Magazine Cover Codes & Conventions (Namra Imran)

Codes and Conventions of Magazine Front

Covers

Masthead

Strip

Main Images / Anchorage

Main Cover Line

Cover Lines

Barcode

Buzz Word

Cover Lines with small images

Masthead

Cover Lines

Tag Line

Main Cover Line

Main cover line

Main Image

Puff

Main Cover Line

Buzz Word

Strip

Cover lines with small images

Date/month/ price

Masthead

Main Image

Other Cover Lines

Puff

Barcode

Masthead

Main Image / AnchorageMain Cover

Line

Cover lines

Cover Lines

Codes and Conventions of the Magazine

Masthead:

Masthead: • It is the title block of a magazine,

usually most eye-catching and has to be distinct.

• It is normally bold and simple to draw attention of the reader.

• It represents the genre of the magazine.

Examples

Tag Line: Usually found underneath

the masthead. Gives description or

highlights issue.

Strip: Across the top or bottom containing

list of items which feature in the

magazine. This conveys that the

magazine is full of interesting stories and

the audience is getting value for

money.

Main Image / Anchorage• Usually features the main story/article of a

magazine. • Medium to close-up shots and represents the

genre of the magazine.• In the sports magazine the picture is acting as an

inspirational tool to attract teenagers towards cricket by presenting well known cricketers.

Main Cover Line • Largest text on cover after title and it anchors

the meaning of the image.• May contain a sub-line in smaller text giving

more information about the article. It acts as a symbol of attracting the audience to read the magazine.

Cover Lines• Lines of text on front cover to draw attention of

audience• These are there to educate audience about

what else can be found in the magazine.• They are normally written in bold and on the

side of magazine cover

Pug and puff• Puff- offers something else to the

magazine such as free give away. • Pug-gives promotional offers. It looks

like a sticker on the magazine cover.

Buzz Words • Usually with the main feature article.

They are used to attract attention such as "Exclusive, Free, Plus "

Barcode/Price• Positioned along the right and bottom.

Along it will sometimes be date/month of edition, price, website and issue number,

Header and footer bars: Like a strip, presents highlights of the magazine. Could have a slogan, description or added attraction.

Header Bar

Footer Bar