THE MAGAZINE INDUSTRY

learning zone two: front cover analysis

Media Studies @ ICHK

Learning Outcomes
learning zone two: front cover analysis

◦ Develop your analytical skills

◦ Develop your understanding of

codes and conventions of
magazines front covers
recap M.I.G.R.A.I.N.E

denotation

connotation

codes (SWAT)

conventions
In Western culture we learn to
read from left to right and from
top to bottom. So the prime
position on a magazine front
cover is the top left hand corner.

What else do we
expect to see on a
magazine cover?
 DEFINING CONVENTIONS
A convention is what we expect to see
in a media text of a certain type/
genre.

CONVENTIONS = THE INGREDIENTS

Do you know any conventions of

magazine front covers?
WHAT CODES AND CONVENTIONS DO
YOU ALREADY KNOW IN RELATION TO
A MAGAZINE’S FRONT COVER?
NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
The use of body language and eye
contact can be used to give off an
‘attitude’ of the magazine through
the model’s pose and expression.

OBJECTS/PROPS
Certain objects and props
can give off connotations to
the audience (e.g.
cigarettes, guns)

key signifier /main image

LIGHTING
The use of lighting helps create a
certain representation of the model
and the magazine’s identity.

What are the symbolic codes

of the key signifier?
Think P.L.A.C.E.S
masthead: strapline:
This is the The line of
name of the text at the top
magazine. of the front
Usually the cover. Uses
font style buzz words to
gives clues attract an
about the
genre audience.

cover-line: sell-lines:
These refer to
These are other
the Cover
lines for other
story and are
articles and
the most
features on the
important part
front cover other
of teasing an
than the main
audience to
Cover Line.
buy the
product.
 price
website
barcode
date
 SLOGAN:
Makes a claim
of quality to
attract the
audience

PUFF: an
incentive which is
place on the
cover to make
something stand
out. Usually by
putting text
around a shape.
BUZZ
WORD:Usually
promotes
something that is
exclusive or for
example where a
magazine has a
prize /gift.
INDEPENDENT TASK
Download the PDF ‘Three Magazine Covers’ from Gibbon.

Identify and annotate, using to sticky notes in the Acrobat

Reader, the conventions listed below.

key signifier /main image

masthead
cover lines
sell lines
strapline
price
barcode
STICKY NOTES website
puff
slogan
buzz words
 ANALYSING THE MISE
EN SCENE OF
MAGAZINE COVERS

mise-en-scene : Every visual element in

an shot/image/cover...

What ‘visual elements’ do you expect to

see on a magazine’s front cover?
COLOUR
The use of
colour gives off
connotations to
attract the
readership (e.g. red,
blue, black are very male,
boyish colours - pink, white
are very feminine colours)
NON VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
The use of body
language and eye
contact can be
used to give off
an ‘attitude’ of
the magazine
through the
model’s pose and
expression
OBJECTS/PROPS
Certain objects and
props can give off
connotations to the
audience (e.g.
cigarettes, guns)
SETTING
Studio settings
create a
glamorous, false
world we can
aspire to. Exterior
settings create a
more realistic
representation.
LIGHTING
The use of lighting helps create a certain representation
of the model and the magazine’s identity.
Low Key (dramatic, moody)
High Key (bright and exciting)
Low contrast (many different colours, everyday)
High contrast (dramatic, volatile)
INDEPENDENT TASK
Examine the front cover of a magazine from the pile and
carry out a detailed mise en scene analysis using the
denotation and connotation process and record your ideas
in a table, like the one below.

area denotation connotation

main image

costume

colours
non-verbal
communication
props

setting
text