a2 media coursework research regional magazine websites

1. Ancillary Task 2
Regional Magazine
Websites

2. Mastead – top left of website – first
thing the audience sees –
anchorage of brand name.
The different page links vary in
subject – appeal to wide audience
– Surveillance theory/gain
knowledge from reading them.
The main section is always on the
left hand side at the top / the first
place the audience will look –
usually the main article within the
issue
Regular convention of a large
image taking up this main section
A sell line / slogan –
regular convention of
Time out. ‘Your’ –
makes reader feel
personal towards
magazine.
Advertise offers from
within the company – to
engage the readers
attention – make them
feel valued as if the
magazine is personally
giving them offers.
Adverts – this is how
the company gain an
income as the magazine
‘What to do in London’ is free.
uses and grats –
surveillance – audience
feels like they are
gaining knowledge and
info from the magazine
website.
Uses 2 columns, left
hand side is larger and
ordered text to keep it
Colour scheme / continuity of red, black and white. neat.

3. Contact details top right hand corner – so audience can
approach the company and feel comfortable.
Banner / other links – surveillance
theory – gives audience extra
information
Uses a grid format to display different links
to separate issues/information – images
relate to grid and what they are about,
‘Latest’ makes audience feel up
to date with what's going on.
Links to social networking – appeals to wider audience
– anchorage of the company, as they are on multiple
sites
Columned images with text on
the right hand side – extra
information on
culture/lifestyle/fashion –
surveillance theory
Shows a front cover of an issue – ‘Now’ –
makes the audience feel directly spoken to.
House style is very simplistic with lots of images supported by
text – colour scheme is a continuation of the magazine,
modern with greys and whites

4. Masthead top left – visible to audience first
thing they see
The different
page links vary in
subject – appeal
to wide audience
– Surveillance
theory/gain
knowledge from
reading them.
Links to social networking –
appeals to wider audience –
anchorage of the company, as
they are on multiple sites
Shows a front
cover of an issue –
‘Now’ – makes the
audience feel
directly spoken to.
3 columns vary in size,
with images and lots of
text.
Extra information ‘eat
tonight’ surveillance
theory
Competition – attract
readers make them want
to see the magazine and
enter competition
‘Jobs section’
surveillance theory –
extra information for the
Not a set colour reader
scheme for website
– uses grey and
white with orange
as feature colour.
Messy layout.
‘Writer profile’
creates personal
relationship with
magazine for
audience – uses
and grats.

5. Masthead – top centre / bold – first thing audience
sees.
The different page links vary in subject
– appeal to wide audience –
Surveillance theory/gain knowledge
from reading them.
‘Top stories’ keeps
audience up to date /
surveillance theory.
Links to social networking – appeals to
wider audience – anchorage of the
company, as they are on multiple sites.
2 columns – left side is bigger and is largely for
images. Very simplistic house style and
minimalistic.
Colour scheme is black and white with blue being
the feature colour.
‘Latest’ keeps audience up
to date / surveillance
theory.

6. The main conventions of regional magazine
websites are;
- Masthead. Showing the company name / logo.
- Links. To other pages and social networking
sites.
- Main section. Features largest image and text,
usually the most important
- Adverts. How the magazine generate a revenue.
- Offers. Competitions and vouchers for the
reader.

7. Target Audience
After researching the websites for regional magazines, It was
obvious that its main function was addressing the target
audience of the brand, and giving the readers multiple ways to
access and read the magazine.
The target audience for regional magazine websites usually
corresponds with the audience of the magazine.
For example, the Absolute website is very minimalistic and
modern, targeting a younger audience whose interest lies
heavy with fashion.
The Canterbury index is for a slightly more older audience
than Absolute, whose interests are with culture and scenery
rather than fashion.