2. Codes and Conventions of TV Listing
Magazines
Headline/Title: I believe the title is the most important aspect of an article, it serves to inform the reader about the
article and briefly summarises everything in a few words, often presented in a catchy way.
Columns: The three column layout is a typical convention of a double page article as it allow the text to be read easily
and keeps the page layout neat, which often allows more freedom when designing the whole page.
Main Image: The main image normally presents who (often multiple people) the article is about to establishes who is
featured in the article and also attracts the reader’s attention (which will work well when targeting a specific audience).
Minor/secondary images: Adds more interest to the article, more visually pleasing, and can often show scene captions
from the show.
Drop Capital: Is often used at the start of the first paragraph to signal the article beginning, they add personality and
visual strength to the page.
Standfirst: Is the introductory paragraph which summarises the article, it is often printed in larger, bolder or in capitals.
Byline: The byline often gives the name, date, and sometimes the position, of the writer of the article. Traditionally, they
are placed between the headline and the text of the article. Bylines can also be used a credits for photographers,
placed under their image.
Pull/Side Quote: Placed throughout the article to break it up, more rarely placed in the main image, and is used to
emphasize a line that has importance behind it. The quotes used are often shocking or controversial to grip the reader.
They are also used to attract the audience attention by making the design more attractive (when considering colour,
font etc.).
Show Name, Date and Time: It is important for the TV listings article to have the name, date and the time the program
will be aired to inform the audience of the showing, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of the magazine.
Page Number: Is more commonly used at the bottom of a page, making it easier for the audience to navigate around
the magazine, and adds continuity to the whole magazine.
4. Radio Times - Production Context
Pie charts taken from: http://www.mediauk.com/magazines/36222/radio-times/readership-figures
Radio Times are supported by their own website, launched in 1997 as mainly a listings service. However, they re-
launched in 2011 and present a variety of recommendations to do with television, radio and film along with their
listings. They even have their own website editor, Tim Glanfield. Social media appears to be important to the magazine
also, with people being able to find them on both Twitter and Facebook as a form of interaction. More interactive
aspects include: their own application on the Apple App Store, competitions, a feedback page, travel offers and the
option to comment and discuss at the bottom of every online article published on their website.
Radio Times is a British weekly television and radio
programme listings magazine, with its first issue being
published in 1923 detailing BBC’s radio programme listings.
Up until around 1991, Radio Times was only a BBC-based
magazine, but now the publication carries listings for all
major cable and satellite television channels in the UK.
Even after the deregulation of the magazine, it was argued that
the magazine had a BBC bias, for example: of the 51 issues
published in 2005, 31 covers were BBC-related, especially
focusing on the sci-fi show, Doctor Who.
In recent years, the
price of the magazine
has been increasing,
with it being at £1.05
in 2008, and the
current price being
£1.60.
In 2012, Radio Times was read by over 2 million people, with 75.5% of them being in the ABC1
social class demographic, this clearly effects the content of the magazine.
5. Radio Times - Distribution
Radio Times was originally an in-house magazine published by BBC
Magazines (the publishing division of BBC Worldwide) from 1923 until 2011,
when BBC magazines merged with Origin Publishing and Magicalia to
create the Immediate Media Company. Immediate Media Company are an
award-winning platform and special interest company that publish magazine
such as Gardener’s World, You & Your Wedding and Prima Baby &
Pregnancy. Radio Times can be found in newsagents, supermarkets,
through subscription, their app and online. This magazine is funded through
advertising, the cover price, subscriptions and profits from the parent
company and business interests.
6. Main
Heading/Headline:
The headline is short,
which is a way to
easily intrigue the
audience. Using the
word ‘our’ creates
unity of the magazine
and reader.
Main Image: In this article the image takes up the
majority of one page, and even bleeds onto the next.
The image uses a direct address, where it is argued
using this technique encourages the reader to buy
the magazine. In magazines, I’ve often seen the main
image used on the left side to show what the article
will be about. But this convention appears to be
broken in the Radio Times.
Secondary Image:
Adds more depth
to the article.
Show Name, Channel
and Time: Nicely
placed at the top;
giving the vital
information at the
beginning of the
article. This is used to
inform the audience
of the showing.
Page Number:
Allow navigation
around the
magazine. This
article adapts the
colour for
visibility.
