Codes and Conventions of Magazines

1. Codes and Conventions of
Magazines

2. Masthead: The font used is
characteristic to the
magazine which makes it
instantly recognisable and
noticeable to the readers
along with the stand-out
red colour and bold letters.
The use of sans serif font
makes it simplified and
easy to read but also
makes a bold statement.
This is tied in with the
target audience and is
specifically designed to
attract them.
Masthead

3. Tagline: The purpose of the
tagline is to show what the
magazine is about or who
it might be aimed at. Here,
the tagline is used to give
an insight to the magazine
and using vocabulary like
‘higher level’ builds up a
theme of superiority as it
suggests its contents and
features are above that of
rival magazines
Tagline

4. Tagline: The tagline in this
case is one word which is
easily picked up and read
by the reader. The word
used, ‘untouchable’ gives a
sense of superiority and
exclusiveness that only XXL
magazine has. This will
entice the audience to buy
and read the magazine as
they feel this exclusiveness
is being shared with them
Tagline

5. Coverlines: These ones are
used to give the reader an
idea of what is in the
magazine. In this instance
it is just the names of well-
known rappers in the
industry that will be easily
recognised and catch the
eye of readers
Coverlines

6. Central Image: In this case
we have a close up shot of
an iconic artist that is
globally known. The point
of the central image is to
attract readers even before
they have time to read any
text on the cover. Here
direct mode of address is
used to do this by having
the model looking into the
camera. This creates a
feeling that the reader is
being looked at and draws
them into the magazine.
Central Image

7. Cover model: Usually cover
models are celebrities and
this is true in XXL’s case by
using Jay-Z. Being a hip-
hop magazine, Jay-Z is an
obvious example of a
celebrity with strong
connections to the
magazine’s genre and so
enables the reader to
instantly determine the
genre purely through the
model.
Cover Model

8. Colour Scheme: XXL
magazine is mainly
targeting 25 – 29 year old
male audiences. The bold
sans serif font along with
the plain bold colours of
red, black and grey make it
a very masculine magazine
and is perfectly suited to
its targeted demographic.
Colour Scheme

9. Barcode: The barcode is in
a visible place but isn’t
obscuring the view of the
magazine’s images or text.
It is located in the same
position consistently
throughout these
magazines
Barcode

10. Masthead: The font used is
characteristic to the
magazine which makes it
instantly recognisable and
noticeable to the readers
along with the stand-out
red colour and bold letters.
The use of sans serif font
makes it simplified and
easy to read but also
makes a bold statement
Masthead

11. Tagline: The purpose of the
tagline is to show what the
magazine is about or who
it might be aimed at. Here,
the tagline is used to give
an insight to the magazine
and set the tone. ‘A hater’s
worst nightmare’ along
with the cover image is
used to build up an
intimidating cover
especially by using the
word ‘nightmare’
Tagline

12. Coverlines: These ones are
used to give the reader an
idea of what is in the
magazine. In this instance
it is just the names of well-
known rappers in the
industry that will be easily
recognised and catch the
eye of readers
Coverlines

13. Central Image: The use of
a body shot enables the
magazine to further
establish it’s ‘intimidating’
theme as well as represent
its genre. The fact the
cover models are wearing
excessive jewellery
portrays wealth and money
which will grab the
reader’s eye. The white on
the clothing is used to
continue the magazine’s
theme and connect
everything.
Central Image

14. Cover models: The white of
50’s clothing and Soulja
Boy’s underwear is heavily
connected to the magazine’s
colour theme which is used
to make the image appear
exclusive to the magazine
and is purposefully done to
let readers know the image
belongs to that magazine.
This builds up an idea of
exclusiveness and will make
the reader want to buy the
magazine as they’ll feel they
are getting something
exclusive out of it.
Cover Models

15. Colour Scheme: XXL
magazine is mainly
targeting 25 – 29 year old
male audiences. The bold
sans serif font along with
the plain bold colours of
red, black and grey make it
a very masculine magazine
and is perfectly suited to
its targeted demographic.
Colour Scheme

16. Barcode: The barcode is in
a visible place but isn’t
obscuring the view of the
magazine’s images or text.
It is located in the same
position consistently
throughout these
magazines
Barcode

17. Masthead: The masthead is
in a bold sans serif font
which makes it easy to read
and easily noticeable on the
magazine to draw attention.
It has been set behind the
central image of the cover
to show that it is a popular
and well-known magazine
that doesn’t need to show
the full word for people to
know what it is.
Furthermore this creates a
3D effect.
Masthead

18. Tagline: The tagline is short,
simple and catchy, easy for
the reader to pick out and it
gives an insight as to what is
in the magazine by featuring
the name of the cover
model as well.
Tagline

