Magazine Conventions

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Magazine Construction
2
Conventions

• What you get on front covers

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7.
Selling Line or Banner
1.
Masthead
2.
Kicker
8.
Feature Article Photo
3.
Cover Line
9.
Headline
10.
Anchorage
4.
Secondary Lead
11.
Flash
12.
Menu Strip
5.
Graphic Feature or Puff
13.
Bar Code
14.
Date Line
Caption
6.
4
1.
Masthead
3.
Selling Line or Banner
4.
Tagline
5.
Feature Article Photo
6.
Headline
7.
Anchorage
2.
Secondary Lead
8.
Menu Strip
9.
Bar Code
10.
Date Line
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Conventions Notes

• On the Rolling Stone cover, the logo is
  superimposed Katy is located in front of it.
  This connotes that she is the main selling point
  of the magazine.
• On the Rolling Stone cover, the cover lines are
  located around Katy on the left and right hand
  columns which suggests that she is the main
  focus.
• The magazine has cover lines of current world
  issues such as climate change which implies
  that this is a sophiscated and more luxurious
  music magazine.
• A more sophisticated tone of writing is used
  which indicates that this is a music magazine
  targeted towards adults.

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Conventions Notes

• The title of the magazine is in a large, bold,
  white font which stretches across the top of the
  magazine and contrasts with the darker feature
  image. It is also a very loud and in your face
  word, which instantly grabs the attention of the
  potential customer.
• The tagline is located directly above the title
  of the magazine which advertises to the potential
  what topics you will come across in the magazine.
  If they are interested in the music/fashion/film
  , then they will most likely be persuaded to buy
  the magazine.
• The magazine also uses a secondary lead of the
  fashion issue which could potentially appeal to
  readers who have a key interest in fashion.
• The menu strip teases the content of the magazine
  which consequently persuades the reader to buy
  it.
• The lack of cover lines on the cover makes the
  front cover more attractive because it focuses on
  the feature image. The cover line to Charli XCXs
  interview is the rebel warrior it is simple
  yet intriguing to the reader because you want to
  know more about her and why she is a warrior.
• The unorthodox, basic style of the front cover
  indicates that this magazine is mainly targeted
  towards teenagers and young adults due to the
  indie/hipster design style.

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Design

• How front covers are conceived and laid out

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Poster Style
Rule of Thirds
A powerful image is used.
Colour, and not just size helps to order the
information it is central to the design
Use of white space and dead space is clearly
controlled
Graphic features tend to fit into a clear,
recognised style.
Grid System
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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?
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House Style Notes

• Rolling Stone generally use neutral coloured text
  such as black, white and grey so that the text
  stands out to the reader against the background
  of the main image.
• They generally use the same font for the kickers
  and cover lines on the front cover. However,
  Rolling Stone have a signature font to draw
  attention to the title of their iconic magazine
  and use a different font to advertise the special
  edition Summer Double Issue of the magazine.
• All the information (kickers, cover lines etc.)
  on the front cover is neat and organised which
  creates a sophisticated look to the magazine. The
  image of Katy Perry also makes it sexually
  appealing as she is looking directly into the
  camera with her mouth slightly open which is
  alluring to the potential customer. The
  audiences attention is especially drawn to
  Katys breasts or as theyre so nicely labelled
  Katys Kisses the sexualisation of this image
  suggests that this issue is geared towards a male
  audience as this will attract male readers to the
  magazine.
• Rule of thirds has been used effectively on this
  front cover. For example, the left third is
  filled by the menu strip. The centre third is
  dominated by the image of Katy Perry, which
  connotes that she is the central selling point of
  the magazine. Her eye line is also in the top
  centre third which grabs the audiences
  attention. The right third is effectively filled
  by the main headline and other news stories.
• Rolling Stole ultimately uses a poster-style
  front cover design to focus on the cover star and
  main news stories. Rolling Stone is an iconic
  magazine and generally has well-known cover stars
  as its main selling point. The front cover is
  generally quite bare, defying the typical
  conventions of a music magazine, but the
  poster-style and effective use of photography
  makes the magazine visually appealing to the
  audience.