Magazine Cover Review

     Magazine covers are the most important aspect of a magazine. The cover is the first thing a consumer or buyer sees, it is what ultimately makes the decision of whether to buy and read the magazine. The visual feature is a big part of the cover more so than the preview articles or anything else. The photographer has a few seconds to make the reader interested and consider opening the magazine. Photos have become increasingly more important in   magazines, "Consumers who actually open a magazine at the front and commence reading are becoming an increasingly rarified demographic group;' David Carr tells us in The New York Times.”, (Scherer, Michael). Magazines have been evolving towards a higher percentage of photos to text, “Promoters of the short attention span have already declared victory.”, (Scherer, Michael). This decline in text and focus on articles has to do with the ultimate transformation from physical to online news. As the older generation decreases the less magazines that are likely to be sold. 

A big factor for selling magazines is the celebrities on the cover. Each issue debuts a new celebrity and an article to go along with it, the public are fascinated with the rich and famous and a celebrity on the cover intrigues the buyer. Although most of the article is covered in photos it also has articles and little quizzes that keep the reader interested and engaged. The “Cosmopolitan", "GQ”, and “Men's Journal” are a great example of a magazines that use this layout. The article that goes along with the cover usually promotes their newest project or beliefs and feelings on current events.

Another type of cover for a different target audience would be baked goods or interior design. These magazines mainly focus on family lifestyle and most of its readers are mothers who put time into decoration and detail. Examples of these magazines are “Southern Living” and “Better Homes & Gardens”. Each of these magazines featured a food item on the cover usually depending on the season for the theme of not only the cover but everything else within it such as, articles, photos, recipes, DIY’s, etc. All these types of magazines can be intriguing because of their aesthetic appeal and perfection. 

Unlike most magazines (with some exceptions), magazines that promote high fashion and expensive branding, present many sophisticated ideas on philosophy and politics. These magazines include, “Vogue”, “Rolling Stones”, and “GQ”. These magazines all have a targeted audience for wealthy and well dressed. Ive noticed that these are some of the magazines with articles on current events and worldly news and struggles. They have a more educated and sophisticated approach rather than other magazines with preview article's on celebrity gossip and paparazzi photos. 

I think I would like to do the magazine as my project. 

A magazine I am inspired by: