1. Magazine Front CoversMagazine Front Covers
ConventionsConventions

2. Purpose of a Front CoverPurpose of a Front Cover
 Essentially, the front cover functions toEssentially, the front cover functions to
entice readers to buy a magazine.entice readers to buy a magazine.
Although the reader will spend a fractionAlthough the reader will spend a fraction
of the time they read the magazineof the time they read the magazine
focusing on the front, they may not pick itfocusing on the front, they may not pick it
up in the first place unless the front coverup in the first place unless the front cover
is well designed.is well designed.

3.  The front cover is made up of a number ofThe front cover is made up of a number of
important features. These are commonimportant features. These are common
conventionsconventions of magazines. For you toof magazines. For you to
create your own magazine, you mustcreate your own magazine, you must
understand how these conventionsunderstand how these conventions
function and what their purpose is.function and what their purpose is.

4. MastheadMasthead
This is the name of the magazine and is almost always
displayed at the top. Why do you think that is?
The font style and colour will have been chosen extremely
carefully to help sell the magazine, as well as give some
indication about the content and audience
Similarly, the name of the magazine will be carefully chosen.
Why is the name important?

5. What can you say about theWhat can you say about the
mastheads on these magazines?mastheads on these magazines?

9. TaglineTagline
 This goes near the masthead, and isThis goes near the masthead, and is
sometimes attached to it. It shows whatsometimes attached to it. It shows what
the magazine is about or who it might bethe magazine is about or who it might be
aimed at.aimed at.

12. Central ImageCentral Image
 This is one of the most important parts of theThis is one of the most important parts of the
front cover as it catches a reader’s eye beforefront cover as it catches a reader’s eye before
they look at the printed text. The central imagethey look at the printed text. The central image
will be relevant to the magazine’s purpose andwill be relevant to the magazine’s purpose and
audience, and will often be strongly related toaudience, and will often be strongly related to
the feature article.the feature article.
 In front-cover analysis, much can be said aboutIn front-cover analysis, much can be said about
the central image. So much can bethe central image. So much can be denoteddenoted andand
connotedconnoted from this image.from this image.

14. The Cover ModelThe Cover Model
 For many magazines, a cover model will be used. ThisFor many magazines, a cover model will be used. This
may be a celebrity, or well-known individual connectedmay be a celebrity, or well-known individual connected
with the magazine’s genre (e.g. a rock star posing for awith the magazine’s genre (e.g. a rock star posing for a
music magazine); or it may be a photographic model.music magazine); or it may be a photographic model.
 Consider the implications of this. What difference mightConsider the implications of this. What difference might
it make to the magazine’s selling power?it make to the magazine’s selling power?
 Think about the mise-en-scene. Why is the modelThink about the mise-en-scene. Why is the model
dressed in a certain way, or lit in a certain way? Howdressed in a certain way, or lit in a certain way? How
are they posed? What is the connotation of this? Is theare they posed? What is the connotation of this? Is the
model’s pose seductive? Intimidating? Why are theymodel’s pose seductive? Intimidating? Why are they
wearing those specific clothes?wearing those specific clothes?

16. AnchorageAnchorage
 This is a term that refers to how imagesThis is a term that refers to how images
are referred to. In magazines, images willare referred to. In magazines, images will
be anchored by captions (directlybe anchored by captions (directly
explaining what the pictures depict), byexplaining what the pictures depict), by
coverlines, or by articles and headlines.coverlines, or by articles and headlines.
AnchoringAnchoring an image helps give it meaning,an image helps give it meaning,
as it helps the reader understand theas it helps the reader understand the
significance.significance.

18. Secondary ImagesSecondary Images
 They may be used on the front cover toThey may be used on the front cover to
help promote other features in thehelp promote other features in the
magazine, usually anchored by amagazine, usually anchored by a
coverline.coverline.
 They are often used in magazines whereThey are often used in magazines where
reader’s need to be enticed by the picturereader’s need to be enticed by the picture
rather than the coverline text (e.g.rather than the coverline text (e.g.
celebrity magazines).celebrity magazines).

