Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

• One central image which takes up the whole cover
• Special offers 
• Bold Title 
• Small price printed 
• Issue Number
• One main headline
• Buzz Words

• Singer/band it is usually the main feature article
• Studio photographs (conveys some sort of attitude) 
• Direct address(looking into the lens of the camera)

Trade Mark
Unique Font- usually one word, fills the width of the cover, or is on the top left. 


Mast Head 

• Positioning Statement-usually above or below the title shows the genre of the magazine. 
• Price and issue date by the little (11pt size)
  (sometimes barcode)

• Puff- offering something extra to the magazine (CD, article, clothes)
• Buzz Word- "exclusive" most commen-(illustrating main feature)
• Cover lines-(sell lines)- small snippets of extra stories in the magazine.
• Main Cover line is the largest text on the cover and it anchors the meaning of the image.( names/describes image). Usually a subline in smaller text giving more information about the article . Other cover lines are usually one or two words with sublines. Explaining them. This is consistent across the line.
  First two lines or words in colour/larger font size/different font to sublines.
  Some are used to intrigue the reader.

Barcode
Strip across the top or bottom containing a list of artists names who feature in the magazine. 

• Coverlines frame the image or are down one side of the magazine.
• Small number of colours used.