Front Cover Research

 

The front cover is supposed to entice the readers to buy the magazine.

Looking at the conventions of a magazine, music magazines have special conventions.

 

The masterhead

The masterhead is the name of the magazine, its usually at the top of the magazine, the eyes are drawn to the top of the magazine and its carefully chosen.

Tagline

The tagline is near the masterhead and it gives more information about the magazine.

 

The central image

The central image is supposed to catch the readers eye, and its possibly the most important feature on the front cover. You also have to think about the connotation and the denotation.

Covermodel

The cover model should be a 'well known' individual who has the power to make people want to know more about them. When analysing think about the mise-en-scene.

Anchorage

The anchorage helps the magazine by providing captions, it links the main image to the story/magazine.

 

Secondary images

The secondary images help to promote the magazine by showing other things that the magazine has inside it by enticing it.
 

Coverlines

The coverlines are down the side of the front cover, and they give the reader a little 'taster' of what the magazine has inside it; it sums up stories.

Mode of address

The mode of address communicates with individual readers.

Puff/plugs

The puff or plugs help to advertise a compotition, or 'freebies' that you may get inside of the magazine. It advertises these things which helps the public want to buy the magazine.

Pug

The pug is the 'ears' of the magazine, such things like the price, the promotional offer and barcode and they're usually found in the corners of the magazine.