Magazine front covers

Magazine Terms

Anchoring Text - Text that gives meaning to the pictures e.g. a picture of an actress would be anchored by her name and the film she is in.

Connotations - What an image such as a front cover suggests. For example, pink has feminine connotations and a rose has romantic connotations.

Cover lines – the words around the main image telling readers what is in the mag.

Cover mount – A free enticement or gift stuck to the front cover to encourage sales.

Font - the name for the type, numbers and punctuation marks, in one face and size e.g. ariel

House style – Special rules for a particular magazine about its size, the layout, font, colour scheme, spelling etc.

Graphics - The text boxes and symbols used in a article or on the front cover are referred to as graphics and may or may not include text.

Layout - How the page is designed and formatted with shapes, arrows, text and boxes at different angles etc.

Masthead – name of the magazine nearly always at the top of the front cover; acts as a logo with a fixed style of lettering and font size.

Main Image – typically a well composed, carefully created studio photograph of one person usually female, or one striking object related to the genre of the magazine.

Mode of address - The way a magazine “talks” to its audience i.e. it may ‘talk’ to you as a friend would. The model on the front maybe making eye contact with the reader giving direct address.

Puff - short phrase used to sell the magazine such as FREE INSIDE

Slogan – a few words giving the magazine a Unique Selling Point e.g. the Ultimate Car Magazine

Skyline – Runs across the top of the page and attracts readers to a special feature.

Strapline – A strap or bar of information that usually runs over the top of the page. It is used to summarise content ‘At Home Cheryl Cole’, or highlights a feature.