Jessica Tipping Fact Sheet Unit 1

Front Cover Analysis

Masthead
The masthead is the name of the magazine and the big font text at the top of the
cover. It also makes the audience read from top to bottom because the masthead is
the first thing the audience is drawn to and is positioned underneath the skyline. This
is so it stands out against the cover background and makes it easier to see.The
masthead of the magazine spans the whole width of the page.The name often
signifies the genre of the magazine and has a unique font which helps with the
boldness by making it stand out.

The masthead on the cover of Digital Camera magazine is conventional as it spans

the whole width of the page and is placed behind the image making it visible. The
name “Digital Camera” signifies the genre of the magazine and ensures that the
audience understands that it is a photography magazine. The font is white and bold
making it stand out against the image. It is also bigger than the other text since it
signifies the genre of the magazine. This is because the font being white makes it
stand out against the orange and green shallow deep depth of field in the
background.

Main Image
The main image on a cover is usually a person who is a “star” and relevant to the
genre of the magazine. The main image conventionally uses a direct address
approach which enhances the audience interest by directly speaking as if to them
and the writing along with it refers to them as well . The image also signifies the
genre of the magazine, and is centred in the middle. The image overlaps the text and
the image and text take over the whole cover. The image includes the mise en scene
with its lighting, setting, props and movement which creates the meaning and
engages with the audience.

The main image is a close up of a photo because it brings more attention to the
butterfly. The image includes shallow depth of field with the colours green and
orange because it catches the audience's attention. This is because it shows good
photography to make the butterfly and flower which are the main objects of the
image stand out. The image overlaps the text and the image also takes over the
whole cover with the text, which is conventional. It has the settings of fast and short
aperture which is why the background is blurred, all the focus is on the butterfly and
flower. It appeals to the audience because the main focus of the image is the
butterfly sat upon the flower which are the only things that are not blurred by the
shallow depth of field other than the background. This also tells the audience that the
magazine is about photos and photography.

Positioning Statement
The positioning statement positions the magazine in the marketplace and usually
appeals to the audience. It acts like a tagline for the magazine and is positioned
beside or underneath the main cover line.

The positioning statement on the cover is located underneath the skyline and beside
the masthead which does act as a tagline for the magazine. The statement says
“The UK’s best selling photography magazine” and this appeals to the audience
since it gives them the sense that they are reading the best photography magazine
that's in the UK. The positioning statement is smaller than the masthead but bigger
than the issue information. This is to position the brand and give a brief description
so it stands out but not as much as the masthead.

Cover Lines
The Cover lines are the text around the main image on the cover and the purpose is
to inform the audience of what is inside the magazine. The conventional layout of
cover lines is that there is text in a larger, bolder and sometimes different colour font
first and this content of the cover line is what would appeal to the audience the most.
There is then smaller text underneath to give more information to the audience.

The cover of “Digital Camera” has cover lines around the main image and the
purpose of these is to inform the audience of what is inside the magazine. One
example of a cover line is “SONY ZV-E10” which is formatted in a black highlight and
orange text, which stands out to the audience. The text underneath this reads
“bargain 4k camera for newbie vloggers”, which expands on the original text to give
the audience more information about the article, which suggests that it will be a
guide to the best cameras for vloggers to use. That part of the cover line is in a
lowercase, white font and no highlights. The text that is highlighted the most is
significant because it will appeal to the audience the most because it’s a well
recognised and respected brand name, Sony. The text underneath is actually
formatted in a slightly less conventional way, because it’s almost slightly bigger than
the Sony part of the cover line. However, the Sony part does still stand out the most
because of the orange and black highlighting. the name of the camera. It also
includes the word “newbie” in the text which is an informal word and is also known as
Colloquial.

Main Cover Line

The main cover line is positioned on or close to the main image. It is bigger than
other cover lines linking it and anchors the meaning of the main image.

The main cover line is also at the top and is positioned on the main image, it's bigger
than the other cover lines and is linked to the main image which anchors the
meaning of what the magazine includes. It is in a big bold white text saying
“WILDLIFE PHOTOS” that's in all capitals and stands out against the background
which signifies to the audience what the genre of the magazine is and what the
magazine is about. The boldness of the text also makes it stand out so the audience
reads it.

Sub line
The sub line is the text underneath the main cover line with a smaller font and it
provides more information for the audience.

The sub line of the Digital Camera magazine is positioned underneath the main
cover line. It is the text that is smaller than the masthead but still bigger than the
cover lines. It is in a big white bold text in all capitals and says “Expert advice for
shooting like a pro” which appeals to the audience because it tells them more
information about being a good photographer.

SkyLine
The skyline is the position that runs across the top of the cover above the masthead.
It conventionally has a cover line or positioning statement in it.

The skyline is at the top of the Digital Camera cover; it runs across the top of the
cover and beside the Buzzword and above the Masthead. The Skyline is the big bold
orange text which is in all capitals at the top of the magazine cover which stands out
against the image. It also has secondary images next to it and the buzzword “gift” in
it. This appeals to the audience because it's telling them there are 14 free bonus gifts
that come with the magazine.

Barcode
The barcode is the small positioned box at the bottom outer edge of the magazine
cover.

The barcode is on the front of the magazine cover and is at the bottom of the page
on the outer edge of the cover. The barcode includes the issue information and the
price information for the magazine. It is in a white box to make it stand out and
includes the logo of the company that owns it. This tells the audience what company
owns the magazine and how much the magazine is.

Price and Issue Information

The price and issue information is the small price often near the masthead or the
barcode.

The price and issue information is found at the bottom of the cover and is found on
the barcode box.

Puff
The puff is the shape that looks like a sticker and draws the audience's attention. It
often gets a special cover line or incentive inside it.

There is a puff at the top of the magazine’s cover and is a round white sticker that
has a bold, red and all capitals word “PLUS” word on it. This tells the audience that
there's a bundle that comes with it and the “WORTH £45” is also in a bold, red all
capitalised sentence. Which tells the audience how much the bundle is as well as
small black text telling the audience what else they can buy a bundle for some more
money.

Incentive
The incentive appeals to the audience and gives extra reason to buy the magazine
with freebies and giveaways that can be found at the bottom or on the cover
somewhere.

The incentive is found at the top of the page of the “Digital Camera” magazine cover
and gives the audience info on freebies and giveaways. It also includes secondary
images with it at the bottom and tells the audience that there is free stuff with the
magazine such as: photo answers, camera college and hotshots. It has a big bold
orange text that's full capitals saying “FREE!” which tells the audience they don't
have to pay for them and the rest of the text is in all capitals and a white bold font.

BuzzWord
The buzzword is the word exclusive and free which is designed to appeal to the
audience by creating a buzz

The magazine has the buzzword at the top of the magazine cover above the
masthead. It is included in the big bold orange text at the top and is the word “gifts” .
This appeals to the audience because it tells them they are getting gifts with the
magazine, it is also in big bold orange text at the top of the magazine cover.

House Style
The house style is like the brand style for the magazine and will often reflect the
genre and target audience. It includes the style of the font, the style layout, colour
scheme and style of language.

The house style of digital camera is photography which reflects the genre to the
audience. The style of font is calibri which is a bold big font that's white. The style
layout is that the text is white so it stands out against the front of the cover. The
colour scheme is the orange and green blurred image background and makes the
white text stand out. The impact of all this is that the deep depth of field that blurs the
background makes the text stand out. The text it has on the cover is big, white and
bold to make it stand out since any other colour would have clashed against the
cover image. As well as the colour scheme makes the cover more vibrant to catch
the audience's attention.