Colour: The image is aesthetically pleasing, encouraging the
reader to view the article. The colour scheme is simple, making
it seem more professional and appeals to a more mature
audience.
Anchorage:
Image of the
presenter with
flowers, links well
with the title,
further relating to
the whole article.
Drop Capital: Used signal the
paragraph beginning, adding
personality and visual strength to the
page.
Standfirst: This is the introductory sentence
which summarises the article. The
presenter’s name is in bold, it serves
highlights who the article is about.
Text: Sized 11
in Times New
Roman font.
Set in the
common two
column layout,
it allows the
text to be read
easily and
keeps the
page neat.
7. Monty Don’s article, text wise, is rather small with only two columns in
the layout. This allows the main image to cover one whole page,
bleeds over onto the secondary page. I personally wouldn’t use this as
a lot more can be said about the documentary. Radio Times appear to
break the conventions of traditional magazines through having the
image on the right side of the article. Normally, because the main
image introduces who the article is about, is placed on the left side with
text on the right. I particularly liked how the main headline and the
standfirst are placed on the main image as the text fits nicely on the
image. However I believe this would only work on certain images
because, as seen on Monty Don’s article, the top of the image is blue
(the sky) so it allows space for text without it ruining the photo and
article (basic photography). The show’s title, channel and time are
placed at the top of the article, and the keywords are in bold. I think this
is useful because bolding certain words will impact the audience by
them remembering the important bits they need, therefore the
magazine fulfilling its purpose. Overall the colour scheme is simple,
using traditional black text, which makes it seem more professional,
which is what I aim to emulate when creating my double-page spread.
Radio Times Conclusion
8. Main Heading/Headline:
‘I’ signals that the article
is written by the man
himself. It is a longer
than average headline,
but it is filled with
information about the
subject. Two keywords
in the headline are
highlighted, reinforcing
the importance of those
words.
Show Name, Channel and Time: Nicely placed
at the top; giving the vital information at the
beginning of the article. This is used to inform
the audience of the showing, with the title of the
show in bold (highlights the importance).
Side/Pull Quote:
Rather humorous
quote, engages the
reader to continue
reading. This quote
breaks up the article
nicely, making it
more visually
pleasing.
Text: Sized 11 in Times New Roman font. Set in the
common three column layout, it allows the text to be
read easily and keeps the page neat.
Page Number: Allows
navigation around the
magazine. Set
traditionally at the bottom
for visibility.
Drop Capital: Used signal the
paragraph beginning, this adds
personality and visual strength to
the page.
Anchorage: As part of the
memoir Hawking uses images
from his past.
Colour: The colour
scheme is simple
and consistent,
making it seem
professional and
therefore will appea
to a more mature
audience.
Side/Pull Quote:
This quote is placed
in the image, a rarity
amongst magazines,
creating a more
attractive design.
This line is shocking
and emphasises the
importance behind it
where the
magazine’s aim will
be to grip the reader.
Standfirst: Placed above the
headline. Hawking’s name in bold,
presenting his importance.
9. TV Listings Comparison
What’s on TV and TV Choice have
considerably less page space for Hawking’s
show than the article in the Radio Times. I
believe this is due to the difference of
audience between these magazines. 75.1%
of the Radio Times’ audience are aged 35+,
whereas 62% of the audience for TV
Choice are under aged 18. It can be argued
that this show only has a little section of
information because of the show’s target
audience, which doesn’t match the
demographic of TV Choice and What’s on
TV.
In these magazine, they label the genre of
the programme, naming this show ‘factual’.
It is clear the aim of this is to say a little
about a lot. Radio Times, however, says a
lot about a little.
Magazines such as What’s on TV and TV Choice include features of
the most watched UK TV shows, focusing on British soaps. They often
include puzzles, crossword and prize competitions. In 2008, TV Choice
was the biggest selling magazine of all categories in the UK, with the
price being at 38p. Whereas Radio Times include exclusive images,
interviews, articles written by celebrities and reviews.
The colour used in these articles are much more vibrant compared to
the Radio Times’. Using clashing colours arguably are more eye-
grabbing, although I would say it isn’t aesthetically pleasing or
attractive and certainly doesn’t look professional. What I like about the
article on the left, however, is how they fit the text around the image.
The language used in these
articles are colloquial. But
Radio Times approach their
articles in a formal manner.
