The document describes the typical layout and design conventions of magazine covers. It notes that covers often use a grid system for placement of elements like photos, headlines, and text. For example, magazines with single person photos often place the eye line at the top third of the cover. Headlines usually appear in the lower third. Text is often placed in the left third which is most visible on store shelves. Consistent use of fonts, colors, imagery style and grid placement help create a recognizable brand identity and make important information easily scannable for readers.

1. Student Copy

2. What you get on front covers

3. Web-links? 8. Selling Line
Ears? or Banner
1. Masthead
10. Feature
13. Flash
Article Photo
4. Secondary Lead 11. Headline
2. Kicker
3. Cover Line 12. Anchorage
7. Caption
16. Date Line
6. Graphic
Feature or 15. Bar Code
Puff
5. Plug 9. Tagline 14. Menu Strip

4.  e.g.
 Connotations of the Masthead – example being the
Masthead of Kerrang is shattered glass, this implies that
the music genre the magazine is based on is loud.
 What meaning is added with the interaction between
anchorage and photos
 What lifestyles are hinted at in taglines, kickers and
use of language in general
 What is regarded as most important on the cover and
why you think this is
 What tone / type of language is used

5. How front covers are conceived and laid out

10. Note that using the grid system, we can see that covers which contain
photographs of just one person are very consistent with placement. The
magazine Four Four Two consistently places photos with the grid system so
that the top third ends at eye level with any of the photographs – this
meaning that the rest of the person in the photograph’s face envelops the
centre of the magazine and is therefore the main focus point.
On top of this, the headline for each magazine from this company is around
the lower third of the grid, this means that the audience will see the
photograph first and then the headline as they look down the page.
Finally, the grid is used for placement of text, consistently the left-hand third
of the magazine contains a vast majority of the secondary leads and kickers
– this is because when magazines are placed on sale in stores, most of the
cover is normally hidden behind other magazines leaving on the most left
third on display. The secondary leads and kickers are located on this third
so that even when on display, a potential buyer can see what articles the
issue of the magazine contains.

11. Indirect mode of Direct mode of
address can be address can appear
mysterious, lively, ‘in yer face’, serious,
sombre… warm…
Creates a wacky, fun
image, sharing an
identity with the
reader that offers the
‘independence’ of
indie music.
Enigma – what are
they getting up to
now?

12.  COLOUR – With my magazines there is no set colour theme consistently issue-to-issue however each issue does have its own
consistent colour theme, a variation of around 3 colours are used throughout the production of each front cover. These 3 colours
then change for the next publication of the magazine.
 FONTS – Approximately 3 fonts are used in the magazine cover. The headline and secondary leads use the same font, this
allowing the reader to know exactly what is a headline and what is extra information or a brief article explanation. The
magazine consistently uses the same font for the title ‘Four Four Two’ as would be expected so that customers know what to
look for on a magazine rack if they look for the magazine.
 STYLE – There is a consistency with the type of imagery used, all photos I have seen for front covers of the magazine contain a
direct mode of address with the reader, this is so that it looks as if the person within each photograph on the magazine is
looking directly at the reader; this creates an atmosphere in which the reader may feel the magazine communicates and
interacts with only with them instead of an entire audience genre.
 USE OF SPACE – Using the grid system, we can see that covers which contain photographs of just one person are very
consistent with placement. The magazine Four Four Two consistently places photos with the grid system so that the top third
ends at eye level with any of the photographs – this meaning that the rest of the person in the photograph’s face envelops the
centre of the magazine and is therefore the main focus point. On top of this, the headline for each magazine from this company
is around the lower third of the grid, this means that the audience will see the photograph first and then the headline as they
look down the page. Finally, the grid is used for placement of text, consistently the left-hand third of the magazine contains a
vast majority of the secondary leads and kickers – this is because when magazines are placed on sale in stores, most of the
cover is normally hidden behind other magazines leaving on the most left third on display. The secondary leads and kickers
are located on this third so that even when on display, a potential buyer can see what articles the issue of the magazine
contains. The position of the masthead is also consistent throughout each issue as it take up almost the entire top third of the
grid.
 CONCLUDE – I think that the magazine is designed in the way it is with a variation of colour in each issue so that it stands out to
the audience with its vibrance; it differentiates itself from other football based magazine which regularly use the colours green
and white and so appeals to an audience which like variation and regular change – making this magazine the only one of its
kind in the market. This means that it challenges the typical conventions of its genre and can be assumed to be successful as it
is the largest football based magazine in the UK.