Conventions

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Magazine Construction
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Conventions

• What you get on front covers

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(No Transcript)
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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
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15.
Bar Code
16.
Date Line
Caption
7.
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The selling line and banner are the same here but
the difference is that the banner acts more as a
slogan e.g. Life is loud whereas the selling
line highlights a major selling point of the
magazine.
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Other features include the plug (used to indicate
the presence of some kind of freebie through
buying the magazine) and the caption (used to
comment on any additional photographic material
such as the secondary lead).
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1.
Masthead
8.
Selling Line or Banner
Web-links? Ears?
9.
Tagline
Kicker
2.
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
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15.
Bar Code
16.
Date Line
Caption
7.
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Conventions Notes

• The masthead of the magazine helps the reader
  indicate which type of music genre it focuses on.
  It can also be recognised as it usually indicates
  some sort of logo.
• The anchorage helps to add meaning as it is
  linked to the Feature article photo, the
  anchorage usually explains the photo with the
  name of the band/ musician. The anchorage can
  help the reader relate to the image because it
  advertises the person(s) in the photo or can be
  the logo of the band/ musician.
• The Kickers and taglines advertise the magazine
  and certain contents the magazine on the
  previous page advertises breaking bad the TV
  series and other numerous artists, The Tagline
  makes a bold, confident statement, which says a
  lot about the magazine
• The most important thing on the cover in my
  opinion is the featured article photo, its of
  great importance and it stands out, everything is
  also orientated around the image, although the
  masthead does stand out against the cover, as its
  supposed to grab you attention with the vibrant
  colouring and its there to be recognised.
• Quite casual language/ tone is used throughout
  the cover, easy to understand for everyone
• You get the impression from the photographic
  style that the artist is important because the
  shot is from a slightly low angle looking down as
  his head is tilted, this makes him seem superior
• A colour scheme of red, black and white was used,
  simple yet effective

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Design

• How front covers are conceived and laid out

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Different Approaches
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Dead Space
White Space
Dead space areas need filling whereas white space
areas can look effective when used correctly as a
spacer to divide up text without using an image
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Mastheads
Mastheads on magazines tend to fit into set
categories the banner style, the stamp, the
artistic and the genre-specific.
Stamp
Banner
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Rule of thirds
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Colour, and not just size helps to order the
information it is central to the design
Poster Style
A powerful image is used
Use of white space and dead space is clearly
controlled
Graphic features tend to fit into a clear,
recognised style.
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Busy Style
Full use of the conventions
Sizing and the major and minor elements reveals
importance
Everything is neat and controlled
The house style is well supported by both text
and image communicating the same messages 3-4
colours and 3-4 fonts used maximum
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Indirect mode of address can be mysterious,
lively, sombre
Direct mode of address can appear in yer face,
serious, warm
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?
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House Style Design Notes

• COLOUR - Is a colour scheme used? Is it the same
  with every issue or switch according to the
  images?
• Is there a pattern as to where colour is used?
  Does colour have its own meaning?
• FONTS - Roughly how many different fonts (not
  sizes) are used? Can you link the same fonts
  with the
• same conventions?
• STYLE - What look and feel is created? How much
  does the cover image contribute to this? What
• photographic techniques are used? 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.?