Conventions of a magazine cover

• Mast Head - this generally refers to the title of a magazine cover; this is always found at the top left corner of a magazine cover, for example, 'OK!' is the title of Ok Magazine. The mast head is often produced strategically so the editors can distinguish their magazine from others; the mast head is like a logo, it wants to be unique and eyecatching.
• Left Third - this refers to the left side of the cover once it is divided into three sections vertically. This section is important as it holds most of the story headlines and advertising techniques. Also, if the magazine cover has a slogan or catchphrase (for example, Number one for celeb gossip!) it is generally found in the left thirs underneath the mast head. Also, if magazines are stacked in a shop and not shown full frontally, then the left third will be displayed, thus showing the mast head and story titles; this is to anchor the reader in.
• Cover Lines - These are catchy phrases placed on the magazine about the stories featured inside. These are used to attract the audiences attention. Most cover lines are over exaggertaed for this purpose. The cover lines are used in an attempt to make the reader want to read more about the story that is featured on the cover line.
• Sell Lines - This is a short, sharp description of the magazine - like a slogan. An example of this is the sell line for Cosmopolitan - 'The world's No 1 magazine for young women'.
• Barcode - A bar used by retailers so they know which issue is being purchased.
• Dateline - This is the date the magazine was published (for example, 01/05/2011) and is often followed by the issue number and the price. This is nomrally found on the right third of a magazine beneath the mast head.
• Splash - This is basically the full front cover.
• Credit - This shows who wrote the article; the author. Example - 'this is credited to Emily Craddock'.
• Kicker - This is a short phrase that is found above the mast head; it can be used as an introduction to the magazine. It may also kick you to a certain page (example - 'My husband beat me up, see why on page 50).
• Teller - A sub header that tells you what the main story is about, for example a headline could be 'I killed my sister!' then underneath the headline it would explain breifly about the story. These are used to make the audience want to read the full story.
• Skyline - The skyline is the section of the magazine above the mast head; here is where what the magazine is about (celeb gossip ... food ... exercise) is usually featured.
• Flash - This is like an advert which appears to be rasied above everything else on the page, it often advertises free products and may be in the shape of a star (for example, Win a FREE holiday!).
• Graphology - It flashes at you.
• Anchorage - Giving the picture meaning, for example if there was a picture of Barack Obama, the anchorage would be text saying something like 'Obama's big speech'.
• Colour Scheme - This if generally three or four colours that are used on the front cover; for example the background may be purple, some text red, some green. Any boxes or Flashes on the page would stick to these colours.
• Vocabulary - The words used.
• Screamers - When a headline 'screams' at you.
• Images - Self explanatory; photographs, animated pictures (clipart).