3. COLOUR: Listing magazines tend to be colourful- particularly using the colours blue and
red, with the name of the magazine being in the white. This then makes a potential
customer immediately recognize that it is a listing magazine. These colours also draw people
in as they are so eye catching.
IMAGES: On the front page of the article there is usually an image of an actor or actress
that currently plays a high profile character that has an important story line in a TV show,
for instance David Tennant when he was in Doctor Who. A large picture of this actor will
then attract fans of that TV show, encouraging them to purchase the magazine.
HEADING: Next to the images is often a heading that relates to their story line. The
heading is in a large size- sometimes bigger than the title of the magazine itself and with
more colour. This makes it appear that TV listing magazines focus on the latest storyline
rather than the brand image of the magazine itself in order to gain customers and generate
profit. It’s eye catching, tempting people to purchase the magazine.
IMPORTANT ARTICLES: In much smaller font than the main heading, yet still readable,
we can see a small caption of other articles featured in the magazine, tempting people even
further to purchase the magazine.
MAGAZINE FRONT PAGE
CONVENTIONS
4. TITLE: There is always a title in order to straight away inform the reader of the articles topic and draw them
in. The title is often catchy- perhaps using a technique such as alliteration or a metaphor. The title is always in
much bigger font than the rest of the article.
DROP CAPITAL: There’s usually a drop capital used at the beginning of an article. This catches the readers
eye, encouraging them to read the article.
COLUMNS: Two- four columns tend to be featured in listing magazines, making them easy to read and quite
clearly laid out.
SUMMARY: A short sentence in bigger font is often seen either just below the title of the article, or just
above where the actual article starts. This gives the reader a small inclination of what the article is about,
drawing them in.
DATE AND TIME: Once people have read an article on a TV show, they may be intrigued to watch it.
Therefore, it’s important that at the bottom of the article it informs the reader of when (date, time and what
channel) the show is on TV.
CAPTION OF IMAGES: If an image has been taken for the article, then the photographers name often
features in the bottom corner of the image of the article.
IMAGES: To catch the attention of the readers and inform them straight away of who/what the article is
about, there is often an image (taking up a whole page) or several.
QUOTE: An important quote that attracts the readers attention is often either used on the main image or in
the middle of the article. This is usually in a different colour to the rest of the text.
ARTICLE CONVENTIONS
