Ivan Bailey-Wilson

Magazine ConventionsFront Cover

Deconstruction of cover 1

Masthead/Banner

Plug(unique selling point)

Headline

Dominating piece of iconography

Barcode/Date

Graphic feature

Kicker

Graphic feature Cover (Selling) line

Anchorage text

Secondary lead

Deconstruction of cover 2Selling line

Masthead/Banner

Date/Issue number

Deconstruction of cover 3

Headline

Masthead/Banner

Selling line

Dominating piece of iconography

Anchorage text

Plug (unique selling point)

Secondary lead

Kicker

Menu strip

Graphic feature

Date/Issue number

• Plug or (unique selling point): This is usually something extra that only that magazine offers usually tagged with the words exclusive or extra to make it more presentable. The plug can also be referred to as a kicker.

• Masthead: This is usually the name of the magazine and will always be in the same font for every issue if the magazine, however the colour of the writing may change depending on what that particular issue was about. The masthead can become so “well known” that the producers of the magazine will allow it to become covered up, this is shown well in the third deconstruction of a magazine on slide four. It could also be referred to as a Primary lead.

• Primary piece of iconography: This is usually the main image on the front cover it is usually related to the main story in the magazine

• Anchorage text: This gives the reader a quick overview of what the magazine producer’s think about the article in question. The article in question is usually related to the main piece of iconography.

• Selling line: This is usually on a magazine to give the reader a better idea of what else other than the main story, is in the magazine.

• Buzzword: This draws reader’s attention to the menu strip.• Barcode/Price/Date: This is a legal requirement on every magazine. • Issue number: This is used to tell the reader which issue they have, and how many issues of

that magazine have already been released. • Secondary lead: This is usually another main story, however this story will not be as

important so will usually not make the headline.• Headline: This is a short summery of the main story usually compressed into a short but

catchy phrase. For example “ NEW FACES 2011”- From the “Rolling Stone” Magazine.

Key Definitions