The document analyzes conventions used in regional magazine front covers. It finds that they commonly use serif fonts, long shot landscape images relating to the local area, and reference local events through brief text descriptions. While the amount of text varies, addressing nearby content and activities in both the header and footer is a consistent technique. The target audiences appear somewhat mature, suggested by the peaceful imagery and formal styles.

1. MAIN TASK CODES AND
CONVENTIONS
FRONT PAGE

2. The header at the top of the page gives a
general description of the content that can be
found in the magazine, plus nearby local events.
These pieces of information are accompanied by
relating images.
Large masthead at the top of the page,
largest text on the page. Serif text and
straight forward names gives off a sense
of formality and maturity, indicating a
slightly older target audience.Long shot image, primarily wild life or
public attraction. Makes the reader
feel welcome or invited to the
location, maybe more comfortable.
Secondary image as well as the ones
used in the header. Used to accompany
a sub heading to give the reader a brief
idea of the magazines content. In this
case Halloween, which isn’t specifically
related to the county, yet the farmer is
from Kent.
Large amount of text on the front cover.
Mostly sub headings or bullet points to give
brief descriptions of the contents and or local
event and attractions. For example, the ‘In
the county’ section’ is quite clearly
advertising the county itself, whilst other text
displays a wider variety.

3. Just like the previous Kent life magazine,
there is clear use of secondary images and
graphics to further display the contents of
the magazine whilst attempting to keep it
interested and relatable. Too much text
would ruin the look and feel of the front
cover, which is supposed to catch the
attention of the reader, not give them the
articles. Again, we have the ‘in the county’ section.
This is clearly a recurring feature of the
magazine, assuring me this is at least a
convention of this magazine. Just like the
previous Kent Life magazine there is a lot of
text present, primarily on the form of brief
sub headings and descriptions, to give an
insight to the content.
Whilst this main image isn’t a display of local wildlife and
nature, it still makes use of a longshot in a location that
may be familiar to locals, or serve as an attraction for those
nearby. Unlike a musical magazine such as Kerrang! The
main image doesn’t appear to be directly related to one of
the main features of the magazine, but is merely a display
of the local area, and therefore related to the topics of the
magazine contents in an obscure or distant manner.

4. We again see a longshot image, with a lot of
nature and peaceful scenery. This
convention of ‘peaceful’ longshots may
relate to the target audience. A more mature
peaceful environment, for a more mature
and peaceful target audience (middle aged
or maybe older).
Whilst the use of a header is used in this
magazine, it’s not used to the extent of Kent
Life. Instead it’s been used as a form of
advertisement, and doesn’t have any
secondary images to accompany it.
It also seems as if the magazine is
attempting to sell the county as much as
they are trying to sell the magazine. ‘Live a
life less corporate’ is attempting to bring
people to Cornwall.
Further use of serif text. As expected, it’s the
largest text on the page, and the serif style
gives off a more mature feeling.
There is reference to a wide variety of different
subjects that all somehow relate to the local
area. Mention of Dawn French, to appeal to a
certain category of people, whilst also
mentioning the harvest to appeal to others.
Unlike a beauty magazine or a rock music
magazine, the target audience isn’t a specific
subject other than residents and/or people
interested in this local area.

5. Repeated use of advertising the face that this
magazine has won an award. This gives an instant
display of the sort of standard the magazine is
available to reach, and makes the consumer more
comfortable in purchasing the magazine (if its for
the first time).
The use of a longshot for the main image again. Whilst
not specifically a natural environment (so far we have
seen both natural environments and the pier in
Ramsgate) the image is calming and welcoming to a
certain extent. This appears to be a recurring feature to
this style of magazine.
The price and the date of the issue is displayed
alongside the bar code, which is typically
situated in or near either of the two bottom
corners of the page.
Much like the Kent Life magazine and the
previous example of Cornwall today, there is
frequent use of serif text, which I feel gives
off a sense of maturity and even age to a
certain extent. There is however occasional
use of bold text, usually to emphasise a word
or phrase. The use of serif text so far seems
to be a recurring convention throughout this
style of regional magazine.

6. Despite going into a new style of magazine, we
still see that the main masthead (or at least half
of it) has adopted the style of using serif text.
This maintains the idea that the main target
audience (all be it a little younger than the
previous magazines) is still at a more mature
age, or from a more mature
background/upbringing.
With the new style of magazine, we also see a
new style of main image. Whilst this is still a
regional magazine, the topic is far more
specified. In this case it's a Hampshire based
magazine focused on style. With this our
main image is now a mid shot of a singular
person or object.
Whilst the overall topic of the magazine is
more specific than previous examples, it still
maintains the overall codes and conventions
that have been previously displayed. This
comes down to placement of the barcode (in
one of the corners on the bottom half), brief
sub headings to outline some of the main
articles, and even reference to other events in
the local area.

