Codesandconventions
- 1. Cover Page codes and conventions
- 2. Masthead. The Masthead is placed at the top of the page and is always a unique, bold font. If the magazine is well known the masthead might be covered by the main image however if the magazine isn’t well known the main image will either be underneath the masthead or the masthead will be slightly covering the main image. On this cover page the masthead is covering some of the main image but it doesn’t cover the face. On this cover page the main image overlaps the masthead because of how well known NME is. The masthead here really stands out to the rest of the text because it’s a different font to the rest of the text and because it is the same colour as the cover lines its placed on top of a red block to make it stand out more.
- 3. Main image The main image is always going to be the main focus of the magazine as its one of the main selling points, particularly on music magazines they use an artist or a band to gain interest from the target audience. Its placed central on the page so that the cover lines can be placed around it. If it’s a single artist its often a close up whereas if it’s a band its usually a medium shot or long shot. The mise en scene in the main image shows the audience what genre of music the magazine is, if its featuring someone with piercings, tattoos, long hair, and they’re holding an electric guitar this would show the audience it is a rock music magazine. On this cover page Dave grohl is in the centre of the page. The fire and people holding electric guitars in his mouth connote its of the rock genre, as well as his style and facial expressions. Direct address is used to make the audience feel targeted and engaged, making them want to buy the magazine
- 4. Positioning statement The positioning statement is always towards the top of the page, it could be just under the title or in the skyline. It’s a statement that helps to sell the magazine for example ‘The UK’s best fashion magazine’. Its how a given magazine will fill the needs of its particular audience.
- 5. Cover lines On every cover page of a magazine there is a main cover line, this is always the largest cover line and its always relevant to the main image. The rest of the cover lines surround the main image. They give the audience an insight on the content of the magazine allowing them to read quickly and not get bored easily. The cover lines are placed around the image. The title of the cover line is usually bolder. The main cover line is the biggest and has its own font, it shows what the main cover story is about and links to the main image
- 6. Skyline The skyline is at the very top of the cover page and it often includes either the positioning statement or a cover line. For example the skyline on this contains a cover line, showing it’s an important cover line but isn’t the main cover line
- 7. Price The magazine shows the price on the front. It’s usually found on the barcode but if the magazine is for sale it will be in a puff to make the audience aware of the cheaper price and therefore want to buy it. All these examples have the price in small black text on the barcode.
- 8. Barcode The magazine cover always contains a barcode at the bottom corner of the page.
- 9. Issue information The cover tells the audience the date each issue is released and how often the magazine is published, for example, ‘December 2016’ would show the audience it’s a monthly magazine. Usually under the title or on the barcode.
- 10. House Style The house style of a magazine cover is the font choice, the colour of the font, the arrangement of the font and pictures and the language, whether its formal or informal. The house style is based on the target audience. For example if the target audience is younger people the language will be slightly more informal, the magazine will be a bit more disorganised and will have bolder, brighter colours. Whereas if the magazine is aimed at an older target audience it will more likely be very organised (the text will be placed round the main image, having nothing overlapping so it doesn’t look busy), the text font will be very classic, traditional font, there wont be many colours on the cover and it will be very formal. The house style also indicates what type of genre the magazine is, for example kerrang has quite cracked text for the Masthead making it look very rock, along with all the red and fire often shown on the main images. NME looks as though it would be for a younger audience as its very busy with all the text overlapping the image and the use of lots of colour. The fonts are quite arty making some of it look hand done. This magazine cover is very organised and basic, there’s no busy text, the font choice is very traditional and basic bold font, there isn’t much writing on the image and the image is also very plain. Kerrang is clearly aimed at a teenage audience due to the busy writing all over the page covering the image, the writing is on a slant making it look even more busy. Theres lost of colours and pictures giving the audience plenty to look at.
- 11. Buzzword A word used to intrigue the reader and make them want to read on. It’s usually an incentive, something free or an offer such as ‘Free’.
- 12. A Puff This is a shape used on the cover page which attracts the readers eye as it stands out. It usually contains a buzzword which makes the reader want to buy the magazine. The puff is usually bright or eyecatching.