This document analyzes the codes and conventions used in magazine front covers. It discusses several magazines, identifying patterns in how they use layout, fonts, colors and images to attract readers' attention and convey information. Common techniques included using a recognizable logo or title in contrasting colors, backgrounds related to the region or topic, and alternating font styles between sell lines and cover lines to establish a house style while distinguishing elements. The goal is to entice readers through visual cues and give a sense of the magazine's content and brand.

1. Key Codes and
Conventions –
front cover
Regional Magazine

2. Properties found in a
Magazine
• A consistent house style, which represents the
image and ethos of the magazine
• Use of colour, to create a feel for the magazine
• Layout is used to style the piece and direct readers
attention to main focus

3. The name of the Magazine
ABSOLUTELY South East – the word
ABSOLUTELY is prominent on the page,
and in a contrasting colour to the
other text. This makes it stand out and
indicates an importance of the word.
ABSOLUTELY is a brand name,
representing different regions across
the UK. They have used the title in this
way to create a transferable brand
image across all of their magazines
and a fan of ABSOLUTELY would
instantly recognise it. They have used
an orange colour, which contrasts
with the background, whilst blending
with the colour scheme for the front
cover. They have used a bold serif
font, creating a contemporary feel to
the magazine and making it appeal
to a younger target audience. By
using capital letters they are bringing
the readers attention to the
importance of the word. For the
reader, South East is a second though
as they initially identify the magazine
as ABSOLUTELY. They have followed a
key code and convention of a
regional magazine by including the
region it is targeted at and represents
in the name of the magazine.

4. They have made use of a Main Cover line
which makes use of a different font to the
rest of the page. ‘The Futures Bright’, this
suggests that the magazine features
something which will affect the reader in the
future making them want to read the
magazine. A key code and convention of a
regional magazine is to have a main cover
line which draws the readers attention and
makes them want to read on. This creates a
hermeneutic code of the reader wanting to
know what the magazine is referring to, in this
case what has made the future bright, and
who the future bright will be for. They have
made use of a white colour, with a thin
capital serif font. This gives the magazine a
contemporary and modern feel, whilst
contrasting the background and making the
sell line stand out. They have written the text
over the main image which also draws the
readers attention to the image. The
description of the cover line is again written
in white, however this time in italic and bold.
This makes it clear this is still relevant to the
main cover line, whilst remaining separate.
The use of white has a connotation of
positive things, and by using this on a title
about the future being good – it is connoting
to the reader about the topic.

5. They have made use of sell lines around the
front cover, written in bold white serif fonts
creating a contemporary feel and staying in
keeping with the ABSOLUTELY house style, of
modern and contemporary with bright
colours. Rated in importance, by how they
stand out on the page. The topic on
Inspector Gadget, and Helen Graves are in a
bold font, making them stand out from the
grey background. , with their
description/subtitle in a standard font which
is harder to read from a distance. The third
sell line is in a standard font, ‘Print Impress’,
with the description/subtitle in bold,
lowercase. This suggests that for the top two
sell lines the headline explains the most
about the article and therefore attracting
the readers attention, whereas the third
headline/title does not explain as much and
therefore they want the readers attention to
be brought to the description. By using the
word ‘Explore’, they are suggesting that the
magazines article is very descriptive giving
the reader an immersive reading experience.

6. At the bottom of the page, they have used
the magazines motto, ‘Stylish, Intelligent,
Elegant, Absolutely’. Written in a bold font, in
gold it is clear this is something which is part
of the magazines ethos/house style.
Something which would appear on every
edition, this is because it is formatted in the
same way as the title, yet does not stand out
as much on the front cover. This could be
because this is not a selling point of the
magazine and therefore does not need to
attract the readers eye to get them to buy it.
This is there instead, to once the reader has
picked up the magazine and started reading
they get an idea of the style of the magazine
and the content inside. A key code and
convention of a magazine is to portray the
ethos and image of the magazine itself on
the front cover. This gives the reader an
impression of what it will be like. Usually done
through the use of a motto/strapline.
They have featured the price and issue date
in the top left corner, by using a small font for
this it is indicated this is not of importance to
the front cover.

7. The background of ABSOLUTELY South East, is
a woman wearing an orange coat which
compliments her orange hair. The reason for
the image is not made clear on the front
cover, creating a hermeneutic code for the
reader, wanting to know who she is and why
she is on the front cover of the magazine.
Summary of Key Codes and Conventions
used:

8. The magazine Kent Life,
October 2011 edition
produced by Archant has
a white title. This is used in
every Kent Life magazine,
and allows it to stand out
on the page. The reader
would recognise the
magazine clearly, and by
using the word Kent in the
name, they are making it
clear the topic of the
magazine. By using a
white colour, they are
allowing the text to stand
out on the page by
contrasting against the
background.

9. They have put the Archant
logo in the top left corner.
They brand the magazine in
this way as it is a
recognisable logo. This
increases the chance of
someone buying it if they
have read a similar Archant
magazine before. They
make use of white text
across the cover to allow
the sell lines stand out from
the background. By using
the colour white they are
creating a connotation of
purity and innocence,
suggesting that the
magazine is something
appropriate for all, giving an
impression of a ‘nice’
magazine.

10. They have used a mixture of
white and orange text. The
orange blends in with the
mainly orange background
of the magazine. The use of
this background gives the
reader a key idea of the
topic of the magazine. In
this case the main cover line
is regarding ‘The birds and
the bees’, creating a clear
correlation between the
background and this. The
background is designed to
be eye catching, to attract
the readers attention. If
someone is interested in
plants, or bees then they
would see the front cover
and identify the magazine
as something of interest to
them.

