Codes and Conventions of a magazine front cover

Today in lesson we analysed some magazine front covers so that we could work out the codes and conventions.

• The masthead should be bold as its main job is to draw in the attention of the audience
• The masthead should be in a unique font so that it stands out
• The masthead is there so that it can clarify the genre of the magazine
• The masthead should either be positioned in the top left hand corner of the page, or, across the top of the page because it's the first thing the readers will see, the title of the magazine suggests the genre and target audience of the magazine
• If the magazine is well known, the central image can cover part of the masthead, as people will still know what it's meant to say, however if the magazine is new or not as popular the masthead covers part of the central image
• There's usually a positioning statement above or below the masthead
• The central image takes up most of the page
• There is a picture-text cohesion, the colours used in the text matches the colours used in the central image so that there are no colour clashes
• The central image uses a direct mode of address so that the reader feels involved
• The angle shots used for the central image are usually close ups, medium close ups or sometimes, if it's a band, medium long shots are used
• A plain background is used so that the central image stands out more
• The main cover line on the page is usually bigger than the other cover lines
• The main cover line goes with the central image
• All the cover lines are in the same font
• About 5 cover lines are used which also link/relate to the genre of the magazine
• Puffs are used to promote free gifts
• Buzz words are used to attract the reader for example "plus" and "free", these words get the reader to buy the magazine
• The text is placed around the image and it anchors the central image
• Smaller pictures on the page correspond to the other stories
• A simple colour scheme of about 3-4 colours is used
• The colours used are 'easy on the eye'
• The bar code is usually in the bottom right hand corner
• Around the bar code is the issue date, issue number, price and the website
• Only a few fonts are used either; Serif (with hooks) e.g. Times New Roman, or Sans (without hooks) e.g. Arial