Analysing Magazine Front Covers

Written codes – how are words used on the cover?

Masthead, strapline, main cover line and cover lines.What do they suggest about what’s inside?How do they suggest the interests of the readers?Can you identify the contents at a glance?Size and layout – are they big enough to be read from a distance?Will they stand out on a shelf?

LanguageHow does it address the reader and grab his/her attention?What language features can you identify?

ColourColours can have different associations (or connotations), e.g. pink for girls and blue for boys; red is associated with anger, love (red roses or hearts), stop (on traffic lights), embarrassment (blushing), the devil and certain football teams. What mood/impression do the colours create?

ImagesUsually, the image on the cover represents the target reader, or the ideal that the target reader would like to aspire to.Men’s magazines like Loaded or FHM usually have a woman on the front cover, which may represent the male reader’s ideal girlfriend!Who or what is featured, and what does it represent?

Pose, style, hair, make-up Mode of addressWhat impression do these create for the reader?

Composition and framingClose-up, long-shot, cropped or digitally manipulated?What’s in the background?What do you notice first? How does your eye move across the cover?

DesignHow do words and images fit together?What fonts and styles of lettering have been used, and what do they suggest?

Overall impression – how effective is the front cover?Does it give a good indication of what’s inside?Who is it designed to appeal to, and how does it represent the readers’ interests?What sorts of readers are not addressed and why?