Codes and conventions of a regional magazine

2. I’ve looked at a few different regional magazine front covers and the main
codes and conventions are;
• Mastheads that are usually in a font that represents the style/image of
the magazine
• Main image which is usually a landscape or landmark in the regional
area
• There tends to be a contrasting colour scheme
• Sell lines which will attract the target audience into buying the
magazine
• Barcode and price
• Date of release

3. Mastheads are clear and recognisable
to establish a brand image. The
masthead is white on a blue contrasting
background meaning for easy
identification for the audience
Simplistic layout, easy navigation
and to read for the older
audience which is targeted
Differing fonts, usually
white coloured. Different
sizes to grab attention
Use of
landmarks/landscapes as
the main image to
represent the region of
the magazine and for the
target audience to
recognise these landmarks
so they become intrigued
and feel more obliged to
buy.
Date of issue e.g.
‘November 2014’ to show
the reader the time of year
the magazine is about.
Barcode/price; very
common convention of
magazines in general,
shows the target
audience that it is an
establish magazine so
they feel more inclined
to buy it because there
is a sense of trust
Sell lines to entice
readers about other
features within the
magazine
Colour contrasts to grab the eye of the
target audience. The colour of the font
corresponds with bright colours in the
main image, creating a more colourful
and bold looks to gain readership.
Strapline in a
stand out colour
to grab the eye of
the reader and to
increase
surveillance.

4. Masthead is clear and
recognisable to establish a
brand image. The masthead
is white on a pink contrasting
background meaning for easy
identification for the
audience
Colour contrasts to
grab the eye of the
target audience.
Continuous use of the
same colour font to
gain attention and
follow the house style
Recurring font to
stick to house
style and image
of the magazine.
Different sizes to
grab attention
Sell lines to entice
readers about
other features
within the
magazine
Date of issue’
to show the
reader the
time of year
the magazine
is about.
Simplistic layout,
easy navigation and
to read for the older
audience which is
targeted
Main image of a landscape
to represent the region of
magazine is set and for the
target audience to
recognise these landmarks
so they become intrigued
and feel more obliged to
buy.
Strapline in a stand
out colour to grab
the eye of the
reader and to
increase
surveillance.

5. Masthead is clear and
recognisable to establish a
brand image. The masthead is
black & red on a white
contrasting background
meaning for easy
identification for the audience
Date of issue’
to show the
reader the time
of year the
magazine is
about.
Simplistic layout,
easy navigation and
to read for the older
audience which is
targeted
Strapline in a stand
out colour to grab the
eye of the reader and
to increase
surveillance.
Colour contrasts to grab the eye of
the target audience. Continuous use
of the reds and whites across the
front cover to gain attention and
follow the house style
Recurring font to
stick to house style
and image of the
magazine. Different
sizes to grab
attentionSell lines to
entice readers
about other
features within
the magazine
Barcode is a very
common convention of
magazines in general,
shows the target
audience that it is an
establish magazine so
they feel more inclined
to buy it because there
is a sense of trust
Use of landmarks/landscapes as
the main image to represent the
region of the magazine and for the
target audience to recognise these
landmarks so they become
intrigued and feel more obliged to
buy.

6. Regional magazines usually have the word
‘life’ in their masthead. This shows the
target audience that the magazine will
benefit or enhance their life; also the word
‘life’ will imply that the magazine will have a
good knowledge about the life in this region.
Mastheads for magazines usually stand out against
the rest of the magazines front cover. They are
colourful or have a bold font to attract the reader’s
eye and increase surveillance. The use of the pink in
‘Glossop Life’ and the red in ‘Cumbria Life’ both
show a contrast and make the masthead stand out
against the rest of the front cover so the target
audience can pick out the colours and easily identify
the name of the magazine.
Magazine mastheads are designed
to fit its target audience.
Magazines like ‘Kent Life’ and ‘The
Bristol Magazine’ are more
simplistic and formal to appeal to
their older demographic.
For the masthead the magazines can use either
upper case or lower case lettering to appeal to
their audience; the upper case masthead, ‘The
Bristol Magazine’ and ‘Kent Life’, would appeal
more to the older age brackets, 50+, and the
lower case lettering, ‘Cumbria Life’ and ‘Glossop
Life’ to entice the younger ages to show it’s a
more modern magazine.

7. I have researched quite a few different regional magazine
advertisements and the main codes and conventions are
as follows:
•Logos – in a style/theme which conveys the image or the
ideology of the company
•Main images – the companies use these to show off the
product(s) being advertised
•Sell lines – which promote the product and/or company
•Contact details – which give the target audience a point
of contact to show interest
•Font – usually a sans serif font which is easy to read

8. The corks used as the
background for instant
recognition that it is an
advertisement for wine

9. Bright coloured
background to
catch the target
audiences eye
Main images to represent
the product(s) in an
aesthetically pleasing way
Brand logo in the
top half for easy
recognition by the
target audience
Title in a large font
so is easily spotted
The fact that
kitchens are being
advertised, this will
appeal to the
target audience of
50+ because they
may want/need a
new kitchen layout
Contact info so
the target
audience can
easily get hold of
the company if
they are
interested in the
product
Website so
online research
about the
company/other
products can be
undertaken by
the target
audience
Text is set out in columns
and includes brief overview
about the company

10. Main images to
represent the
product(s) in an
aesthetically
pleasing way
Large brand logo
in the middle for
easy recognition
by the target
audience
Title in a large font so is
easily spotted. ‘beautiful’
in a contrasting colour for
emphasis
Website so online research
about the company/other
products can be undertaken
by the target audience
Contact info so
the target
audience can
easily get hold of
the company if
they are
interested in the
product
Furniture being
advertised which
would appeal to
the target
audience
especially if they
are in need of new
furniture
Red and blue
colour scheme is
consistent
throughout

11. I have researched a few different regional magazine
contents pages, the main codes and conventions are as
follows:
• Magazine logo to reflect the style and the magazines
image.
• Image (s) to make the contents more interesting and
eye catching.
• Page numbers and subtitles for easier navigation
through the magazine for the audience.
• Colour scheme which tends to be bold and colourful to
help break up the text.
• The font tends to be ‘sans serif’ which is easy to read.

12. Logo to establish
brand image
Artistic Images to
interest the
target audience
Page numbers for easy
navigation through the
magazine
Subtitles for a brief
understanding of
the article
Date
and
website
Consistent colour scheme
– black and white,
sticking to house style
Contact
info so
readers
can get
in
contact
Easy to read font
for an older
target audience
About the
magazine/
publishers
Colourful images
to entice readers
Brief summaries
for more of an
understanding of
the article

13. Logo to
establish a
brand image
Artistic Images
to interest the
target audience
Pages numbers for easy
navigation through the
magazine
Subtitles for a brief
understanding of
the article
Date and
website
Consistent colour
scheme – black and
white to stick with
house style
Easy to read fonts
for an older target
audience
Colourful
images to
entice readers
Brief summaries
for more of an
understanding of
the article

14. Page numbers
for easy
navigation
through the
magazine
Easy to read fonts
for an older target
audience
Artistic images to interest
the target audience
Colourful
images to
entice
readers
Subtitles for a
brief
understanding
of the article
date
Consistent
colour scheme –
black and white
to stick to house
style
website
Brief
summaries for
more of an
understanding
of the article