Just what does go into a magazine front cover? Well lets find out.

1. Conventions of Magazine Covers

2. Purpose of Magazine
Covers
 The main function of front
covers of magazines is to
sell the magazine
 They are deliberately eye-catching,
interesting and
brightly coloured
 They also clearly display
the “house style” of the
magazine

3. Magazine Front
Covers
Masthead, which is usually
at the top of the page. It will
make the magazine easily
recognisable to the audience
The Central Visual
Image (CVI).
Usually
photographed either
in a close up or
medium shot –
Direct Address
This will be the
content of the
featured article of
the magazine
The Cover Line is
always bigger than
the rest and
dominates the page
Cover Lines/Tag Lines
are the main text on the
cover – they advertise
articles in the magazine
Most pages will have a
colour palette – a
defined choice of colours
– to create a
recognisable house style
Many magazines will
have the price text larger
or include free gifts
Date and Barcode –
usually now with a web
address to entice the
audiences to the
magazine’s website
Straplines may be used
to highlight stars in the
magazine