codes and conventions

1. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
For my research of front covers I first researched regional magazines and then, because I want my
magazine to be a fashion magazine, I also researched famous fashion magazines like Vouge and
Elle. By combining the codes and conventions from both magazines I hope to create the best
possible outcome for my magazine.

2. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - bold in a serif font. In white to stand out. Title
states where the magazines from.
Main image - Of one person, medium close up, direct
mode of address is used to create a personal
relationship with the reader (uses and grat).
Side text - Placed around the persons face, in bold, sans
serif, black, white and red font (creates brand
recognition) which stands out and is eye catching. (some
are also in serif to match the masthead).
Subheading - In the same font as the masthead but a bit
smaller as to not be the first thing you see. Largest sub
heading on the page as to attract attention, states the
word ‘girls’ as this magazine seems to be more aimed at
females than males.
Bar code placed in the corner.
Neutral colour scheme with some red placed in there to
make it stand out.

3. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - Bold in a serif font. In grey which contrasts
the background. The region of the magazine is the title.
Main image - A woman placed in the centre of the page
in what looks like expensive clothes. Direct mode of
address is used to create a personal relationship with
the reader.
Side text - Placed around the picture, in serif font, swirly
writing is used to create a more feminine, upper class
appeal attracting a female audience. In white and grey
contrasting the background standing out.
Bar code placed in the corner.
Date placed in the corner - this create consistency and
order for the reader.
Footer - Extra features in the magazine, it doesn't say
anything else about the article which will entice the
reader and make them want to read inside.

4. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - In yellow contrasting the background and
standing out, its the first thing you see. The yellow also
matches the house theme.
‘Subheading’ - Manchester and Cheshire is placed about
the A to inform people what region the magazine
belongs to as its not in the name of the magazine, unlike
many other regional magazines.
Main image - Famous artist
Subtext - Names of artists in blond sans serif font, fits
the house theme, attracting younger readers. Smaller
text is placed below informing them on the article but not
to much is placed there as to leave un answered
questions, making the reader want to read on.

5. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - White serif font, the name of the region is
the title.
Header - About an article in the magazine, doesn't say
much about it leaving unanswered codes and questions
making the reader want to read on.
Main image - Different to other magazines I've looked at
as it it a deer instead of a person. This may mean that
the magazine is aimed at an older target audience
instead of a teenage one.
Subtext - Main titles are in yellow to fit the nature theme
and also so they stand out. They're in bold sans serif
font. Mainly about places and things to do rather than
people.
Footer - Picture of a man in a suit looking smart. Maybe
aiming for a more upper class audience to attract. Direct
mode of address is used to create a personal
relationship with the reader.

6. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - White, bold, serif font which stands out on
the page. The name is the region the magazines from.
Subheading - ‘The Magazine for the city’ creating brand
awareness as a slogan would.
Main image - A woman placed in the centre, her face is
covered which is unusual. The red lips and nails still give
it a feminine appeal but also attract the male gaze.
There is no side text but there is a large sub heading in
bold sans serif font. It is in green which doesn't stand
out. The article seems to be about an environmental
topic which is probably aimed at an older target
audience.
Footer - Extra features in the magazine, name and
places placed at the bottom enticing the audience to
read more.

7. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - White sans serif font. Stands out is bold and
had a black shadow around it.
Subheading - Tells you what types of things youll find in
the magazine, informative. Also has an issue number
and a date.
Main image - The woman photographed as a long shot.
Attracting the male gaze and also woman. Direct mode
of address is used to create a personal relationship with
the reader (uses and grat). Shoes and nails match the
the house theme (red, black and white).
Subtext - Bold text in red black and white - matching the
house theme. Blunt and to the point leaving makeing it
easy to read but leaving unanswered questions making
people want to read on.
This magazine seems to be aimed more a younger
target audience.

8. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - Very large black serif font, stands out and is
the first thing you see when you look at the page. It is
feminine attracting a more female audience.
Date and price of magazine placed below the masthead.
Subtitle - ‘fashion’ - although its in very thin letters its the
only colour on the page so it is still eye catching.
Intrigues people who are into fashion if they don't know
already that its a fashion magazine.
Main image - Of a famous celebrity attracting attention of
a younger target audience. Her clothes match the house
theme of black and white. Direct mode of address is
used to create a relationship with the audience.
Subtext - Black sans serif text stands out and is placed
around the main image. Name of the artist attracts a
younger audience and fans of the artist. Question placed
in the text to also create a connection with the reader as
if they're personally being asked.

9. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Masthead - The largest font on the page, in bold serif
font that contrasts the background as its in white. Very
feminine.
Sell Line - ‘full force fashion’ - in a similar font to the
masthead but a bit smaller. Alliteration is used and as in
vogue the word fashion is used to attract the desired
target audience.
Main image - Of a famous model attracting attention of a
younger target audience. Direct mode of address is used
(uses and grat), her makeup and clothes are very
modern attracting a slightly younger target audience of
about 16-35, I want to use this technique in my
magazine.
Subtext - All white in serif fonts, this gives a feminine
appeal attracting a female audience. The white stands
out and contrasts the background but also matches the
other text on the page. Short lines are used to make it
easier to read.

10. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
COMMON CONVENTIONS OF THE MASTHEAD
When doing my research I discovered the masthead of
many magazines followed the same convention of being a
‘Times New Roman’ serif style font. Most are in planer
colours like black and white but there are some exceptions
where it has been in colour.
The masthead is always in the centre and the largest font
on the page. Although the font is thinner than some that are
featured on music magazines etc. the masthead still stands
out, is eye catching and easy to read.
Serif font tends to be a more sophisticated looking font,
possibly why it is used in regional magazines as they're
generally aimed at people who are a bit older rather than
teenagers and the younger generation.
The mastheads are also in capitals which helps them to
stand out and create a more symmetrical size which is
appealing to the eye. When things are visually acceptable it
makes people more likely to be drawn to it.
I will consider this when making my magazine and most
likely include it when I create my front cover.

11. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Because I want my magazine to be a fashion one I have
also researched famous fashion ones as part of my study.
I also found that in fashion magazines a lot of the time,
capital serif font was used in the masthead. This was done
for the same reasons as in the regional magazines - to
stand out and attract the readers.
Similar to the regional magazines the fashion magazines
use black and white as the masthead colour but also
sometimes use colour. This helps it to stand out and be
eye catching.
This serif font is also quite feminine thats why I think
they're used on female magazines. Unlike regional
magazines, the fashion magazines are aimed at woman
aged between 16 - 35. This is the same as my target
audience therefor I also want to use this font on my front
cover.

12. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
COMMON CONVENTIONS OF A SELL LINE
In regional magazines the first convention I found was that
two fonts are usually used, one for the original sell line and
another for a bit about the article. Depending on the target
audience and their interests depends on what the sell line is
about maximising the people who will be attracted to it and
therefore buy it - therefor maximising profit. This will be a
feature I will use in my magazine.
The sell line is the second largest font on the page, to
attract attention but not draw it away from the masthead.
They are punchy and to the point which catches peoples
eyes and makes them want to read on.
The text below the sell line is smaller and a bit more
detailed but still short and to the point. It gives an insight
into the article, intriguing the reader and leaving
unanswered questions making them want to read inside the
magazine.
The colours used for both normally fit the colour scheme
and stand out.

13. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
In fashion magazines the sell lines are usually about fashion
and clothes. This is because the people who buy these
magazines tend to be interested in the trends ect. (target
audience - generally 16-35). In my magazine I will probably
use this convention as my target audience is of similar age
and interest.
By what I've researched there isn't a specific font that
stands out. But all are bold and stand out against the
background they're put on.
Quite a lot of the time different size fonts are used to
emphasise words that they want to stand out more. - in
some magazines I looked at different types of fonts were
also used but this was a very common convention of the
fashion magazines. Like regional magazines, they also fit
the house theme of the magazine. (quite often black and
white with more feminine colours thrown in).
In most cases the sell line is placed lower down on the page
or somethings but less often placed at the side.

14. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
COMMON CONVENTIONS OF SUBTEXT.
The subtext on regional magazines is about articles inside the
magazine. They tend to have a punchy ‘title’ then a smaller bit of text
about the article underneath it which is short yet informative and leaves
unanswered questions therefor leaving the viewer wanting to read on.
The fonts used are usually similar to the ones used in the rest of the
piece. I didn't find a very common font used as they varied between
serif and sans serif. Although they're the smallest text on the page, the
colours used make it stand out and help catch the readers attention.
White is a very common colour I've seen been used as well as reds and
yellows as they're very bold colours.
Frases are used that the author will think attracts their chosen target
audience. The magazines with a younger target audience feature more
artist names and the latest fashion trends etc whereas regional
magazines aimed at an older audience tend to feature more about
topics they'd more likely be interested in.

15. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
Subtext for fashion magazines are very similar to subtext for regional
magazines, the main difference is the content. It features a lot more
about fashion and includes lots of celebrities name as the target
audience of these magazines is more interested in these topics and is
more likely to be draw to subtexts like this.
The fonts of the subtext tend to vary as each magazine has a different
style or house theme. Plane colours like black and white are used to
contrast the backgrounds and help the text stand out.
As in the regional magazine, the content of the text is short sharp and
punchy. It gives insight into the magazine and makes the readers want
to read on.
This is a feature I will use in my magazine.

16. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
COMMON CONVENTIONS OF THE PICTURE.
In many regional magazines the picture wasn't of a person or
animal but as I want to feature one in my magazine I only
researched the ones with photographs of humans or animals.
The person photographed in all of these magazines was a
woman. This is to attract the male gaze (Laura Mulvy) as well
as also attract woman as they may aspire to be like them or
are curious about them. The woman are all well dress
generally in smarter clothes possibly because there is an older
target audience to fashion magazines.
Direct mode of address in used in the majority of them to
create a personal relationship with the audience (uses and
gratifications theory).
Rule of thirds is also used in the magazines to make it more
ascetically pleasing, I aim to do this in my magazine as well.

17. MAGAZINE FRONT COVER CODES AND CONVENTIONS.
In fashion magazines a woman is always used. Because men dictate
what is in the media, everyone sees woman how they see it, this would
be why woman are more used on the front covers 99% of the time.
The people used on the from cover of magazines are normally famous
and therefor attract a younger target audience of people who know
about them and would be drawn if they saw a picture of them.
The woman on the front covers are dressed in nice clothes and have
makeup on to make it ascetically pleasing and again attract the chosen
target audience (16-35).