Magazine Front CoversMagazine Front Covers

ConventionsConventions

Purpose of a Front CoverPurpose of a Front Cover

Essentially, the front cover functions to Essentially, the front cover functions to entice readers to buy a magazine. entice readers to buy a magazine. Although the reader will spend a fraction of Although the reader will spend a fraction of the time they read the magazine focusing the time they read the magazine focusing on the front, they may not pick it up in the on the front, they may not pick it up in the first place unless the front cover is well first place unless the front cover is well designed.designed.

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

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?

What can you say about the What can you say about the mastheads on these magazines?mastheads on these magazines?

TaglineTagline

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

Central ImageCentral Image

This is one of the most important parts of the This is one of the most important parts of the front cover as it catches a reader’s eye before front cover as it catches a reader’s eye before they look at the printed text. The central image they look at the printed text. The central image will be relevant to the magazine’s purpose and will be relevant to the magazine’s purpose and audience, and will often be strongly related to audience, and will often be strongly related to the feature article.the feature article.

In front-cover analysis, much can be said about In front-cover analysis, much can be said about the central image. So much can be the central image. So much can be denoteddenoted and and connotedconnoted from this image. from this image.

The Cover ModelThe Cover Model For many magazines, a cover model will be used. This For many magazines, a cover model will be used. This

may be a celebrity, or well-known individual connected may be a celebrity, or well-known individual connected with the magazine’s genre (e.g. a rock star posing for a with 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 might Consider 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 model Think about the mise-en-scene. Why is the model dressed in a certain way, or lit in a certain way? How dressed in a certain way, or lit in a certain way? How are they posed? What is the connotation of this? Is the are they posed? What is the connotation of this? Is the model’s pose seductive? Intimidating? Why are they model’s pose seductive? Intimidating? Why are they wearing those specific clothes? wearing those specific clothes?

AnchorageAnchorage

This is a term that refers to how images This is a term that refers to how images are referred to. In magazines, images will are referred to. In magazines, images will be anchored by captions (directly be anchored by captions (directly explaining what the pictures depict), by explaining 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 the as it helps the reader understand the significance.significance.

Secondary ImagesSecondary Images

They may be used on the front cover to They may be used on the front cover to help promote other features in the help promote other features in the magazine, usually anchored by a magazine, usually anchored by a coverline.coverline.

They are often used in magazines where They are often used in magazines where reader’s need to be enticed by the picture reader’s need to be enticed by the picture rather than the coverline text (e.g. celebrity rather than the coverline text (e.g. celebrity magazines).magazines).

CoverlinesCoverlines

These are located at various points on the These are located at various points on the front cover, telling readers about the front cover, telling readers about the magazine’s contents – and specifically, the magazine’s contents – and specifically, the articles they’ll find.articles they’ll find.

The front cover often features 6-12 The front cover often features 6-12 coverlines in an attempt to lure different coverlines in an attempt to lure different readers to different things.readers to different things.

Coverlines will often use language and Coverlines will often use language and presentational devices to be most effectivepresentational devices to be most effective

Mode of AddressMode of Address

Mode of Address refers to the way that Mode of Address refers to the way that magazines communicate with their readers. magazines communicate with their readers. Some magazines will use a Some magazines will use a directdirect mode of mode of address, communicating with individual readers. address, communicating with individual readers. This might be through use of the cover model This 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 would What kinds of magazines do you think would favour a direct mode, and which would favour an favour a direct mode, and which would favour an indirect mode? indirect mode?

PuffPuff

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

PugPug

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

Barcode, Price, EditionBarcode, Price, Edition

Straightforward features, but they need to Straightforward features, but they need to be strategically placed. The barcode be strategically placed. The barcode shouldn’t distort any of the cover’s shouldn’t distort any of the cover’s principal features, and the price will principal features, and the price will usually be displayed nearby. usually be displayed nearby.

How the edition is phrased will depend on How the edition is phrased will depend on the frequency of publication. Most the frequency of publication. Most magazines are monthly editions, and so magazines are monthly editions, and so the month and year will be displayed.the month and year will be displayed.

Use of ColourUse of Colour

Colour: this is used to great effect. Some Colour: this is used to great effect. Some magazines will alter all the colour schemes from magazines 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 to etc), while others will alter some colours to coordinate with the central image.coordinate with the central image.

Think about signifier/signified where colour is in Think about signifier/signified where colour is in question. Ask yourselves whether the magazine question. Ask yourselves whether the magazine is using colour to send a message, or whether is using colour to send a message, or whether colour has been manipulated to help accentuate colour has been manipulated to help accentuate a certain feature of the cover image.a certain feature of the cover image.

FontFont

Front covers will display a variety of font Front covers will display a variety of font choices, usually adapted to infer meaning choices, usually adapted to infer meaning to the text they’re displaying. to the text they’re displaying.

Think about how font choices are Think about how font choices are manipulated for both mastheads and manipulated for both mastheads and coverlines. coverlines.