19. Header: This add extra
information to the magazine
about what its contents
hold. This further attracts
the audience and lets them
know what to expect from
the magazine. It features
hip-hop artists which is in
correlation to the genre and
popular amongst the target
audience of almost 50%
male and female aged 30.
Header

20. Edition: The edition is
placed in a noticeable area
and to not obscure the view
of the rest of the magazine
as it isn’t as important. It
just lets the reader know as
and when the magazine has
been published and this is
commonly in monthly
editions.
Edition

21. Cover model: The cover
model, Chris Brown, is a
very well-known successful
artist, popular amongst men
and women which ties in
well with th demographic of
the magazine. The plain
grey and black featured on
his clothing and tattoos,
keeps the theme of the
magazine consistent and the
use of front lighting helps to
give the shadow effect
which further constructs the
3 dimensional build of the
magazine
Cover Model

22. Colour scheme: The colour
scheme is neutral which
helps coincide with the
almost equal gender
interest in the magazine. It
is consistent throughout
including the model used
which enables the magazine
to show that their image is
being used and makes it feel
exclusive to them and that
they will have exclusive
information about that
artist and other features in
the magazine.
Colour Scheme

23. Front Cover
It is common in all three magazine front covers that a large, bold font is
used for the masthead and a large image of an iconic celebrity, tied
in with the genre, is used as the main image. I will be doing the
same with my magazine as it is the trend with all magazines I have
researched. As well as this, the colour scheme is always consistent
even through the model which is again a technique I will follow.
Predominantly, direct mode of address is used to create a
relationship or bond between reader and magazine according to
uses and gratification theory and is something I will also want to
use as I believe it is a good way to attract attention from readers.
The use of hermeneutic codes also draws in attention by using
ambiguous text which is open for thought and entices audiences to
read into the magazine.

24. The font used to display the
masthead is signature to the
magazine and therefore
keeps the same theme
consistent throughout the
magazine. The bold sans
serif font makes it stand out
and easily read without
much attention being paid
to it.
Masthead

25. The colour scheme of the
contents page will be the
same to that of the
magazine front cover to
create consistency
throughout the magazine.
The scheme is again
continued through the
model as well which has
been edited to fit this.
Colour Scheme

26. The large ‘V’ behind the
model is used to indicate
the name of the magazine
and is also fitting to the
colour scheme.
V

27. The headings are in
signature font and bold to
make it distinguishable and
easily noticed to draw
attention
Headings

28. The model used, Kanye, is in
correlation to the
magazine’s genre and gives
further insight as to what
the magazine holds for the
reader. Kanye is edited to fit
the colour scheme to again,
further create a consistent
theme throughout.
Model

29. Subheadings are in
characteristic font and short
and simple which makes
easy reading and provides
information as to what is in
the magazine.
Subheadings

30. The heading is in signature
font of the magazine and in
a bold sans serif font to
clearly title what it is for, in
this case, to show the
features of the magazine
Heading

31. The subheadings are also in
the same signature font to
continue the theme and are
of a smaller font size to
make them noticeable that
they are subheadings. They
title what is under that
section of the magazine to
give an insight
Subheadings

32. The colour scheme is
predominantly black and
white and is consistent
throughout the page and
continued through the
model as well
Colour Scheme

33. The model is iconic and
recognisable and gives an
insight as to what the
magazine has inside. He is
also used to further carry
the colour scheme and
takes up most of the page
which will catch the
attention of readers
Model

34. The letter ‘V’ is obvious
again and matches the
colour scheme. It is used to
again indicate the name of
the magazine and it is well-
known enough to not
require the whole magazine
name to be recognised.
V

35. The masthead is in signature
font to he magazine and
keeps the theme consistent
throughout. It is titled ‘the
A-side’ but the letter ‘A’ is
covered by the model
however the magazine is
known enough that the
audience will already know
the title without seeing it
all. Also the way the model’s
hood is on and the way his
head is angled, it does come
out slightly as the letter ‘A’.
Masthead

36. The header and footer are
corresponding and the
header holds the magazine
title ‘XXL’ to reinstate the
magazine’s name. The date
is also displayed on the
header which suggests the
magazine is issued in
editions and there is a loyal
audience. The footer also
says how the shots were
done exclusively which
again builds up the exclusive
image of the magazine to
attract readers
Header and Footer

37. Sell quotes from Chris
Brown, who is the model on
this page, attract readers
and give an insight as to
what is in th magazine. It is
in a bold font, larger than
the other features which
makes it stand out and
draws the reader’s eye to it.
Sell Quotes

38. Subheadings are in a bolder
font and are short and
catchy. The language used
as well is relevant to
magazine’s genre which
creates a consistent theme
throughout.
Subheadings

39. The colour scheme is typical
to the magazine featuring
predominantly red, white,
grey and black colours
which are relative to the
target audience which is
mostly male. The scheme is
further continued through
the model and again
consistency is created.
Colour Scheme

40. The model used is the most
noticeable feature on the
page. It draws the reader’s
eye before they even have
to read any text and is of an
iconic artist to fit the
magazine’s genre. By also
featuring quotes from the
artist on the same page it
will make the reader feel
like the magazine has
something exclusive to do
with the model.
Model

41. Contents Page
All magazines I have looked at have their contents page as one
single page. There is also one image of the main focus of the
magazine, usually the one who features on the front cover. In
my actual magazine production I will want to use a different
model in my contents page and front cover in order to provide
further insight into the magazine. Furthermore as I aim to
target an audience of equal gender interest, I will want to use
a female on my contents page to capture the female audience
and show that the features of the magazine are aimed at both
genders.

42. A large heading is used to draw the reader’s attention and it is n a bold font
to make it stand out. It is a quote from one of the models, 50 Cent, on the
opposite page and gives an insight to the magazine and as to what the
relationship the models have with the magazine. Also the language used is
characteristic of 50 Cent and also the magazine genre so will appeal to the
readers
Heading

43. One side of this double page spread is devoted entirely to an image of two
artists. The image heavily links to the gene of the magazine and hip-hop
culture particularly through mise-en-scene. This is noticeable through the
attire of the two artists such as the sagging jeans if Soulja Boy and the hate
50 wears as well as the neckwear of them both. The stance they both have,
Soulja with his arms out and 50 leaning back, as well as the use of direct
mode of address helps build up an intimidating image as well as connecting
the reader to the magazine by establishing eye contact with the models.
Image

44. The colour scheme is again consistent throughout, including the models.
Consistency is once again maintained and it is a very simple scheme that
makes reading easy and is a tone that fits the genre well; quite plain and dark
with a rough kind of look.
Colour
Scheme

45. The font used is characteristic to the magazine, it is also small and aligned to
the left. The text is broken up into two separate columns and isn’t designed
to attract any reader attention as the heading and image used does that job.
There is however one interview question that is in bold and the start of a new
paragraph. This acts a subheading in which attention will be drawn to.
Font

46. The title is in a bold serif font which attracts reader’s attention as well as
having coloured circles around it. The models name is also integrated into the
title and makes it very obvious for the reader to recognise what the article is
about.
Heading

47. Again we see that a whole page is devoted to the model. In this case we can
see that T.I.’s clothing colour correlates to the coloured circles on the
opposite page and builds a connection between the two pages. Furthermore
the use of direct mode of address again makes a connection between the
reader and magazine as the reader gets drawn into it.
Image

48. The colour scheme is consistent throughout the spread and is connected to
the title ‘SUMMER T.I.ME’ as all the colours are light and bright which builds a
‘summery’ feel to it.
Colour
Scheme

49. The article is comprised of a beginning paragraph and then two columns
underneath. The font again is small but in a sans serif font which makes it
easier for the reader when reading across a line quickly.
Article

50. The heading is in a bold, sans serif font which makes it very noticeable and
draws the reader’s attention. Underneath is strap-line which says ‘Rick Ross
has had one hell of a year’ which gives an insight and explanation to the
double page spread.
Heading

51. There is again a whole page just for an image of the model which the article
is about. The use of a long shot allows us to see that Rick Ross is in a suit
holding a bottle and glass of champagne. Also the background has balloons in
and all this ties into the article about him and how he ‘[Rick Ross] has had
one hell of a year’. The champagne, balloons and tuxedo all connote
celebration and parties which would be corresponding to Rick Ross
celebrating his success
Image

52. The article is just one column and is started off with a large ‘T’ to draw the
reader in and the carried on in a typical small font. The black colour on a
white background makes the text easy for the reader to read and isn’t
obscured or disrupted by anything
Article

53. The colour scheme is basically just black and white. This is consistent
throughout and keeps the theme the same the whole way. It is more likely
that in this case the magazine has made themselves correspond to the image
they have used of Rick Ross celebrating and kept the same simple scheme.
Colour
Scheme

54. Double Page Spread
For the magazines of my genre that I have researched I found
common conventions in them all. The left hand side page
consists of one large image with the right hand side featuring
the article. The cover model also is the feature of the double
page spread and the front cover has links to the double page
spread. Also the structure of the articles are similar with slight
variances and all have large headers. The colour scheme is
also consistent again and followed through the whole
magazine.