Analysing magazine front covers

Below I have analysed the key features on a magazine front cover and why they're important in order to make an appealing and successful magazine. 

Purpose of a front cover

The front cover functions to entice readers to buy the magazine. They may not pick up the magazine in the first place to read what is inside unless the font cover attracted them. The front cover is made up of a number of important features, which are common conventions of magazines.

Masthead

It is the name of the magazine and is always displayed at the top. The font and the colour scheme will have been chosen very carefully to help sell the magazine and give the audience an indication of it's style and content.

Tagline

The tagline goes near the masthead and it shows what the magazine is about or who it may be aimed at.

Central image 

This is one of the most important parts of of the front cover as it is what catchers the readers eye before they even look at the text. The central image will be relevant to the magazines purpose and audience and will be usually be related to the lead article. 

Cover model

A cover model will usually be a celebrity or a well known individual connected with the magazines genre. The miss-en-scene of the model, such as their clothes or pose will reflect the style of magazine and who buys the magazine. 

Anchorage

This is a term that refers to how images are referred to. In magazines images will be anchored by captions, cover lines, articles or headlines. Anchoring an image helps give it a meaning and helps the reader understand the significance. 

Secondary images

They may be used on the front cover to help promote other features in the magazine, usually anchored by a cover line. They are usually used to entice the reader by a picture rather than the cover line text.

Cover lines

Cover lines are usually located at various points on the magazine front cover telling readers about the magazines contents and specifically the articles they will find. 

A puff

A puff is a device which helps draws attention to and promote certain elements in the magazine. They are often set against a colourful background and presented in a rounded shape. Quite often they represent a "freebie" or special offer inside the magazine. 

A pug

A pug is called the 'ears of a magazine', usually placed at the top left or right hand corners on the front cover and normally display a promotion from the magazines edition or the price. 

Barcode, Price, Edition

These are straightforward features but need to be strategically placed. The barcode shouldn't distract or interfere with any other features on the magazine and the price will normally be placed near by. Most magazines are monthly editions so the month and the year will be displayed. 

Colour

Some magazines will alter the colour schemes from edition to edition, however, others will get their colour scheme to coordinate with the central image. Sometimes the colour will be used to send off a particular message or the colour will help to promote a certain feature. 

Font

Front covers will display a variety of different fonts, usually adapted to infer meaning to the text they're displaying. Font choices are manipulated for both mastheads and cover lines. 

Serif - fonts with fancy feet. 

Sans Serif - fonts without fancy feet. 

Drop-cap - The first letter of the article tends to be in a larger, different or more elaborate font.

Below I have analysed the front cover of a Vogue magazine, featuring Jennifer Lopez as their cover star. 

Analysis of vogue magazine front cover:

Language 

Cover lines such as "your best body ever" refer to the reader and that this magazine with help them personally. This also grabs the readers attention. 

Design 

The masthead is placed at the top of the magazine cover in a large font. It's red font helps it stand out against the background. The image takes up most of the space on the cover, with cover lines on the sides. The image even overlaps the masthead, which shows us that it is a popular magazine. Different fonts are used and colours such as red, blue and white are used, which is suggested that the magazine is targeted for an older audience. They compliment each other and her red dress matches the masthead. 

Image

Jennifer Lopez is featured as the main cover image for this particular magazine. She is a well known singer, actress, model, dancer, author, producer and fashion designer, which may influence people to buy the magazine.  The magazine targets new readers as well as usual readers. The image is in direct mode of address, where the person in the image is looking straight at the reader. The direct gaze helps simulate interaction with each individual reader. The image of Jennifer Lopez is a medium shot and takes up most of the space on the front cover. Also around the image there is not much free space left. 

Overall impression 

In my opinion, I think that the front cover is effective, looks like a classy fashion magazine while targeting it's older female audience. It gives a good indication of what the magazine includes, which makes the reader look forward to reading the articles on how to better themselves and receiving  tips from influential people who have a celebrity status.