Conventions

1
Magazine Construction

• Tom loftus

2
Conventions

• What you get on front covers

3
1.
Masthead
8.
Selling Line or Banner
Web-links? Ears?
9.
Tagline
2.
Kicker
10.
Feature Article Photo
3.
Cover Line
11.
Headline
12.
Anchorage
4.
Secondary Lead
13.
Flash
14.
Menu Strip
5.
Plug
6.
Graphic Feature or Puff
15.
Bar Code
16.
Date Line
Caption
7.
4

• Masthead The title of a newspaper or periodical
  as it appears across the first page, front cover,
  or title page of each issue. Also called
  nameplate.
• Kicker
• Cover line Simply a small article which would
  fit into a magazine.
• Secondary lead
• Plug
• Graphic feature or puff
• Caption
• Selling line or banner
• Tagline
• Feature article picture

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Conventions Notes

• e.g.
• Connotations of the Masthead
• What meaning is added with the interaction
  between anchorage and photos
• What lifestyles are hinted at in taglines,
  kickers and use of language in general
• What is regarded as most important on the cover
  and why you think this is
• What tone / type of language is used

6
Conventions of a music magazine

• The masthead is usually quite striking with music
  magazines as they are appealing to a younger
  audience.
• The meaning added by the anchorage and photos is
  that they are intertwined creating a second
  meaning for the image. Therefore by adding this
  anchorage the nme magazine conveys more meaning
  on its front page.
• The lifestyles hinted in the taglines are ones of
  students and party goers as it references drugs
  and violence. It also features a image of Jamie t
  who looks to have a student weekend warrior look
  to him again reinforcing the target audience of
  probably being young adults and students.
• I think the feature article photo is the most
  important on a magazine front covers as its the
  main contributing factor of what people look for
  when picking an magazine. Therefore this is the
  face of the magazine and it gives the audience
  there initial first impression.
• Colour is especially important when dealing with
  a music magazine as it can make the magazine flow
  with the right colour scheme. Usually music
  magazines follow a trend of yellow, black ,white
  or red colour schemes.

7
Design

• How front covers are conceived and laid out

8
(No Transcript)
9
Masthead
Selling Line or Banner
Cover Line
Kicker
Headline
Feature Article Photo
Anchorage
Menu Strip
Date Line
Bar Code
10
Direct mode of address can appear in yer face,
serious, warm
Indirect mode of address can be mysterious,
lively, sombre
Creates a wacky, fun image, sharing an identity
with the reader that offers the independence of
indie music.
Enigma what are they getting up to now?
11
House Style Design Notes

• COLOUR - Is a colour scheme used?-nme tends to
  have a black and white colour scheme mixed with
  one other supporting colour. As they use primary
  colours they usually blend quite well and help
  the magazine flow. Is it the same with every
  issue or switch according to the images?-however
  the colour scheme does change according to the
  main focus image as they have to choose specific
  colours to contrast well with the image itself.
  Is there a pattern as to where colour is used?-
  there is a pattern that the writing often
  featured on nmes cover is black or white as
  coloured text can sometimes be barely visible.
  Does colour have its own meaning?- yes colour
  does have its own meaning as different colours
  can provoke different feelings, connotations and
  emotions. e.g. (red anger, blood etc.)
• FONTS - Roughly how many different fonts (not
  sizes) are used? Can you link the same fonts
  with the same conventions?- nme generally stick
  to the same font from cover to cover as the
  readers have established a connation with this
  specific font and nme as a brand.
• STYLE - What look and feel is created?- the cover
  creates a waster/rockstar look and feel as the
  featured image is the libertines a notorious band
  for excessive alcohol and drug use with also a
  article about which celebrity's are on ecstasy.
  How much does the cover image contribute to
  this?- the cover image contributes to this
  because its physically showing you the look of
  rock stars therefore the audience gets a clear
  image in their head of what this magazine will
  entail. What photographic techniques are used?-
  the rule of thirds is easily visible as each band
  members face is in a different segment. Also the
  photo has been taken from a high angle therefore
  making the band members look smaller. Describe
  the mode of address and overall look e.g.
  invitational, mysterious etc. Is a theme used
  e.g. futuristic? Does an enigma prompt the
  reader to ask questions?
• USE OF SPACE - How has the rule of thirds been
  used? Does the left-third dominate? Is the use
  of space typical e.g. masthead top-left, headline
  sitting at the bottom of the mid-third etc.? Is
  it spread out, blocky, chaotic? Is there any
  dead space or white space?
• CONCLUDE Why do you think it is designed as it
  is? Does it reinforce or challenge the typical
  conventions? Is it poster-style, busy , loud,
  inyerface, smooth, slick, stylish, fun etc.?