The document analyzes various elements of magazine covers, including the masthead, barcode, anchorage text, house style, main image, cover lines, and layout. It examines how each element conveys meaning and implications about the magazine's brand, target audience, and content. For example, the masthead establishes consistency and professionalism, the main image suggests if the magazine covers serious or light topics, and the house style and cover lines are used to attract particular reader demographics. Across magazine covers analyzed, the document finds both standardized design conventions as well as creative experimentation with layout and stylistic choices.

1. Front Covers
Analysis

2. Masthead- The masthead is the name of
the magazine in this case the masthead is
Billboard. The masthead for this magazine
is always at the top in big bold lettering
this connotes consistency and that this is
a serious magazine. The colour of the
masthead is not associated with a gender
connoting that the magazine is unisex
attracting a larger audience.
Barcode- Is always on a magazine
often shown in the bottom corner like
this magazine the barcode allows the
seller to sell the magazine to the public
and lets them keep rack on how many is
sold and what type the magazine is.
Anchorage text- this links to the main image, in this
case the main image is of lady Gaga the anchorage text is
‘Lady Gaga on Madonna, target & birthing a new race’
these short simple words gives the audience an insight of
what is inside of the magazine. The word ‘birthing a new
race connotes that lady Gaga is starting something new,
the viewer sees this ‘birthday’ to be very large because it is
compared to a ‘new race’
House style- In this magazine is
black and white, with a tiny bit of
blue, yellow and red. This goes
against the normal three colour
palette rule. The hint of colour
connotes that this magazine has a
wild part to it and that the contents
isn’t what we might think it to be.
Main image- Is of Lady
Gaga, this connotes that is
magazine is a well known
magazine which can get
huge celebrities to be on
the cover. Lady Gaga is in
black and white this
connotes that she might
have two sides to her one
being pure and clean and
the other being serious and
dark it could even mean
that she has power.
Cover lines- there isn’t many cover
lines on this magazine that is clear.
The one that sticks out the most is
‘plus, Parties, politics, prize-winners:
ultimate Grammy wrap’. This connotes
that the reader will be reading
important and sophisticated
information.
Layout- sticks to the usual layout which is seen in most magazines.
However the cover lines on not place on the left hand side or on the
right hand side in fact they are placed in the middle of the cover. I
haven't seen this done for magazines however this new style connotes
that this magazine is different compared to magazine already out there.
The main image is also displayed in the usual place (in the centre).

3. Masthead- Is in front of
the main image connoting
that the name of this
magazine is important and
they want it to stand out. It
also connotes that this
magazine is proud of the
magazine and want the
readers/audience to
remember the name.
Anchorage text- The
anchorage text always links
back to the cover model. In this
magazine the anchorage text is
‘World exclusive Tulisa! Her
cheekiest interview ever’. This
entices the viewer in making
them want to find out what she
has said.
Main image- Is of the famous singer
Tulisa, she is seen to be an idol of teenage
girls this links to the audience that this
magazine is aimed at she is smiling and
making direct address with the audience,
she is also smiling connoting that she is
friendly and that this magazine is good and
is welcoming to any one who reads this.
Barcode- is on the right hand side of
the magazine connoting that the barcode
is important but not as important as the
other parts of the magazine.
Puffs- in this example the puff is the
writing in the circle, the writing is angled
and off point compared to the other
writing on this page. This connotes that
this information is important as it is
different to the rest of the writing on the
page.
Skyline- this tells the
viewer what things are
given away for free inside
the magazine it also tells
us if there is any
competitions to enter.
Skylines are used to
entice the audience in.
House style- This consists of
the three colours White, Purple and
Yellow. The Connotations of this is
that this magazine is pure and can
be trusted (connoted by the
purple), it also is a magazine that
has good happy and has
inspirational content (connoted by
the Yellow).
Cover lines- The cover lines
include text such as ‘OMG JLS
CONFESS EVERYTHING’ and
LOOK LIKE SELENA & CHER’.
These sell lines help appeal to
the target audience. They
inform the reader about the
information inside. We can see
that this magazine includes the
latest pop idols.
Layout- The layout follows
the normal layout of a
magazine with the cover lines
place on the left hand side and
below the cover model. The
company who runs the
magazine is also shown at the
top along with the skyline.

4. Masthead- Is large
and in the top right
hand corner, this is
kept the same in every
other magazine
connoting consistency
in there magazine
meaning that they are
trying to show they are
professional.
Skyline-
The skyline in
this magazine
is similar to a
cover line as it
is trying to
sell the
magazine and
entice the
audience in.
Puffs- is always standing out
against the rest of the
information on the cover. This
connotes that they want to the
look at that the most and that it
is the most important information
on the cover.
Anchorage text- For this magazine
is ‘Everybody’s Mad For LANA DEL REY’
her name is written in bold capital
letters connoting that they are focusing
on this celebrity. This anchorage text
connotes that the latest news is about
this celebrity meaning that this
magazine that get the top celebrities to
star on the cover.
Main Image- is of Lana Del Rey, a well known respected singer. She is not smiling connoting that
the information about her is serious meaning that the audience was to be mature enough to
understand and handle it. This informs us about the age which the magazine is aimed at also the fact
she is making direct address with the audience connotes that she wants them to know what she is
saying.
Barcode- shown in the bottom
hand corner with the price to
inform the reader how much it is
to buy, a price is important
because if it isn’t right meaning
to expensive to the audience then
they simply wont buy it.
Cover lines- The coverlines are
displayed on the left hand side and
on the right hand side. This is
where they are normally found. ‘So
What’s so bloody good?’ is a
rhetorical question and directed at
the audience to draw them in and
to interest them about the
magazine.
House Style- the
colours in this
magazine are Red,
pink, white, yellow and
black. Most of the
writing is in pink
connoting that the
content is for women
and that they are only
aimed at women.
Layout- The layout follows the normal
layout rules where the barcode is small
at the bottom, title shown at the top in
bold and so on, connoting that this is a
normal professional magazine company