media codes and conventions - Kerrang, NME and Q magazine analysis.

2. Direct mode of
address personal
relationship =
uses and grat
theory.
Only uses yellow
and purple, makes
these particular
parts stand out.
Hermeneutic
code of what
future he
faces and
how. =
enigma
created
(Barthes)
Targeting younger
audience (get them
to agree). Gives
sense of
relatability.
Smashed logo
= violence,
aggression,
volume of
music, reflects
the audience
they target.
(connotations)
= Barthes.
Expectation of
finding out more
about Muse =
cognitive needs
(uses and grats
theory)
Close up
Strap line = creates a sense of
continuity for the audience due to
previous issues. Reinforces
counter cultural. Audience shares
thought of ‘life is loud’
Male
dominated
= more
likely to
appeal to
girls,
obsess
over band
members
KERRANG:
Lists of bands = wide range of
cognitive needs

3. Contents:
Must be inside =
cognitive needs,
wanting to read further
on to see why they are
included.
Structured in
categories, sub
headings making
it easy to access
the info relevant
to the individual
reader.
Bold text =
significance, tries to
draw readers
attention.
House colours
followed through and
consistent with front
cover.
Impersonal
pics =
more of
what’s
inside, no
relationshi
p with the
image.
Edition = must have,
become a collect
= loyal customers
= reaching out to a type of
audience
More than 1
picture used,
unlike front
covers, shows
the array of
articles
included =
fulfils different
cognitive
needs.
Language choice =
trying to appeal to
an younger
audience that try to
replicate their style.
More personal, own
signature, not
digitalised.

4. Double Page Spread:
Font and colour
abides to house
colours, whilst
appearing rigid
(reflecting the
audience) also
comes across as
blunt.
Direct mode of address gives a sense
of personal contact between reader
and artist. = uses and grats
Drop cap =
significant,
catches the
eye = a key part
of the text.
Artist name =
informative,
entices readers.
Yellow
b.ground
highlights,
makes it
stand out,
with name
of band =
importance.
Font is actions like,
reflects chaos, or
energy. Compared to
typical fonts, its
breaking out of
traditional rules.
Background =
urban = relatable
but also white,
makes the image
and highlights
stand out.
Language choice =
suggesting teenage
audience, personal
integrated needs of
being relatable.
(uses and grats).
Highlights draws
audience in, makes
highlighted parts
seem important,
Text is minimal
compared to other,
readers not interest
in information
Image takes up majority
of the page = puts the
band in perspective,
alleviates importance,
and associates them to
the reader.

5. Codes and conventions of
Kerrang:
 Masterhead of Kerrang always at top, in either black or white, typically
overlapped by the artist in the centre of the page.
 House colours used throughout all issues: red, yellow, black and white and
consistently used in all issues.
 Male dominated bands/artists used, perhaps because target audience has little
or no change.
 Name of main artist on cover tends to be along side, in bold, highlighted
colours to make it draw the readings attention.
 Top header and footer often in yellow, either the text or background, differing
with black between copies.
 Idealogy could be the rebellion against the mainstream, or not following the latest
trends. Can be seen as males glaring into camera, and bands of a specific type
(loud, aggressive etc)
 Don’t follow the hegemonic norm, more niche audience.
 Middle third typically less full/more space, focuses eye on main image.
 Typography quite bold, rigid, and masculine. Use of drop-cap often to emphasis
the font.
*anything underlined is something I want to use in my own magazine

6. NME:
Direct mode of address =
personal = uses and grats
Hermeneutic code
= what’s wrong
with the ‘state of
music’?
Red hair, stands
out, draws
attention directly
to artist (fills entire
page, even
overlaps off) =
feeling close/
drawn in to her
Bold text, quite
masculine,
could suggest
normal target
audience.
Contrasts to
artists hair
colour, acts as
a reminder of
who produces.
Close up further
reinforces the fact
the audience is
drawn into her.
Special edition = must have,
limited. Alleviates importance
of issue.
Direct quote =
cognitive needs for
reader. Entices
them to read.
Artist name = informative,
entices readers.
List of extra artists inside
develops wide range of
cognitive needs

7. Contents:
Story wanting to
find out more =
enigma =
Barthes
Arrow further on
(turn the page) =
cognitive needs
= uses and grats.
Adds on, makes consumer
feel like more for money
offers
What mag can
offer, ongoing,
linear list = lots
of text =
audience looking
to fulfil cognitive
needs of
information.
Edition = must have, become a collect
= loyal customers
= reaching out to a type of audience
Text is the
right hand
side. Gives a
feel of being
a menu.
Highlighted = red =
house colours, and
makes it stand out to
the rest of the text
House colours
followed through and
consistent with front
cover.
Structured in
categories, sub
headings making
it easy to access
the info relevant
to the individual
reader.
Bold text =
significance, tries to
draw readers
attention.

