Codes & Conventions of a Magazine

-


The next step in properly understanding how a magazine works is to learn the conventions and codes that make it up. This is something that I must learn in order to successfully create my magazine. The information that I obtained through research led me to this:



Masthead: When it comes to publishing, this term refers to the name of the magazine. This is a very important component of the magazine as it is one of the first things read and it also gives off the genre of the magazine.

Sell line: This is the statement made by the magazine that will try to convince someone to buy it. This is because it usually states any extra gains that a person will obtain from buying the magazine such as competitions or prizes.

Cover lines: These essentially serve as teasers as to what information is inside for the readers. They run down the sides of the magazine and is another technique to gain the attention of potential buyers.

Main image/central image: Just as the name implies, this is the central or main image of the magazine. Many times this is usually a picture of something very popular pertaining to the genre.

Date, barcode, price: All magazines should include these. The price should reflect the category (a, b, c1 or c2, d, e). of the primary target audience.

A strip along the top of the page: Includes information about more minor articles inside the magazine

Other things to consider:

Mode of address: Magazines can many times use genre-specific lexis which allows for the reader to feel special or exclusive. Hyperboles are many times used in order to incorporate exaggeration to make it more appealing, especially to younger audiences. A technique used is the direct mode of access which is done by having the character of the main image stare right at the audience.

The layout and design: This design can be formal or informal. This will depend on the house style of the magazine. The informal layout may include snapshots or paparazzi shots. While the formal layout may include photos that have been set up and taken in a studio.

Color: Magazines tend to have a house style that is used consistently. This can be created from a limited palette.

Font style and size: This is also related to the genre and can be sophisticated or cartoony, depending on the target audience.

Social media: Links to social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter are important and can prolong a reader's interest in the text.

References:

Ealey, Tony. “Codes and Conventions of Magazine Covers/Print.” Codes and Conventions of Magazine Covers/Print, 1 Jan. 1970, http://dlsa-ms-year12-2016.blogspot.com/2016/01/codes-and-conventions-of-magazine.html.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction

-
Image
G reetings, my name is Juan and this is my very first blog post of many more to come! What is my Goal? The reason I created this blog is in order to log my procedures in creating my magazine for AICE Media Studies. I will be posting these blogs on a regular basis in order to accurately explain how I intend to reach my end product (the magazine cover). My blogs will cover things, such as rough drafts, ideas, possible pictures, and essentially my entire thought process in coming up with the magazine. How will this be done? Since this is AICE Media Studies, I will be going about this blog in a very specific manner with specific tasks in order to abide by the rubric. The magazine will consist of a front-page, contents, and a two-page spread. There is also the possibility that I will be working in a group of up to 4 people. If I am to work in a group, each member of the team will be assigned a specific portion or job, all of which will be discussed in more depth later on.
Read more

Target Market Research

-
Image
Target Market: A very important aspect to consider next in my magazine is the demographics. In other words, what is my target audience or the people that will be reading this. This is extremely important because I must make the magazine with the intention of appealing to my target demographic. So if I were to make a magazine on cooking, my target audience will be depending on the content of my magazine. If I were to be doing the magazine on homemade recipes, I would most likely be targeting mothers and fathers, or even those who like to cook at home. The same goes for automotive and fitness magazines. I will have to establish my target audience in order to best meet their needs. These are some examples: These are just 3 examples of how my deduction should be. When I create my magazine I must do a similar idea to this in order to understand my target audience. This, in turn, would help me sell the magazine accordingly. This is because the target audience is one of the most
Read more

My "Single Vehicle" Cover Examples

-
My Samples: After I have analyzed and viewed the different options for a possible automobile magazine cover, it is now time to incorporate what I have learned about the images and take my own photographs. I want to get a feel for the process of taking these pictures and I would like to see which type of magazine cover I will be most comfortable with. The whole point of this project is to create the most successful magazine I possibly can, so that means I have to try many different options and see which I am best at.
Read more