21. CoverlinesCoverlines
 These are located at various points on theThese are located at various points on the
front cover, telling readers about thefront cover, telling readers about the
magazine’s contents – and specifically,magazine’s contents – and specifically,
the articles they’ll find.the articles they’ll find.
 The front cover often features 6-12The front cover often features 6-12
coverlines in an attempt to lure differentcoverlines in an attempt to lure different
readers to different things.readers to different things.
 Coverlines will often use language andCoverlines will often use language and
presentational devices to be most effectivepresentational devices to be most effective

23. Mode of AddressMode of Address
 Mode of Address refers to the way thatMode of Address refers to the way that
magazines communicate with their readers.magazines communicate with their readers.
Some magazines will use aSome magazines will use a directdirect mode ofmode of
address, communicating with individual readers.address, communicating with individual readers.
This might be through use of the cover modelThis might be through use of the cover model
(e.g. pointing directly at the camera), or through(e.g. pointing directly at the camera), or through
the use of 2the use of 2ndnd
person pronouns (“you”).person pronouns (“you”).
 What kinds of magazines do you think wouldWhat kinds of magazines do you think would
favour a direct mode, and which would favour anfavour a direct mode, and which would favour an
indirect mode?indirect mode?

25. PuffPuff
 As in “puff of air”, this is a device whichAs in “puff of air”, this is a device which
helps to draw attention to and promotehelps to draw attention to and promote
certain elements in the magazine. Theycertain elements in the magazine. They
are often set against colourfulare often set against colourful
backgrounds and are shaped – e.g.backgrounds and are shaped – e.g.
rounded. Quite often they advertise arounded. Quite often they advertise a
“freebie” or a special feature in the“freebie” or a special feature in the
magazinemagazine

27. PugPug
 Pugs are the “ears” of a magazine and arePugs are the “ears” of a magazine and are
placed at the top left or right-hand cornersplaced at the top left or right-hand corners
of a front cover. They usually display aof a front cover. They usually display a
promotion from that magazine’s edition, orpromotion from that magazine’s edition, or
possibly the price.possibly the price.

29. Barcode, Price, EditionBarcode, Price, Edition
 Straightforward features, but they need toStraightforward features, but they need to
be strategically placed. The barcodebe strategically placed. The barcode
shouldn’t distort any of the cover’sshouldn’t distort any of the cover’s
principal features, and the price willprincipal features, and the price will
usually be displayed nearby.usually be displayed nearby.
 How the edition is phrased will depend onHow the edition is phrased will depend on
the frequency of publication. Mostthe frequency of publication. Most
magazines are monthly editions, and somagazines are monthly editions, and so
the month and year will be displayed.the month and year will be displayed.

30. Use of ColourUse of Colour
 Colour: this is used to great effect. SomeColour: this is used to great effect. Some
magazines will alter all the colour schemes frommagazines will alter all the colour schemes from
edition to edition (masthead, coverline fonts,edition to edition (masthead, coverline fonts,
etc), while others will alter some colours toetc), while others will alter some colours to
coordinate with the central image.coordinate with the central image.
 Think about signifier/signified where colour is inThink about signifier/signified where colour is in
question. Ask yourselves whether the magazinequestion. Ask yourselves whether the magazine
is using colour to send a message, or whetheris using colour to send a message, or whether
colour has been manipulated to help accentuatecolour has been manipulated to help accentuate
a certain feature of the cover image.a certain feature of the cover image.

33. FontFont
 Front covers will display a variety of fontFront covers will display a variety of font
choices, usually adapted to infer meaningchoices, usually adapted to infer meaning
to the text they’re displaying.to the text they’re displaying.
 Think about how font choices areThink about how font choices are
manipulated for both mastheads andmanipulated for both mastheads and
coverlines.coverlines.