UNIT1 FACT SHEET ALFIE DEAN

Front Cover Analysis

Skyline

Mast head

Positioning Cover
statement lines

Buzzword
Main
cover
lines

Main
Image

Price and
Issue
Barcode information
Incentive
Masthead:
The masthead is the large, bold text that stands out from the background on the
magazine and is also the name of the magazine, it has a unique font that is not used
on any other text on the cover of the magazine and is always positioned at the top of
the page. This is because it will make it easier for people to see the name of the
magazine when it is on shelves in shops. Also for established brands of magazines
the main image of the magazine might overlap the masthead. Finally, the name of
the magazine itself conventionally signifies the genre.

On the cover of Total Film, the masthead is clearly visible near the top of the
magazine cover page. The masthead is conventional because it is in large, bold text
that stand out from the background of the magazine cover. It is also conventional
because the masthead is the name of the established brand and therefore the main
image overlaps it a little. A connotation that the Masthead conveys is generic, this
signifies to new or old reader’s that the magazine isn’t hard to get hooked on and it is
very easy to read over and over again. The connotations of the word ‘Total’ are
abundant and complete, this signifies to the reader’s that the magazines they
produce have a lot of variety in their magazines. The font used for the Masthead
appeals to the audience by being the biggest font on the front cover and the colour
white used for it stands out as it is behind the main image which doesn’t include the
colour white which makes the Masthead pop out.

Main image:
The main image conventionally uses direct address (eye contact) because it makes
it look like the image is directly looking at the audience which engages them to the
magazine. It will overlap the masthead if the magazine is made by an established
brand. It takes up the whole of the page to make it the centre focus and is usually
centred in the middle of magazine cover. It is conventionally a famous person of the
genre of the magazine to signify the genre to the audience or any new people
reading the magazine. The main image on a magazine would be a visually striking
image. The ‘Mise en scene’ is French for ‘In the scene’ and includes everything you
can see in the image such as costumes, make-up, hair, setting, lighting, colour,
props, body language and expressions. The Mise en scene signifies the genre to the
audience and will be visually engaging.

On the cover of Total Film magazine, the main image overlaps the masthead which it
does on many other Total Film magazines, which is conventional. Another reason
why the main image on Total Film magazine is conventional is because the main
image uses direct address, which helps to appeal the magazine to the audience and
helps to engage them as well.
A connotation of the main image on my magazine is colourful, this is due to the
outfits that they are wearing which has green with grey accents and blue with gold
accents, this signifies to the readers that the show these characters are based off is
bright and colourful and maybe there are other people in the show or film just like
them.

Secondary images:
Secondary images are the images that are not the main image but
instead other pictures that do or don't support the main image.
Secondary images are used to help people who may not like
reading show people what is included in the magazine.

On the magazine cover there are no secondary images, however,

there are magazines that Total Film have made with secondary
images such as this Total Film magazine from 2015. On the
magazine, there are various pictures at the bottom showing what
other films are covered in the magazine. This is done because
Total Film wants to show people who may not like the topic the
main image is conveying isn’t the only thing included in the
magazine. This signifies that the magazine is jam packed with
options people will enjoy reading.

Cover Lines:
The text on the front cover is known as the cover lines and are positioned all around
the main image. The cover lines highlight the feature content in the magazine which
helps the audience know what is inside the magazine which is a way to help the
magazine appeal to the audience as well. There is always some text a which is
bigger, bolder and in different colours from one another to stand out from each other
and helps the audience appeal to what they might think would be interesting in the
magazine. There is also smaller text underneath that is a subline that gives more info
about the content of the magazine.

On my magazine the cover lines are on the right-hand side of the cover page next to
the main image. They are conventional because it also has sub lines which gives the
readers more information about the content of my magazine such as including
Andrew Garfield in the magazine. The use of making the cover line pink instead of
white and using a different font then the other text on the front cover are ways to
make the cover lines stand out from the rest of the text, gravitating the reader’s eyes
towards them. It also shows the readers what the magazine wants to show them and
what the recommend to read in the magazine.
Main Cover Line:
The main cover lines are formatted in the same way as the other line but it’s larger, it
is conventionally the largest font on the page after the Masthead and it is linked to
the main cover image. It is often positioned over the top of the main image or even
touching it.

On my Total Film Front Cover, does include a Main Cover Line which is in front of
the Main image on the magazine. This makes it conventional. It also consists of a
big, simple white and blue font which stands out on the magazine, fits in with the
other text on the front cover, and is conventional due to the fact that it is the second
largest font on the front cover page. The Main Cover Line connotes interest because
with the Main Cover Line stating the name of the show in which the Front Cover and
the Main Image is all about, it further peaks the interest of people passing by or
readers of the magazine to check out the show the Main Cover Line is trying to
convey.

