RESEARCH- Featured Articles

WHAT IS IT? 

 

A feature article is a longer work written in a magazine issue that provides exclusive content that appeals to readers. 

IN THE COVER 

The title of the article is typically shown in bold lettering to draw the reader's attention towards it

 I compared two cover image food magazines to see where the featured article is located.

Compared to the puffs, plugs, and coverlines, the featured article is boldly shown in a bigger text size than the rest. 

And the cover image always matches the article as shown above.

-Bon Appetit example has a cover image of an ice cream cone with the feature article being titled "Summer Scoop" suggesting to the reader that the article is about scoops of ice cream.

-Food and Wine example shows a cover image of a table with multiple sides and dishes, with the article title being named "Gather for the Feast" suggesting to the reader that this featured article is related to a huge feast.

WHAT IS IN THEM?

To discover different types of featured articles I looked at the digital version of the food magazine Bon Appetit. 

Their articles are organized by recipes, cooking, culture, drinks, shopping, restaurant, and culture.

-The recipes category contains how to guides on how to achieve certain dishes.

-This section has a plethora of articles that's organized in different compartments to organize the information.

-Most of these sections, such as "30 minutes or less", "Quick", "Easy", or "5 ingredients or fewer" are based to inform readers on how to get quality meals in a short amount of time.

-These types of articles have a demographic of those who are strapped for time and still want a delicious meal.

-The recipe structure is meant to aid these reader in terms of depth that the articles give.

-The article begins with the title, section, and photograph relating to the content

-Recipe article structure typically begins with a detailed description of the dish.

The language typically used is detailed, with the use of imagery to make reader desire the dish.

-The article then has a Tips & FAQs portion in regards of typical questions about the dish.

-This ensures the reader has the most authentic and best possible cooking description 

-This factor shows cares from the author to ensure the reader has the best experience and shows care which I favor.

-The actually recipe information is broken up in two sections. Ingredients and Preparation.

-The ingredients have a very direct list format with specific measurements 

-Preparation portion shows detailed instructions on how to perfect the dish

I will say if I were to organize a recipe, I would include a vivid to make my readers and engaged and hungry.

But I would include recipe information in regards of preparation and ingredients for reader to have a scope of the journey 

I would include Tips & FAQs at the end so the readers can infer back to it during their cooking journey.

The Drink featured articles have a more rated R scene with topics of bars and drug use.

Whether is be recommendations for bars

 Or how these substancesnare effecting others and the world

Although intrigued, I am not personally inclined to write these types of articles due my lack of access of information.

The cooking type of articles featured shows general advice and recommendations.

Example of Recommendations:

Example for Advice:

 I am personally inclined towards their culture type articles because of how  versatile they are.

 These articles showcases aspects of food and factors of the food industry is affecting the entire world with in depth journalism.

By showing history and relevant information 

Trends and why they are happening 

As well as featured stories

 The featured stories have a segment called "The Receipt"

Where authors go in depth on personal stories using salary, age, job titles, and location to open recipes to readers that fit those specific demographics

-I found these types of articles very intriguing and a very smart way to appeal to multiple demographics

Shopping featured articles consist of guides or recommendations of tools

or featured recommendations of ingredients 

Resturant featured articles 

Lists of exciting places

Specific locations and what they have to offer

The restaurant featured articles have a section called "Where to Eat" to guide readers and give them recommendations for restaurants

-The language in all of these articles are descriptive, with emphasis on imagery.

-The language is semi-formal but informational with an educational tone.

-The cover image always matches the content.

-The synopsis is usually direct and entertaining.

I wanted to compare another digital magazine so I looked at the types of features that were found in Food & Wine.

Similar concepts to the ones of Bon Appetit.

Showcasing different content but the same ideas.

Those ideas of articles being either guides (recipe and how tos), recommendations (dishes and locations), and deep dives (informational reports)

How I want to incorporate this information in my brief is that I want my featured article to be a well researched deep dive on a subject matter.

Based off what I read I'll begin my article with a entertaining introduction that capitivates the reader.

The body would include history of the subject and how it's adapted to modern times.

The language used is educational, direct, and entertaining 

Links:

 https://www.bonappetit.com/contributors/bon-appetit?srsltid=AfmBOoqQHmeHpl_gEdW0zyorepm6eze7C8iptFm6fs3OwBNXFa_TyvbA

https://www.foodandwine.com/features-7496875

Research-Conventions of Table of Contents

The table of contents acts as the structure of the magazine by highlighting the key information that is contained in the text. By doing so, it behaves as the foundation and guide for the reader to show what is being displayed toward them in a direct manner.  

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Title that includes the name contents, the masthead, and the month of publishing.

What is found in the contents would be direct and integral information that show the sections and headlines found in the article and what page number it is located in.

It also shows credits to those involved in the process of making the magazine.

Section vs. Headline

-A section in a magazine acts as the chapters of the magazine

-While a headline is the name of the specific articles found in that issue. To not confuse the reader make sure the sections and headlines are identical in the table of contents as they are presented in the magazine.

LAYOUT

I believe the Layout is integral to the table of contents because of how important it's purpose is. The goal is to guide the reader so it is crucial that during my research and designing process I need to make sure my TOC is direct and engaging.

Although there are various types of layout for tables of contents, I will say after researching multiple I believe the differences do not fall into the broad genres; it is more specific to the magazine company.  

 

For example, not all fashion magazines will share the same exact table of contents, look at Vogue's Table of contents. 

-the masthead is shown boldly at the top of the image, with the month of the issue in a different colored text and font  to add contrast to the heading.

- It has one major image to the side with a coverline that relates to the information within the issue.

- All the information of the magazine is located at the bottom of the image and to the side as well as what page they are location on.