10. Radio Times often approach their articles in a simplistic manner, with
the result looking more professional as a whole. This has an impact on
their audience demographic as it attracts a more mature audience.
Colour is carefully placed throughout the article, often used to highlight
keywords, it is simple but effective through complimenting the piece.
Using the traditional three column layout serves multiple purposes;
easier to read, a stylish design and is conventional. Radio Times
appear to have a range of layouts to create visual strength for their
magazine, often using a main image that takes over one of the two
page spread and the only use of minor images in others, to further
engage the reader. To keep up with continuity, every article in the
magazine has the same font and size. The use of pull quotes/side
quotes serve to break up the article and an attractive design. What’s
particularly interesting about using a pull/side quote is how powerful it
can be; by selecting an eye catching quote it has the power to grab the
audience to continue reading. I plan on using a pull quote for exactly
this reason.
Radio Times Conclusion
12. The Guardian - Production Context
The Guardian is a British national daily newspaper, printed in full colour, founded in
1821, with its first edition being published on 5 May 1821 being only a weekly
newspaper. From originally being named The Manchester Guardian, it has grown from a
local to a national paper. In 2004, The Guardian announced they were changing the
newspaper format to the Berliner layout, and was the first newspaper in the UK to do so.
The Berliner format is slightly larger than the traditional tabloid giving flexibility in page
design.
The Guardian’s audience demographic:
The Guardian is available on multiple platforms; their website (online since 1995, re-
launched to current design in 2007), mobile applications (iPhone, Android, Blackberry,
Windows), print, PDF edition (named G24), iPad app, a mobile website and a Kindle
edition. Guardian users can be connected through their Facebook account, and The
Guardian can also be found on Twitter.
The Guardian publish every news story on their website
with free access to both current and archive stories. From
January 2012, it remains the second most popular UK
newspaper website with the average of 2,937,070
browsers daily.
Within the Saturday edition of The Guardian, free inside is
their weekly listings magazine, named The Guide. The
culture magazine covers a variety of topics, from film to
exhibitions.
13. The Guardian - Distribution
The Guardian is owned by the Guardian Media Group, a company in the UK
that owns multiple mass media operations. The company was formed when
C.P.Scott bought the Manchester Guardian in 1907. Other newspapers the
company publish is The Observer and The Guardian Weekly, The Guardian’s
sibling papers. The Guardian can be found in newsagents, supermarkets,
through subscription, their app and online. This magazine is funded through
advertising, the cover price, subscriptions and profits from the parent
company and business interests. The paper’s circulation is around 189
thousand copies (of August 2013).
14. The Guardian Guide takes on the traditional codes and conventions of Guardian
articles. However, this booklet is much smaller in size (a custom size close to A4) so
it’s much easier to handle. Page sizing will need to be considered when I create my
article.
Anchorage: The article
presents the artist’s work,
where it’ll engage those
interested to read the article.
Drop Capital: Used
at the start of the
first paragraph to
signal the article
beginning. The drop
capitals used in this
article are more
bigger than the
average, therefore
making it stand out.
Pull quote:
emphasizes the
line that has
importance
behind it. It makes
the article more
attractive.
15. This double-page spread, within Guardian Weekend, particularly stood out to me
because of how aesthetically pleasing it was. This scan is the introducing page to the
main double-page spread. The design of each article is consistent throughout,
creating an overall good-looking magazine. I’d love to emulate this as an introduction
to my double-page spread. However, this will be something to consider because my
article topic may not be as effective as this is.
Language: Play on words,
connotes negativity.
Standfirst: Are often
printed in larger, bolder
or in capitals, but this
standfirst has its own
page to introduce and
summarise the article
on the following page.
Image: Edited to look
ominous, signals that
the article will be from a
negative perspective.
16.
17.
18. Target Audience and
Inspiration
Audience:
Aimed at the same audience of my documentary: the older generation,
hence developing it in the style of the Guardian or Radio Times due to
their mature audience (35+). Often found in those magazines are double-
page spreads on TV Shows that are aimed at that audience, so it seems
logical for me to follow the codes and conventions of them.
Inspirations:
Design - Multiple smaller images placed throughout the article
Font style - Simple font, such as Georgia. I’ll also use drop capitals at the
start of new paragraphs.
Organisation - Three columns on each page with pull quotes interspersed
throughout (maximum of three).
