GCM 738 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Standard Operating Procedure, Production Schedule, Horoscope
8 May 2019
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GCM720 Lec 2 Magazine Structure & Layout Jan 22 / 2019
Magazine Structure
Basic physical structure of a magazine - we’ll use this information to help build our pagination,
our organizational structure of what page appears where in an issue
● Covers
○ First Cover (Cover, OFC outside front cover)
○ Second Cover (IFC inside front cover)
■ Advertising
■ Second most expensive ad page
○ Third cover (IBC inside back cover)
■ Advertising
■ Third most expensive ad page
○ Last cover (OBC outside back cover)
■ Advertising
■ Most expensive ad page
● Front of book
○ Several key pages
○ Table of Contents (TOC)
■ The first page(s) of the magazine
■ One page, two page spread, two pages with advertising
■ TOC can be with or without images
■ Readers must understand page numbers, headline, and a short
description of the story
○ Masthead
■ Sometimes at the back of the book
■ List of all the people that work for the magazine (publisher, editorial staff,
circulation, ad sales)
■ Magazine masthead (logo) is usually placed at the top of this page
■ Simple and clean
○ Editor’s Letter
■ First editorial page in the magazine
■ Welcoming letter from the editor-in-chief
■ Describes the content of the issue
■ Can contain some thoughts about the topics this magazine covers in
general
○ Other key pages in the front of book
■ Short one page topics, interviews, readers letter, etc.
■ Standardized design issue to issue
■ Usually combined with ad pages
● Section Openers or Start Pages
■ Generally opens a certain section of the magazine (news section, beauty
section, listings, etc.)
■ Used both in the front and back of the book
■ Most often left hand pages
● Feature well(s)
■ Each feature should be visibly different than the others
■ Generally fewer ads within feature well
■ Creatively, review
■ Be sure two features don't look the same
■ Ensure there is a nice flow between them visually
■ Use lasers/printouts on bulletin boards ‘mock up wall’ of whole issue
● Back of book
■ Shorter articles, news, listings, remaining columns, horoscope, final words
■ Standard structure from issue to issue
■ Considered less important than the front especially for advertisers
■ Cheaper, partial page ads, classifieds
■ Last page often the ‘light-hearted’ content
● Ad pages
■ Advertisers generally prefer right hand pages because they are proven
more visible than left hand pages
■ Advertisers will purchase premium positioning (e.g. beside an editorial
column, to ensure that happens)
■ OBC - most expensive single page ad
○ Headline
■ A good headline will do one of the three things
● (1) offer a solution to a problem or answer a question
● (2) highlight a benefit
● (3) create interest and make the viewer want to know more
○ Visual Design Elements
■ Support the message, not only look good
■ Poorly chosen/created visuals can make the ad look generic and
ill-conceived
■ Images should reflect the feel of your message and work in concert with
the other elements of your ad
■ The key is ‘choosing a hero’ instead of creating visual competition within
your ad
■ Layout should make good use of the space and direct attention to the
most important part
Document Summary
Basic physical structure of a magazine - we"ll use this information to help build our pagination, our organizational structure of what page appears where in an issue. First cover (cover, ofc outside front cover) One page, two page spread, two pages with advertising. Toc can be with or without images. Readers must understand page numbers, headline, and a short description of the story. Sometimes at the back of the book. List of all the people that work for the magazine (publisher, editorial staff, circulation, ad sales) Magazine masthead (logo) is usually placed at the top of this page. Can contain some thoughts about the topics this magazine covers in general. Other key pages in the front of book. Short one page topics, interviews, readers letter, etc. Generally opens a certain section of the magazine (news section, beauty section, listings, etc. ) Used both in the front and back of the book. Each feature should be visibly different than the others.