While another fashion magazine, Cosmopolitan, has a different style of table of contents

-The month of the issue is place in a tiny different font above the title

-A very direct approach, a huge title that state "Contents" above in the middle

-The sections are listed, and shown in a different font from the month of the issue or in the title, in the middle of page below the title, everything is written in lowercase to exude laidback and almost "cool" tone

-Each section are followed on the page number where they are located, the number is colored in lime green color

-The purpose of the coloring of the numbers is to show a cohesive layout by having green being a central color in the separate images shown around the sides of the page

-The images are cohesive to the articles feature later in the magazine, with small captions( to not take away attention from the image) to show where they are located. 

-At the very end of the sections, in a small there are credits to authors and photographers

Although from the same genre, and similar conventions in each, the major difference within the Table of Contents page is in the layout. 

There is the Vogue example, that has a mass amount of information with one major image that relate the article, while Cosmopolitan has a much more direct approach with a much more artistic and chic layout. 

Different genres can also have similar table of contents

Throughout the fashion, entertainment, and food genres there are basic similar layouts.

-In each there is one major image, almost working similarly to the cover image with a caption that relates to it with a plethora information regarding the sections

Also across multiple genres, the continuity of more images shown on the table of contents show a heavier focus on the cohesive design of the page layout with basic descriptions of sections and headlines.

    

This delivers a direct and simple guide in a aesthetic fashion for the magazine.

Overall, I found the table of contents that have one focal image, does that in order to fit in the immersive information they have on the articles or they make the use of multiple images to have a chicer presence. 

FOOD MAGAZINE TOC

    The continuities within food magazine table of contents would be majority focus more on showcasing what the issue has to offer based on images and creative layout. This could be due to the versatility of information that is offered.

I also found that some table of contents have a similar layout, and read as restaurant menu.

I looked up restaurant menus and compared them to food magazine table of contents.

-I found a table of contents page of a food magazine, that had the title contents in a bold font that is on the side to bring attention to reader what this page is.

- Since the example of the menu is just a template, the information is scare compared to real menus but the way it is formatted and sized, have similar patterns to that of the Table of contents.

-I researched a food menu template where the title of the menu is bold above the page to fulfill the same purpose as the header of the TOC page.

-The sections are both in a bigger bolder font to break up the information included and to help guide the reader and better organize the page

- The details are placed below the section and in a un-bolded smaller font and the prices on the menu are similar to the page locations to that of the Table of Contents

-The images are either place to the side or around the page in a effective manner to show the reader what these words of the page are actually offering

HOW DO I WANT TO INCORPORATE?

With this conclusion, I want to take information from menus and how they are designed and place those elements in my table of contents.

I feel like that is a great to showcase the information that my magazine is offering because it is making a parody of the restaurant industry that is frequently commentated within food magazines.

Links: https://flip180media.com/tips-for-periodical-publishers/magazine-content-structure-guide/

Research- Food Magazines

 I am personally lenient towards the food genre of magazines due to the variety of information that is provided within them. I believe choosing this as my brief would not only be challenging but also educational to me personally. I enjoy creating anything and everything that includes meals, but I come from a Caribbean background where the women in my family particular pride themselves on their ability to cook and feed their children. Therefore, I believe this will provide me with the opportunity to academically research the lifestyle of food and nutrition to further my kitchen skills. 

 

Examples 

I started looking for main food magazines to research. There is a Bon Appetit which claims to “explore every aspect of food culture from a global perspective. We are the source for culinary shows you want to binge, weeknight dishes that make feeding families easier, recipes that entertain, and, of course, the ambitious storytelling about the ways food shapes our lives, our communities, and our conversations." 

The Food and Wine magazine describes themselves to show “With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel, and home coverage, the brand inspires and empowers people to discover, create, and devour the best in food and drink—every day and everywhere.” 

 

A continuity within the magazines is the major factors in the food genre would be the recipe’s that they provide so I am thinking about making a recipe to be my feature article 

There is also research in different diets shown in these magazines, so I do want to include information about that.  

 

I began looking for various diets along with the specific restrictions each one had and their goal. 

Different diet examples: 

Mediterranean- The focus is to eat plant-based foods and healthy fats, the main source of fat being olive oil and consuming mostly fruits and vegetables. The goal of the diet is to lower the risks of cardiovascular diseases. 

Vegan- includes only plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds. The goal could be to stay away from meat to not harm animals or protect the environment. 

Vegetarians (there are sub-versions of the diet)- focus on mainly plants for food, therefore there are multiple variations of the nutritional needs that can be obtained from the diet 

Pescatarian- Plant based with the inclusion of seafood and some dairy products used to boost omega-3 fatty acids to benefit heart, brain, and eye health 

Keto- eating high-fat and low-carbohydrate foods such as dairy, low-carb vegetables, plant-based foods like nuts, seeds and avocados, oils and fats. The ultimate goal is to reach a state of ketosis which is a metabolic state that is caused by raised levels of ketone that occurs when your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. 

 

I also realized that the articles contain recommendations for cooking or restaurants. Overall, for my brief I want to include information about the recipes of dishes, the impact those dishes have, different diets and health benefits, as well as recommendations of restaurants and shows. 

links I used:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24003-ketosis 

 

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/what-is-the-keto-diet-and-can-it-be-beneficial-for-you/2025/05 

 

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/about-us?srsltid=AfmBOoqWEMU72UfUuGr8_UWtC7B0tCAMayUJ4_iEpd0mAqbGZnJq4OWE 

https://www.foodandwine.com/about-us-6373913 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet 

https://www.webmd.com/diet/vegan-diet-overview 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/pescatarian-diet 

https://medlineplus.gov/vegetariandiet.html#:~:text=A%20vegetarian%20diet%20focuses%20on,all%20meat%20and%20animal%20products