The document describes the typical layout and design elements found on the front cover of magazines. It identifies 16 common elements such as the masthead, cover line, tagline, and barcode. It discusses how the placement and interaction of elements like photos and text can influence the tone and messages conveyed. Color schemes, fonts, use of space, and overall style are examined to understand how they shape the magazine's brand and target audience. In conclusion, unconventional designs may be used to appeal to niche audiences.

2. What you get on front
covers.

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

4.  e.g.
 Connotations of the Masthead
 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.

6. 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?

11.  Colour - The colour scheme of the Rolling Stone magazine seems to stick with being red, white
and black. The colour scheme does not stay the same through issues and depends on the
image being used. Such as in image one, Prince is wearing a white shirt with red dots, this then
works well with the Rolling Stones red title. Where as on another magazine cover, the colour
scheme is focused around the colour black. The colour red is always used as the titles colour,
and this does not change. Where as the writing on the cover usually sticks to the same
sequence of being either black, white, or red.
 Fonts - There are around about 4 different fonts used on the overall cover.
 Style - The front cover gives you an overall feel of intensity, as the feature photo on the article
is looking directly at the reader. Also the look of the cover gives it a sophisticated feel, as the
colours are not too bold, and the text is not in an unusual font. The overall look of the
magazine holds an invitational feel, as the feature photo looks at the reader. This also gives the
magazine a slight uncomfortable feel. The theme of the magazine could possibly be
seduction, as the feature photo is invitational, but also has the shirt unbuttoned. Also from the
features of the magazine you can tell it is very sexual as it uses quotes such as ‘FAITH! FUNK!
SEX!’.
 Use of Space - The left third does not dominate as much as the right third does on this
magazine cover. As the right third holds a lot more information than the left third. The
masthead is also not in the top left corner, but instead covers a strip at the top of the
magazine cover. The headline is also not at the bottom of the mid third, but is in the middle of
the left third. The text and images on the magazine hold a square theme to them, as the font is
straight up and down, with no curves to it, also the images that have been used to hold the
text, are all square. It is also quite a chaotic front cover, as the whole of the magazine is
covered by images and text, and there is no dead or white space.
 Conclusion - I think the magazine cover has been designed like it is, to go against the typical
magazine conventions and show something different to appeal to audiences as this magazine
being a particular different layout to many other magazines you may see. The magazine holds
a slick but loud style. As the long fonts seem as if they may be in a bold, and this draws
attention to them. Also, the regular use of the same colours does not make the magazine look
tacky, or overdone, but a lot more classy and thought out. Also, because the magazine cover
is full with no dead or white space. This makes it loud, as there is a lot more going on, on the
front cover, compared to what you may find on other magazines.