Positioning Statement:
The tagline or the slogan for the magazine is called the Positioning Statement and it
is conventionally positioned near the Masthead and not directly on it. It helps the
audience know the purpose of the magazine and it also positions the magazine in
the Marketplace.

On the front cover of my magazine, it includes a Positioning Statement which is

positioned near the Masthead which makes it conventional and it is in a bold font, the
bold, white font is used to make the Positioning Statement stand out on the front
cover page whilst being the same colour pattern as the rest of the text on the front
cover page. The name of the person who said the statement is also included as well
but instead of being in a bold, white font, it is in a blue font which helps it to not blend
in with the Positioning Statement. The word ‘special’ which is used within the
Positioning Statement has a connotation, this being unique which helps to persuade
the readers to look into the show/article on what the Positioning Statement is talking
about.

Issue information and price:

This is the smallest font on the magazine is for the price and issue information and is
also accompanied with a barcode or it is found near the Masthead.

On my magazine, the Issue information is conventional because it is the smallest

font on the page using a black colour font on a white square making it stand out and
it is found near the barcode and the price of the magazine. And also, it is also found
near the Masthead of the magazine not taking up too much space. It is also
positioned in the bottom right side of my magazine which helps to make sure people
don’t take attention away from the main image or the Masthead.
Some connotations of the Issue information recent, new, accurate. These signify to
the reader’s that the information that is being showed to them isn’t outdated or old,
but it is accurate to when it was released.

Barcode: On every single magazine there is always a barcode on it, this is because
this is how you buy the magazine from shops. The barcode on the magazine is
positioned on the edge of the magazine so it doesn’t distract the readers away from
the main cover content such as the main image.

On my magazine, the barcode is clearly visible next to the price and issue information which
helps people to easily spot it. It is conventional as it is positioned on the edge of the
magazine, specifically the bottom right of the magazine. Some connotations of the barcode
include easy, simple and useful. These signifies that the barcode is an easy alternative way
of buying the magazine for the audience and not making difficult to buy it.

Sky line: The skyline is the position that runs all across the top of the magazine,
conventionally it has a cover line in it or the positioning statement.

On my Total Film magazine, it does include a skyline, and it is conventional since all
of it is along the top of the front cover above the main image and Masthead. The
Skyline is written in a bold, simplistic font in both white and pink which helps to put
focus on the Skyline.
The connotations included with the skyline include intrigue and importance. This
signifies to the reader one of the things that is important in the magazine and
something that the reader should look at.

Puff: A puff on a magazine is a shape that would look like a sticker which
conventionally has a coverline or incentive on it, this is used to draw the audience’s
attention towards the magazine.

On my Total Film magazine there isn’t a puff. However,

on this Total Film magazine there is a puff which is the
big red circle that stands out on the magazine which is
conventional due to the fact that it has a coverline on it.
The connotations of the puff on this magazine include
bright, big and intriguing. This signifies to the reader that
the text on the sticker is very interesting and draws the
attention of the readers on what is on the puff.
Incentive: The Incentive is the thing on the magazine which might appeal to the
audience and gives them a reason to buy it. Examples include the price, giveaway,
something free.

At the bottom of my Total Film magazine front cover an incentive is included, this is
put at the bottom to make sure the readers don’t spend too long on it and wants to
put the attention on what is in the middle of the front cover such as the Main Cover
Line. The incentive on the front cover is conventional because it has the word ‘plus’
which would appeal to the audience and would give them a good reason to buy the
magazine. Some key connotations of the incentive include simplistic which signifies
to the reader that what the incentive is trying to promote to them is easy to
understand and not anything difficult.

Buzzword: A buzzword is words such as free or exclusive, they are used to create a
buzz feeling or acts as a reason for people to buy the magazine.

On my magazine, the buzzword included on the front cover is the word ‘Exclusive’, it
is positioned above the Main Cover Lines with the same colour font used as it as
well. However, the Buzzword is surrounded by a blue box which helps it to stand out
from the Main Cover Line and trying to attract people’s attention. The word
‘Exclusive’ has connotations, these being rare, limited time and enticing. This helps
signify to the audience that the information included within the magazine isn’t going
to be included within other magazines and this persuades people into buying the
magazine which makes the Buzzword conventional.

House Style: The House Style is the brand style of the fonts, layout, colour schemes
and language. The house styles will conventionally be appropriate to the genre the
magazine is about and the target audience the magazine is trying to reach and
appeal towards.

On my magazine’s front cover there are multiple words and text present with various
sizes, colour and font, most text on the front cover is written in a bold white font
which connotes simplicity and helps to attract the readers on certain articles and
information within the magazine. Also, the text also appears in blue and pink which
heavily contrasts with the colour scheme of the front cover, this helps to make that
text stand out as well in a more unique way, the blue and pink colouring for some of
the text also makes the House Style conventional because the colour scheme is
trying to attract a certain Target Audience Total Film wants to appeal, this being both
males and females.