The document describes the codes and conventions used in magazine covers, including simple color schemes, eye-catching main images, stereotypes related to the magazine location, representations of females, attention-grabbing sell lines, unobtrusive barcodes, and website addresses. These techniques are analyzed across several magazine covers focusing on different regions. The author plans to apply these established codes and conventions in their own magazine cover, likely featuring a person rather than rural landscape to attract a younger audience.

1. Masthead-
Bold, white, stands out against
the background.
Recognisable serif font used
throughout all the magazines.
Sell lines-
Far left and right, don’t
obscure the main image but
still draw attention by being a
matching colour to the
masthead.
Colour theme of red and white
keeps it simple, doesn’t
overload the audience
‘WIN’ in capitals and bold
attracts audience attention
and entices them, gives them
the idea they’re getting
something back from the
magazine
Main image- bright, eye
catching
Barcode-bottom right, small,
out the way, doesn’t distract
audience’s attention
Question aimed at audience,
forms personal relationship
and makes them want to read
the magazine to find the
answer
Website address in top corner to inform audience that the
magazine is available in multiple forms, whichever best suits
them, doesn’t distract from main sell lines
Lippmann’s theory of stereotypes: “Devon=countryside”
Rural stereotype portrayed in the front cover being a farm
yard scenario with a farm animal as the main image

2. Main image- bright, eye
catching
Barcode-bottom right, small,
out the way, doesn’t distract
audience’s attention
Website address in top corner to inform audience that the
magazine is available in multiple forms, whichever best suits
them, doesn’t distract from main sell lines
Masthead-
Bold, white, stands out against
the background.
Recognisable serif font used
throughout all the magazines.
Lippmann’s theory of stereotypes: “Kent=rural, manor
houses/castles”
Rural stereotype portrayed in the front cover, main
image being a castle, implies middle class.
Colour theme of yellow, blue
and white, keeps it simple,
doesn’t overload the audience
Castles = heritage
Stereotypically attract an older
audience to visit them, hence
an older audience for the
magazine

3. ‘YOUR’
forms personal relationship
and makes them want to read
the magazine
Lippmann’s theory of stereotypes: “Yorkshire=countryside/rural”
Main image at the coast, not a person or building in site
Colour theme of blue and
white keeps it simple, doesn’t
overload the audience
Barcode-bottom right, small,
out the way, doesn’t distract
audience’s attention
Website address in top corner to inform audience that the
magazine is available in multiple forms, whichever best suits
them, doesn’t distract from main sell lines
Masthead-
Bold, white, stands out against
the background.
Recognisable serif font used
throughout all the magazines.
Main image- bright, eye
catching

4. Colour theme of white and
blue, keeps it simple, doesn’t
overload the audience
Masthead-
Bold, white, stands out against
the background.
Recognisable non serif font
used throughout all the copies
of the magazines.
Lippmann’s theory of stereotypes:
“Canterbury=rural”
Rural stereotype portrayed in the front
cover being a farm animal as the main
image
Main image- bright, eye
catching
Sell lines-
Far left, right and bottom,
don’t obscure the main image
but still draw attention by
being a matching colour to the
masthead.

5. Website address in top corner to inform audience that the
magazine is available in multiple forms, whichever best suits
them, doesn’t distract from main sell lines
‘YOUR’
forms personal relationship
and makes them want to read
the magazine
Colour theme of red, black
and white keeps it simple,
doesn’t overload the audience
‘FREE EVENTS’ in capitals and
bold attracts audience
attention and entices them,
gives them the idea they’re
getting something back from
the magazine
Sell lines-
Far left and right, don’t
obscure the main image but
still draw attention by being a
matching colour to the
masthead.
Kilbourne’s representation theory-
Model with perfect skin and edited to
look incredible
Main image- bright, eye
catching, very pretty
Barcode-bottom right, small,
out the way, doesn’t distract
audience’s attention

6. Masthead-
Bold, white, stands out against
the background.
Recognisable non serif font
used throughout all the
magazines.
Kilbourne’s representation theory-female
with perfect skin and edited to look
incredible
Colour theme of red, yellow
and white keeps it simple,
doesn’t overload the audience
Main image- bright, eye
catching
Question aimed at audience,
forms personal relationship
and makes them want to read
the magazine to find the
answer
Sell lines-
Far left and right, don’t
obscure the main image but
still draw attention by being a
matching colour to the
masthead.
Model looks like a young
adult, attracts younger
audience as they feel familiar
with her due to being similar
ages

7. Website address in top corner to inform audience that the
magazine is available in multiple forms, whichever best suits
them, doesn’t distract from main sell lines
Masthead-
Bold, white, stands out against
the background.
Recognisable serif font used
throughout all the magazines.
Kilbourne’s representation theory-female
with perfect skin and edited to look
incredible
Colour theme of grey and
white keeps it simple, doesn’t
overload the audience
Main image- bright, eye
catching
Model – popular singer, has a
fan base consisting of young
adults
Helps attract a younger
audience
Sell lines-
Far left and right, don’t
obscure the main image but
still draw attention by being a
matching colour to the
masthead.

8. Codes and conventions
-Simple colour schemes, consisting of two or three colours only
-main image = bright, eye catching
-Lippmann’s theory = stereotypes relating to the area the
magazine is for
-Kilbourne’s representation theory =
female with perfect skin and edited to look incredible
-Sell lines = far left and right, don’t obscure the main image but
still draw attention by being a matching colour to the masthead.
-Barcode-bottom right, small, out the way, doesn’t distract
audience’s attention
Barcode-bottom right, small, out the way, doesn’t distract
audience’s attention
-Offering things for the audience eg ‘WIN’ or ‘FREE’
-Website address in top corner to inform audience that the
magazine is available in multiple forms, whichever best suits
them, doesn’t distract from main sell lines
I plan to use all these codes and conventions in my magazine as
they seem to work well throughout the ones I looked at.
Although my cover won’t be a rural country side scene like a few
of them, it’ll instead be to attract a younger audience, so most
likely having a person on the front cover than a place.