F I N D T H E O R E T I C A L R E S E A R C H F R O M B O O K S O R T H E I N T E R N E T W H I C H G I V E S

Y O U I N S I G H T I N T O Y O U R F O R M

Form Research

Sales Models for Distribution

Circulation Meaning

Paid circulation Paid circulation is where the magazine is sold to readers for a specific price. This can be on a per-issue basis or by subscription price, where an annual or monthly cost is payable and then issues will be sent via post to the reader.

Non paid circulation Non paid circulation is referring to a magazine which has no cover price and these kind of magazines are typically given away for example in street dispensers, airline in-flight magazines or sometimes included in with other publications

Controlled circulation This circulation is most commonly used by insider magazines or industry publications which are then only distributed to qualifying readers, this is often for free.

Mastheads

The masthead is one of the most eye catching pieces of the magazine, so therefore needs to stand out. I have noticed that uppercase letters make the masthead stand out more, and therefore is a technique I will look into using for my own magazine. The masthead for top of the pops is unique as the style of the writing is one only seen for this magazine, and I like the fact the less important words “of the” are in lower case in a circle, as this creates a good effect towards the reader and is something you would easily recognise. The we love pop masthead is clever because they include a love heart instead of the word love and I think this appeals to the target audience, again the use of uppercase letter is important and I like the fact the wording is surrounded by a speech bubble.

Backgrounds

I have noticed that in the magazines I have looked at they feature a white background and this is used to provide emphasis on the celebrity image on the front cover. It also helps the masthead and title stand out, and therefore engage the reader

from the many different magazines that are around these days. If the background was a bright colour it would take away from the significance of the celebrity image, and this portrays a special message to the reader and allows them to feel part of the

magazine straight away.

Magazines

Magazines, periodicals or serials are publications which can be printed with ink onto paper, or alternatively distributed online

Magazines are published on a weekly or monthly basis and contain a variety of content typical to the genre and target audience they are aiming at.

Magazines can be distributed through the mail, sales by newsstands, bookstores or other vendors, or sometimes even through free distribution at selected locations.

How are magazines constructed?

Magazines follow a typical way of being constructed, for example:

By line – the name of the reporter, if they are important are often included at the beginning of the feature, instead of the end.

Captions – text under photos which explain the image in a bit of detail, readers use this to determine whether they think the story is interesting

Credits – the author of a feature may be given credit. Also, if photographs are added then the photographer or agency that supplied the photos will be credited down the side of the page.

Crosshead – a subheading that appears in the main body and is typically centred above the column of text, if this is situated at the side then it is named a side head.

Exclusive – this is used typically in pop magazines and this encourages readers to pick up the magazine, knowing that they wont have already read the story in a previous magazine as the magazine company pay the interviewees and buy the story so therefore it can not be used in a future magazine.

Feature – this is not necessarily a news item but consists of an interesting story which is then elaborated on in a double page spread.

Headline – this is the main statement, which is usually the largest and boldest section of the magazine, which describes the main story and what the magazine is mostly focused on.

How are magazines constructed?

Masthead – the title block or logo which makes the magazine completely unique. This is most of the time situated at the top of the front page, occasionally a motto is inserted with the masthead.

Contents – this page is vital in ensuring that readers know what they can find in the magazine.

Splash – the splash is the main story on the front of the magazine, this will also include the largest headline and a photo which links with the spoken story.

Stand first – this is an introduction to the paragraph before the start of the feature. This is most of the time bold.

Strapline – the introductory headline below the headline and therefore another simple way to engage the reader.

Tag – this is a word or phrase used to engage a readers interest in a story by categorising it and making it appeal to the intended audience, words such as exclusive or sensational fit in with the typical tag.

Kicker – a kicker is a smaller font headline which is often underlined, and this is situated above the main headline. These are usually one or two word identifiers used to help readers select articles.

Initial/drop caps – these are a large capital letter at the beginning of a paragraph. They normally drop into text below the first line.