
making it appeal to the intended audience, words such as exclusive or sensational fit in with
the typical tag.
Kicker – a kicker is a smaller font headline which is often underlined, and this is situated
above the main headline. These are usually one or two word identifiers used to help readers
select articles.
Initial/drop caps – these are a large capital letter at the beginning of a paragraph. They
normally drop into text below the first line.