Codes and Conventions of Magazine Covers

Amber Jones Eddy

Main imageThere is usually 1 main image used, its purpose is to promote the magazine and to

show the genre.

There is typically either one person or a small group of people (a band) on a music magazine. This helps to sell the product as the audience will buy the

magazine if they like the featured artist.Direct address is commonly used, and it will be a close up or mid shot for a single

person or a medium long or long shot for a band.

If a posed image, the background is as plain as possible to make the people/person stand out to the reader.

Coverlines and SublinesThere are 5 or 6 coverlines used. Their purpose is to frame the image and give

a little information about the content of the magazine whilst being ambiguous and not giving too much away.

There are sublines underneath used to add detail and elaborate on the

coverlines. There is one separate font used for each, both of which are sanserif fonts.

Subsidiary Images

These images link to other articles in the magazine.

They are useful for featuring other artists as the audience may not like or relate to the people/person featured in the main image but may buy the magazine in spite of this due to subsidiary images.

Mast HeadThe purpose of the mast head is to draw in the audiences attention as it suggests the

genre and target audience of the magazine.

The mast head is spread across the top of the page if it is a full word, or in the left corner if it is a few letters.

If the magazine is well known the title may be covered partially as you would not have to see the full word to know what it is.

The mast head will be the biggest writing on the page and will have its own unique font

Positioning statement

This is usually what the magazine thinks of themselves. It is under the mast head and also used to draw the audience in.

StraplineA strapline is a subheading in a newspaper or magazine article or in any advertisement

PuffA puff is a slogan or information that is usually put inside some sort of shape to stand out to the reader.

PugA pug is a fake turnback at either the top left or right corner of the front cover. It contains some sort of information or a hint to something included in the magazine.

Other featuresPrice and barcode: If expensive the price will be very small and possibly at the

bottom of the page. If cheap the price will be bold and stand out to help sell the product. The price depends on the size and consistency of the magazine.

Website: will usually be fairly small and sometimes not includedIssue number: lets the reader know if they have missed out an issue.

Colour scheme: Maximum of four colours is used, links to the genre.