This slideshare is research for my music magazine. I have analysed 3 mainstream magazines and the conventions used on the front cover, contents page and a double spread page.

1. Alex Marshall
MAINSTREAM
MAGAZINE
CONVENTIONS
3 DIFFERENT MAGAZINES:
-BILLBOARD
-Q
-CLASH

2. BILLBOARD
Here I have analysed a front cover and
Same colour scheme throughout, the double page spread for billboard
blue, white and lime green. These are magazine. As you can see there is a
vibrant, bright colours which would attract wide range of conventions used by
Masthead: Clear, bold and
a more youthful market billboard, but to a degree it’s very
different – creates a Lure: this is very simplistic. The front page isn’t covered
unique style and brand good – gives an articles, with one main image. The
name insight into what is same could be said for the double page
going to be in the spread, with the ratio of picture: text
magazine being around 4:1.
Cover line: like the lure –
gives an insight into what
is going to be in the Main cover line: This is
magazine the main article –
different to others (Bold
Pull quote: gives an and Bigger) this is the
insight to what the selling point of the
article is going to be magazine
about
Pull quote added in the
article - gives a personal
Main article: used placed in the account – connecting with
centre of the page – shows the audience
emphasis on the headline of the
magazine Rule of thirds – 3 columns to
separate the text
- Plenty of space for there to
The colours used are to be a background image on
protect there from being both pages
a colour clash
Picture covers both pages
– text wraps around the
picture
Creates an emphasis on the
picture and makes the
article easier to understand

3. Q
Q magazine, like Billboard use a range of
Banner – this is used conventions. Although it is mainly on the
to interact with the front cover, they do use many – the front
audience and it’s been cover is quite full with information and
used in a strange way lures etc… whereas Billboard have a
Masthead – very bold and very simplistic and lack of information.
out there – clear to see
this is a brand name and Lure: is used to do The double page spread is very different
very different to others on the same as the to the one from Billboard, as Q has
the market banner – interact dedicated a page to the image; whereas
and inform the Billboard have used the picture on both
audience pages and have used less text in their
article
The red emphasises
the difference and There’s a number of
uniqueness of ‘Q’ cover lines which this
magazine has used –
shows that there is a wide
Main cover line: the headline range of articles
is in a different font and The big ‘L’ is clearly
colour to the rest of the pointing out that it is ‘Lady
The colours on this cover are quite bright Gaga’ but can be
context on the cover – this and pure (white and pink). Attracting more
shows it’s important and the distracting to the reader as
of a youthful, but female kind of audience they would find it difficult to
key topic of the magazine
see the writing.
Main topic is clearly
placed on the left hand
Used to emphasis who side of the double page
the text/article is about spread.
– shows the importance
of the image by being
the size of the page The columns are quite
large and full of text – can
be quite distracting as it is
very long – depending on
reader – wouldn’t like this

4. CLASH This front cover is very simplistic.
Clash magazine again like the
others uses a range of conventions.
It has one banner and one lure The front cover adapts a very
The Masthead for ‘Clash’ simplistic style, clearly focused
is very basic but is clear around the main article. Also it has
and distinctive lure and banners to emphasis the
main heading and introduce the
The banner at the top
audience towards different articles.
gives a clear insight into
the magazine The background image
is very large – shows the The Double page spread again uses
importance of the person quite a few conventions, such as
– shows the headline main-header, introductory paragraph
article and images present the article.
By using ‘the worlds Quote used to
biggest’ they’re emphasis the article One page is dedicate to the
emphasising the importance and what it is talking artist the article is about
The colour scheme is quite dark
of the main article – and and in your face, suggesting a about
also by saying ‘Reveals all’ more male target audience –
in bold writing – it will make highlighted by the Boldness of the
people want to buy it, due to writing.
the gossip nature of it
Heading and introduction – this is an
introductory paragraph which is used
to introduce the article
The text is very formal – large blocks of
texts – can be frustrating for the
audience depending on the age

5. Masthead – Pretty small – but unique
creates recognisable brand
Clear and large heading Magazine uses
to show what this page plenty of lures
is to entice the
Main articles
have images audience
Give information
– highlights
on the articles –
the
introduces it
importance
Contents pages are very similar
Articles are in layout – where as clash is
separated into larger and spread out on two
different sections pages
– colour coded
Strapline – date and website – synergy
promote through other media technology
Main article – largest
Subheadings to guide the on the page – key
audience through the article
magazine – very user
friendly
Separated – entice the
audience – selling point
Actual contents of the issue
pages - Quizzes and
prizes