11. The main cover line is
coloured white with an
orange “&”. By using
these colours and a more
traditional font they are
allowing it to stand out
from the background. By
using the orange they are
tying it in to create a
colour scheme on the
magazine. They have
followed this house style
throughout the other sell
lines on the page,
however they have used
a standard serif font to
distinguish these from the
main cover line.

12. The use of a second image
at the bottom of the page,
gives the reader a glimpse
into the magazine and it’s
topics without having to
open it and start reading.
Key Codes and
Conventions:
• Title gives clear idea of
topic
• Background of
landscape from region
• White text, makes
background contrast
• Mixture of serif and
traditional fonts
• Additional picture to
show glimpse of topics
• Clear correlation to
region

13. This edition of Kent Life,
March 2014 – produced by
Archant makes use of a white
title. This allows it to be in
keeping with the magazines
ethos, whilst standing out
from the background. By
using a traditional font they
are making a clear target at
their audience, an older
generation. They have used
a background of a castle,
making a clear link to the
main topic of the magazine
with another linked main
cover line. They have used
white text throughout the
front cover with yellow to
blend with the flowers at the
bottom of the background
image.

14. They have made use of a
green banner at the top of
the page, which also
allows a contrast against
the background. Drawing
the readers eye to the
magazine and allowing
them to focus on the
information it is covering, in
this case a competition. A
key code and convention
of a magazine to advertise
competitions or chances
to win something to get
the reader to buy it. The
sell lines around the page
are in serif fonts, white and
yellow to contrast from the
background whilst blend
in.

15. Summary of codes and
conventions:
• Use of contrasting
colours on background
and text to make it
stand out
• Clear correlation
between region and
content
• Sell lines and main cover
line alternating typeface
and colours
• Colours blend with
background whilst
creating house style
issuu.com

16. This edition of Time Out
London, issue 2193, costing
£1.25 features the Time Out
London logo in the top left
hand corner. The iconic logo,
used in Time Out magazines
across the world meaning
readers of other Time Out
magazines would recognize
it. By doing this it creates a
recognizable brand image
which readers would
recognize without having
necessarily read that specific
version. In the case of Time
Out London this magazine
centers around the London
area and topics, thus the
“London” added to Time
Out. By placing the image
over the logo, they are
confident the brand image is
easily recognizable without
having to look properly at the
logo.

17. The background of this
edition of Time Out is an
image of someone jumping
in a London scene. This
creates a correlation
between the image and the
main cover line; “Extreme
London”, by showing a jump
from such a high place, they
are creating the extreme
connotation in the readers
mind. The subtitle for the
main cover line “Experience
this city’s most intense
adrenaline rushes”, this gives
information on the topic
covered. The word
“EXTREME”, is written in black,
bold uppercase typeface
which suggests importance.
The use of the yellow
background replicates
warning tape, accentuating
the extremeness of the topic.

18. For the subtitle, they have
used a smaller, white serif font
which still allows the writing to
stand out from the
background whilst making it
clear this is not the main
topic. They have placed the
barcode, on the left hand
side – a common feature of a
magazine to place it on the
left hand side. This cover
does not make use of sell
lines all over the page,
instead they are centered in
one location. The use of
white text allows it to contrast
from the background. The
use of “Inside” with the yellow
background keeps a house
style with the main cover line.

19. For the subtitle, they have
used a smaller, white serif font
which still allows the writing to
stand out from the
background whilst making it
clear this is not the main
topic. They have placed the
barcode, on the left hand
side – a common feature of a
magazine to place it on the
left hand side. This cover
does not make use of sell
lines all over the page,
instead they are centered in
one location. The use of
white text allows it to contrast
from the background. The
use of “Inside” with the yellow
background keeps a house
style with the main cover line.

20. Codes and Conventions:
• Use of recognizable logo
• Logo is covered by
image, suggesting
brand is well known
• House style decided by
topic
• Colours of fonts contrast
with background
• Use of serif fonts gives a
contemporary feel

21. This edition of Surrey Life,
from January 2014
published by Archant
makes use of many codes
and conventions I have
identified in the other
magazines published by
Archant. The logo,
prominent in the top
center of the front cover, is
white in a traditional font.
The use of the word
“Surrey” makes it clear to
the reader the topic of the
magazine/the region it is
aimed at. A distinct
background from the
region catches the readers
eye.

22. Various sell lines around the
page alternate between serif
and traditional fonts creating
a house style to the
magazine. The use of white
and yellow writing makes the
text stand out from the
background whilst being
easy to read, and ties the
magazine together forming
an image and ethos of this
edition. The main cover line
“Get set for 2014” written in a
yellow colour. The main cover
line would suggest to the
reader the main topic for the
magazine, and due to the
issue date this would be one
for people who are looking
towards 2014.

23. At the bottom of the page, a
white background allows the
further sell lines to stand out
on the page, with additional
images. This gives more
information about the
magazine and the topics
within. The bottom of the
page contains features that
are not directly related to the
main cover line or the image
used as the background.
They have used different
colour text for the sell lines at
the bottom of the page.
These are making use of
traditional font, in red. This
creates a separate colour
scheme related to the
woman's hat in the small
image. This still however, ties
in with the rest of the page.

24. Summary of Codes and
Conventions:
• Large centered title
• Clear brand image
• Ties in with publisher
brand image
• Contrasting text colours
reflect background to
create colour scheme
• Bottom panel shows
separate topics with a
different style to rest of
front cover