Media Studies ancillary task analysis (short)

1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF A
BILLBOARD
Ryan Quinn

2. What is a Billboard?
• A Billboard is a large, public advertisement use to attract
the general public towards a certain product. The overall
size and location of a billboard cultivates the audience
into taking notice. To add, the inclusion of witty remarks
and slogans are deployed, aiming to leave the audience
thinking, therefore remembering the advertisement, and
the product as a result.

3. How/Why are Billboard’s effective
commercially?
• As noted previously, Billboard’s undertake the usage of
eye-catching visuals, ranging from witty remarks,
displayed with a large, bold font as well as company logos
and images used as either metaphors (For further thinking
or comedic effect perhaps?), or images that directly relate
to the text passively.

4. Real example
of a billboard
This is a billboard,
showcasing the positive
impact of using the
product
(Hospital/askformary.co
m) rather than simply
the product itself. The
implication of positive
impact is signified
through the billboard’s
replication of the
outcome of the use of
the product; a
competent spinal cord.

5. List of Codes and Conventions
• Bold text: The bolder the text, the more likely the
attention of a bystander is to be caught.
• Memorable catchphrase/tagline: Taglines are often
cliché, or contrastingly unique. This is an additive
deployed to allow the public greater convenience and
specificity when remembering the advertisement, thus
more likeliness to acquire or use the product.
• Use of brand/company logo: Company logo’s are
included within billboard advertisements to gain exposure
as well as to consolidate ownership of the advertisement,
the product and any other endorsements.