Conventions

Tagline

Cover lines

Rule of three

The tagline is used to promote the article, in this case the magazine's main article, and to catch readers' interest. It uses buzz words such as "unveiled" to make the article sound more appealing to the reader of the magazine.

The cover lines inform the reader on the articles in the magazine. Under each cover line (e.g "Spider - man's) is the anchorage text (e.g. "True Love!). The anchorage text gives the reader more information on the articles mentioned in the cover lines.

The rule of three on magazine covers involves three main colours being used on the cover to create the cover's house style. This cover uses pink, blue and white as its main three colours. This also draws more attention to the other colours which are used, such as the yellow text in the bottom left corner.

Z rule

Main cover line

The z rule is used to attract readers' attention to the cover of a magazine by making the layout into a "z" shape, using the masthead, the feature image, and the contents strip as the z. This cover does not have a contents strip across the bottom of the cover, so it does not fully follow the z rule.

The main cover line tells the reader what the feature article in the magazine is about. The main cover line on this issue of Empire is the name of the film which is the subject of the feature article. This will attract readers who are interested in this film.

Strapline

The strapline of the magazine is the magazine's motto, and it is used to promote the magazine. It uses buzz words such as "world's biggest" to attract readers to the magazine.

Teaser

Feature Image

The teaser is an article, or in some other cases a free gift, which is used to increase sales. On this magazine the teaser is an article, and the cover line for the teaser uses the colour yellow, which is not one of the main colours on the magazine cover. This, with the use of buzz words such as "Plus!", makes the article stand out and catch the reader's interest by making the article sound exciting and exclusive.

The feature image of a film magazine is usually an actor or actress. This issue of Empire has an actor and an actress, Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. This is because the feature article in this magazine is about the film "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", which they both starred in. Daniel Craig is a well known actor, and would attract attention to the magazine cover. This also shows the reader what the magazine is about, and would attract readers interested in seeing the film.

Other conventions

Masthead

Barcode - Used for purchase of the magazine

Date/Price - for the purchase of the magazine. May sometimes have an issue number or a link to the magazine's website

The magazine's masthead acts as a logo. It is the title of the magazine and attracts readers of the magazine by allowing them to know which magazine it is. The "Empire" masthead tells audiences the name of the magazine, and, as Empire is a well - known magazine, the name attracts readers to the magazine.

Conventions of a magazine cover