Masthead

The newspaper’s name displayed as a recognisable title on its front page.

The newspaper’s name displayed in its distinctive lettering, usually at the top of the front page.

The Mirror belongs to the red-top tradition: popular newspapers identified by a red masthead and an accessible, attention-grabbing style. Tabloid conventions include prominent headlines, large photographs, short sections of text and conversational or emotive language.

The newspaper’s name, usually displayed as a distinctive logo or typeface at the top of its front page.

A red masthead alone does not prove Labour support. Demonstrate political bias through story selection, language, quotations, representations or an explicit editorial position.

For a question asking you to state conventions, name precise features such as masthead, main image or cover lines. In the 2025 mark scheme, ‘stories’ and ‘colour’ alone were too vague.

For ‘state two conventions’, name two conventions, such as masthead and coverline. Giving only examples from a cover is not enough.

The name of a magazine displayed as its identifying title on the cover.

The name and logo of a newspaper or magazine.

The publication’s title displayed on a magazine cover or newspaper page.

The magazine’s title as displayed on its cover, usually in a distinctive typeface.

The masthead stretches across the top of the cover, overlapping Malala’s forehead. Its capital letters use Didot, the classic serif typeface associated with Vogue since the 1950s. Serifs are the small finishing strokes on letters; here, the tall, slender letterforms suggest elegance, tradition and high status.

The name of a publication displayed in its recognisable lettering, usually prominently at the top of its cover.

The newspaper’s name displayed prominently on its front page.

The newspaper’s name displayed in its recognisable design, usually at the top of the front page.

The newspaper’s name displayed in its recognisable style on the front page.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Media Studies · 8572

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Eduqas GCSE Media Studies · C680