Codes and Conventions

1. Codes and
Conventions
FRONT COVER

2. What I will be looking at/ Common
conventions
 Masthead: Containing the heading of the magazine. Is it Upper
case? bold font? Colours? And style ?
 Main image: Usually something specific in the centre of magazine.
What is it? Where is it and the positioning.
 Surrounding images: What the magazine contains around the
edges of the magazine.
 Colour schemes: Bright or dark colours with contrasting text, how
it relates to the main image.
 Barcodes/prices: Location and size.

3. Masthead features the title of the magazine
‘Dorset’. The title is all upper case and bold to
draw attention to it. It also uses bright colours
in order to stand out against the darker setting
behind.
The main image is of a squirrel which
is a innocent and cute looking animal
which entices the audience into
purchasing the magazine. Dorset is
also one of the few places where red
squirrels still exist in the wild so the
audience are able to easily relate to
the magazine.
The colour scheme in which is
used as mainly white and grey
which enhances the idea that is a
winter edition as you often
associate grey and white due to
it being cloudy and snowing is
something that is typically
associates with winter.
Furthermore the masthead and
the writing compliments the
white background to help
emphasise the colour scheme.
However there is also some read
to contrast the other two colours
to help it stand out.
The barcode is placed at
the bottom right hand
corner which is a common
convention for most
magazines that aren’t free.
As this is used a lot
through a range of
magazines it helps the
magazine seem more
respectable furthermore it
makes the price of the
magazine to be found
easily
The surrounding images at the bottom of the
magazine completely contrast the colour scheme
as well as the main image . This may be to entice
the reader further by showing some of the
magazines content

4. The masthead (‘CORNWALL’) again is bold and uppercase this is so that it will stand
out and draw in an audience. This will help the audience identify that this magazine is
aimed at people within that area as well as catching there attention. Furthermore the
'today’ is in italics giving it a softer more welcoming feel, Maybe o the female
audience Also using white/bright colours to stand out more.
The main image uses a beautiful, picturesque
background to draw people in. The image is an idyllic
picture of the country side. As this is an October issue
they have focused on the autumn colours and it can
be seen clearly that the plants and trees have the
oranges, red and yellows which are typically associated
with autumn.
The colour scheme within this magazine is
very simple where they have kept white
writing throughout which makes it stand out
against the background and draw attention
of the audience. At the bottom, the have
diverted from the general colour scheme of
white and have gone for a gold. This make
the text stand out dramatically. The gold also
signifies achievement which relates to the
text where they state they were UK regional
magazine of the year showing they are a
good professional magazine.
In this magazine the barcode is located
on the bottom left hand side of the
magazine. This is not much different
from every other
This magazine only has text with no images around
the magazine. The wording ‘art’ and ‘Motion’ are un
upper case and made bold so that it would stand
out and draw in the audience. They have also used
words such as ‘enjoy’, ‘magical’ and ‘success’, These
are all positive words giving the target audience the
image that if they read the magazine they will have
a good positive read. The font of the magazine is
simple yet effective. Certain words use a chunky
bold font to make the text stand out and inform the
audience of what the magazine includes.
magazine, as this is a common convention where they are normally in
the corners of magazine, whereby it shows the price easily.

5. The masthead in clear and easily
recognisable which helps clearly establish
the brand image. The masthead is white on
a blue contrasting background meaning for
easy identification for the audience also
making it eye catching.
The barcode is again in a very conventional
place for a magazine as it shows the target
audience that it is an established magazine
with a clear price, so this may make the
audience feel more inclined to buy it
because there is a sense of trust.
The main image is a use of a
landmark/landscape which helps to
represent the region of the magazine
and for the target audience to
recognise these landmarks so they
therefore become intrigued and feel
more obliged to buy the magazine.
The colour scheme contrasts to
grab the eye of the target
audience. The colour of the font
corresponds with the bright
colours in the main image,
creating a more colourful and
bold look to gain more
readership. The main colours are
yellow, red and white these all
complement each other
Creating a warm welcoming feel
to the magazine in order to give
a summer like feel as this is a
summer edition.
The strapline at the bottom of the magazine is In a stand out colour
which would catch the readers eye and potentially appeal to them
making some readers intrigued ad wanting to read about it. There
are also various different sell lines to entice readers about other
features within the magazine.