7. The Hampshire Style magazine appears to
have gone back to a more crowded front page
design, intending to give the reader a more
informative look at the contents of the
magazine. Compared to Kent Life for example
(which uses its front page to calm and
welcome to reader opposed to inform them)
this regional magazine has a different target
audience.
This magazine also seems to make use of
having its main image in front of the
masthead. This shows more of a personal
statement that this magazine is already 'big
enough' that they don't have to have the full
title on display, because you already know
what it is. Similar conventions are visibly
present in major music magazines such as
KERRANG! And NME. Whilst this highlights a
popular convention used throughout the
magazine world, it's more of an anomaly in
regards to regional magazines, as quite
simply they are only regional, not
international or even nationally famous
magazines.
Again, despite the primary topic of the
magazine being style, it is willing to deviate
from this topic and even its potential target
audience to some degree to also feature local
events, all be it, rather big ones.

8. Along with the Hampshire Style magazine,
this edition of Suffolk Norfolk Life appears to
abandon the idea of using a header at the top
of the page either for external advertisements
or to outline content within the magazine.
Whilst this isn't true for every edition, it
seems to be a more commonly recurring
convention for these last few examples.
Whilst not exactly the main image, there is a
layer on top of the masthead. This accomplishes
a more professional look, a look that seems to
be more prominent in magazines or editions that
are aimed more towards a youthful audience.
Whilst this may not be the reason behind the
technique, it also makes the top layer stand out,
which in this case is the price. The wording
presents its price in a way suggesting you'll be
saving money, making the purchase more
appealing.
Once again we see a return to a more
minimalistic approach to the front page in
regards to the front page. There doesn't seem
to be any solid convention so far as to
regional magazines and their use of text on
front pages, and appears to be more down to
the chosen style of the editors of each
magazine itself.

9. In both this edition and the previous
example, the front page has made use of a
mid-shot image, attempting to relate to
some of the topics of the magazine and to
connect to the reader. Although it's making
use of a different style of imagery compared
to some of the earlier examples, it's still
attempting to connect to the audience.
Previously through calming imagery more
relatable to a middle aged target audience,
and now Ed Sheeran and food to relate to the
local area and citizens.
This edition of the magazine, unlike the other
makes use of the header for external
advertisements. Again, this doesn't seem like
a solid convention amongst regional
magazines, however more often than not
there seems to be some form of
advertisement present on the front page.
There also seems to be a form of
advertisement at the bottom of the page,
however seeing as it’s the BBC, it's probably
more because its relevant to the local area
opposed to advertising the BBC.

10. Although appearing more basic or amateur in
design, the Suffolk magazine (by the newspaper
East Anglian Daily Times) this magazine still
conforms to some of the basic conventions
previously visible in other regional magazines.
The main image does this by utilising a
longshot taken in a local area. Other examples
have consisted so far of long shots and mid
shots that can be somewhat related to either the
local area or an event taking place in this area.
This magazine also makes use of both the
header and the bottom part of the page in
order to advertise events and other activities.
Up until now, most of the main images of magazines
have made use of extensive depth of field. However
this image (and the previous one) seem to have made
use of a shallow depth of field. This is because the
main focus here is the two women walking along the
beach. This also gives off an amateur feel, as
previously the aim has been to allow the reader to
connect to what they see and the local area, and more
people are going to be able to connect or relate to the
surroundings and background of this image than the
women. The images in Kent Life and Cornwall today
seem more adequate examples of how to present the
main image in order to fully adhere to the conventions
of a regional magazine.

11. The Suffolk magazine, much like the other Regional
magazine examples previously displayed continues
to comply with the conventional use of serif fonts,
giving the magazine a more mature (and to a certain
extent maintains the underlying feel that this isn’t
an internationally famous magazine such as
KERRANG! Which uses its own font/logo) feel to it,
whilst also keeping in line with average magazine
standards by having the date line present.
This editions' use of a shallow depth of field
main image makes more sense in line with
the codes and conventions previously set out
by my other examples. Here it is displaying
the nature and wildlife available within this
specific county, and allowing people to make
that personal connection to the image. Whilst
extensive depth of field isn’t necessarily a
convention in itself, long and wide shots with
an extensive depth of field depicting local
landscape and landmarks is easier to connect
to, and therefore the most efficient way of
adhering to these conventions.
Maintaining the convention of referencing
local events as well as providing brief
descriptions of the magazines contents.
Whilst the extent of text present on the front
page has no clear convention connected to it,
it's definitely a recurring feature to have local
events and activities displayed amongst the
text as well as adverts at the footer or header
of the page.