The document discusses common front cover codes and conventions for magazines. It explains that the masthead is always the largest font at the top of the page and relates to the genre of the magazine. The main image is usually a close-up photo of a famous artist from the appropriate genre and includes lighting and clothing icons. Additional cover elements like cover lines, color schemes, incentives, banners, and positioning statements are used to attract audiences and convey key information about the magazine's content and purpose. Common design elements follow specific patterns to effectively market the magazine to its target readership.

1. Front Cover codes and
conventions
By Alister Ewen

2. Masthead
• A masthead is the largest font on the front cover it is also always a
unique font. The masthead always fits the genre of the magazine so
the name Kerrang is used because it’s to simulate the noise a guitar
makes. Always at the top of page
Masthead

3. Main Image
• Always uses direct mode of address and the photo is either in a
medium close up of the artist. The artist is always famous and relates
to the magazine always using lighting and clothing which has
connation's of that genre which the clothing always fitting for the
genre of the magazine. The image always has musical iconography
Main
image

4. Main Cover lines
• Always relates to the main image, the cover line always is the second
largest font on the page. It uses the colour scheme and structures the
page being focused around main image.
Main Cove
lines

5. Specific colour scheme
• The colour scheme always has connotations to the genre of music the
magazine is selling so if it’s a heavy metal magazine the colours will
probably be dark and metallic.
Colour
Scheme
heavy metal
dark colours

6. Cover lines
• All the content will feature in the magazine used to entice the
audience in to buy the magazine
Cover lines

7. Incentives and splashes
• Used to entice the audience in to buy the magazine, they would use
things such as win new headphones. Splashes makes information
standout for the audience to see clearly the information which will
standout will be some of the most important information on the
screen.
Incentives
Splash

8. Banner
• Attracts the audience, usually has important information for the
audience.
banner

9. Barcode, price, date
• All of this is used for the audience information for when the magazine
was published. How much the item is, and the barcode is for the shop
to scan and to check how they have it stock.
Date, price,
barcode

10. Positioning statement
• Tells the audience about the magazine place in the market place,
gives the audience of what type of magazine it is.
Positioning
statement

11. Mise en scene
• This is always relevant to the magazine which will focus on the setting
of the magazine. Mise en scene is French for in the scene.
Mise en
scene

12. Buzzwords
• To attract audience into for the purpose of buying the magazine
buzzwords will be words which stand out have connotations of
importance such as exclusive.
Buzzword