February 21st 2011 Edition
This NME features the redesigned house style that the magazine recently adopted. For example, the masthead is no longer red with a white inline. The font is Sans Serif and each issue it rotates colours (white, blue, pink etc.) with this issue being white. The new style makes the magazine seem more grown-up, important and less tabloid-y; possibly in an attempt to recapture the readers it has slowly been shedding over the past few years.
This NME features the redesigned house style that the magazine recently adopted. For example, the masthead is no longer red with a white inline. The font is Sans Serif and each issue it rotates colours (white, blue, pink etc.) with this issue being white. The new style makes the magazine seem more grown-up, important and less tabloid-y; possibly in an attempt to recapture the readers it has slowly been shedding over the past few years.
The colours that grace this front cover are purple and white, which fit the new house style and easily separate the headlines from the strap lines. The text of the entire front cover is entirely in a Sans Serif font. However, the cover story is italicised for emphasis (plus the Graham Coxon quote). This continues the newly professional layout of the magazine.
The barcode is in the bottom right hand corner with the price and date included on it to keep it from clashing with the rest of the magazine's front cover. The price and date are reposted in the top left hand corner of the cover above the logo, however their size is much smaller than the logo. This makes it very easy for the customer purchasing the magazine to know at a glance whether or not they're picking up the latest edition.
Parts of the logo and sell line (New Musical Express) are obscured in the picture by the band in the shoot (the photo overlaying the logo and sell line). This assumes that the reader is familiar with the brand of NME (seeing as they've been around since the 50s) and shows how important the band on the front cover are (seeing as the are important enough to block most of the magazine's identity).
The mode of address is very informal and sensationalist. “Graham Coxon spills all” and using quotes pulled directly from the articles without any context to them, for example. Regardless, they definitely do attract the reader's attention and it definitely interests those who want every single bit of gossip on their favourite band.
The cover has very little blank space with text and stories taking up just about every possible space. This can cause three impressions. 1] That the magazine is fit to burst with stories and content, enticing the reader into believing £2.30 for a weekly magazine is value for money. 2] It's professionally laid out so that only one major story overpowers the others. Or 3] Some may think it looks a bit too cluttered and messy and possibly too text heavy.
The cover has very little blank space with text and stories taking up just about every possible space. This can cause three impressions. 1] That the magazine is fit to burst with stories and content, enticing the reader into believing £2.30 for a weekly magazine is value for money. 2] It's professionally laid out so that only one major story overpowers the others. Or 3] Some may think it looks a bit too cluttered and messy and possibly too text heavy.
(note: The outer white line does not appear on the actual cover. I know. I own that issue.)
From analysing this cover, we will take from it the ideas of using italics to emphasise stories; and the newly mature tone.
From analysing this cover, we will take from it the ideas of using italics to emphasise stories; and the newly mature tone.
This is excellent Callum. You use media terminology very well and you certainly have your own style. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMiss King