MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION

Aimee Archibald

CONVENTIONSWhat you get on front covers

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Masthead

Kicker

Cover Line

Secondary Lead

Plug

Graphic Feature

Selling Line

Banner

Feature Article Photo

Anchorage

Flash

Menu StripBar Code

Date Line

Headline

CONVENTIONS NOTES

The normal layout of a magazine is the conventions. This is a

set of things that most magazines use to make it more

effective, and for people to easily spot what they are looking

at.

The conventions also make it easy for people to see when a

magazine is going against the normal layout and that can

interest people.

DESIGNHow front covers are conceived and laid out

Masthead

Selling line

Banner

Secondary lead

Headline

anchorage

Date line

Barcode

Graphic feature

Menu strip

Feature article picture

Kicker

Cover line

DESIGN NOTESDominating colours ; red, yellow, white, black ,grey

and blue.

Bold fonts, to get attention?

Kickers are important, over

pictures.

Lettering is in capitals, the

background image stands out.

Small bursts of colour for titles/ headings/ kickers.

Very crowded

DESIGN NOTESThe main layout of a magazine is to

have the title in the top left hand third

The barcode in the bottom right

third.

The lead singer of a band in the

centre top third of the image.

To use the middle centre third for the main story headline.

They tend to put the plug into the bottom centre.

AUDIENCEHow a magazine ‘speaks’ to its readers

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?

AUDIENCE NOTESReader relationship (mode of address)

Attitude

Language (words and phrases)

Enigmas