8. Double Page Spread:
Choice of
words =
relating to
audience, they
don’t care
about
‘unfinished’
feel?
Font is actions like, reflects chaos,
or energy. Compared to typical
fonts, its breaking out of traditional
rules.
Direct
mode of
address
gives a
sense of
personal
contact
between
reader
and
artist. =
uses
and
grats
Bold/highlight = importance, only
things highlighted = names, for
distinguishing
Importance
of quote
pulled from
artist,
entices
reader to
engage.
Colour scheme follows
house colours, red
(top), white
(background),
black(text).
white background,
draws focus to
image and text.
Text with background
draws the eye,
Whole page image =
puts her in
perspective, alleviates
importance, and
associates her to the
reader.

9. Codes and conventions of
NME:
 Red/white bold text throughout majority of magazines.
 White background used in double page often to make text and
image of artist stand out. Also refers back to house colours.
 Pull out quotation often used, gives the readers something to gauge
their interest by, enticing them. Stands out on double page because
contrasting colour to background.
 Artists name on magazine front cover often on the left hand side
of the page.
 Direct mode of address always seems to be used. Relates the
audience to the artist well, and draws the attention to them.
 Categorized sections in contents page, with a black header for
each section. Easy to fulfil cognitive needs.
 Close up of face of artist on the front cover, draws the reader in,
personal relationships formed, accompanied with direct mode of
address.
*anything unlined is something I want to include in my own magazine.

10. Rolling Stone:
Colour scheme of
black, white and red.
Title stands out
from background
because of colour
scheme.
Bolded shows importance –
must read, but also more
inside = add ons = cognitive
needs
Lost letters =
enigma =
Barthes.
Sexualizes
woman =
draws the
eye, and may
suggest male
audience.
(Mulvey).
Direct mode of address
gives a sense of
personal contact
between reader and
artist. = uses and grats
Highlighted
entices reader to
read for
information (uses
and grats,
cognitive).
Bold and in
different colour to
contrast with
image, shows
significance.
Choice of white
background
takes focus to
text and image.
Alliteration,
catchy and
memorable, used
to stick in the
audiences mind.
Structured text in
sections = older
audience? Easily
access the information
the reader wants.

11. Contents:
Language choice =
trying to appeal to
an older audience
that try to remain
young or up to date.
Bold text =
significance, tries to
draw readers
attention.
House colours
followed through and
consistent with front
cover.
Highlighted = red =
house colours, and
makes it stand out to
the rest of the text.
More than 1
picture used,
unlike front
covers, shows
the array of
articles
included =
fulfills different
cognitive
needs.
Wording of features =
alleviates the
importance of what’s
included.
Structured in
categories,
sub headings
making it
easy to
access the
info relevant
to the
individual
reader.
Linear text is easy
to follow, in
chronological order.
Impersonal
pics =
more of
what’s
inside, no
relationshi
p with the
image.
Text is
centred
and the
right hand
side.
Gives a
feel of
being a
menu.

12. Double Page Spread:
Column like =
informal but easy to
read.
Artist name =
informative,
entices readers.
Little
space =
audience
want to
know as
much as
possible
(uses and
grats,
cognitive
needs of
acquiring
info).
Big L, links back
to house colours,
so recognisable.
Also links artist to
the text.
Older
audience as
clothes and
pose.
Object of a
male gaze =
Mulvey.
Whole page image =
puts her in
perspective,
alleviates
importance, and
associates her to
the reader.
Drop cap =
significant,
catches the
eye = a key
part of the
text.
Dark makeup =
follows house
colours of black
and white.
Along with
overall MES
(hair = white,
clothes = black)
Q logo =
reinforcing
brand image
Direct mode of
address gives a sense
of personal contact
between reader and
artist. = uses and
grats

13. Codes and conventions of
Rolling Stone:
 House colours used consistently throughout. Makes Q recognisable
and looks professional.
 Signature letter of artist relating them to the text not used in other
magazines, could be a way to distinguish themselves.
 Artists picture used often fill up entire page, not just a small image.
Makes them more dominant and in the mind of the audience.
 Background always white on double page, relates back to colour scheme.
Makes the text and image become the focus.
 Contents in categories, makes it easy for the reader to distinguish
what they are interest by.
 Name of magazine slightly overlapped frequently by artist on front
cover, bringing them into focus and dominance.
 Side text along either side of main image on front cover (means that the
main image is always central also).
 More than 1 image used on contents page, leave the audience with the
knowledge the particular people in the image are included in the magazine.
 Artist name normally on right hand side. Differs from many other magazines.
*anything unlined is something I want to include in my own magazine.

14.  House colours are consistent and used throughout all of the front cover,
contents, and double page spreads.
 Logo is often used on all pages (even if just a small one in the bottom
corner) to reinforce the brand of the magazine.
 Direct mode of address used throughout, creating a relationship
between audience and artist.
 Categories used in contents page to allow reader to find the info they
want to read straight away, often accompanied by a background colour
the highlighted/bolded text.
 Bar code usually in bottom right hand corner.
 Multiple pictures on contents page, but on front cover, varies between
magazines (some choose to have one main image and text, others
multiple images all over the page to draw the audiences attention).
 Important info which is significant is bolder, or drop capped at the start
of a paragraph.
 Double page spread image of artist takes up 1 entire page.
General codes and conventions for
music magazines: