My Understanding of Codes and Convention

Codes and Conventions for magazines are the ingredients needed to allow the audience to recognise them as a media form; they are all dependent upon the target audience as the genre specific conventions try to target them to buy the magazine. For example:

The masthead
This is the title or logo belonging to the magazine, this needs to be eye catching in order for it to be noticed as it identifies the magazine, therefore, needing to use a large font, as well as eye catching colours, this type of formatting needs to reflect the genre chosen. In some magazines, the mast head also has a motto written within the main title, this is kept constant with the Mast head in every issue of the magazine, and this represents the values of the magazine to the audience.
E.g. A rock magazine such as Kerrang uses a bold, rough, modern print that is in capitals, is also has a contrast in colours that stands out on the cover. This magazine has a motto written over the title, ‘Life is loud’, reinforcing the type of music, Rock. Also, the layout and effect is loud, emulating the genre of music.

Centre Image
The centre image usually reflects the Lead Story; the image needs to be the main focus of the page, as a result taking up much of the space. Majority of magazine covers have a headline or splash at the bottom half of the picture, explaining the article related to the image.

The Left Third
This contains the main content as this is where the readers’ see the first glimpse of the magazine on the shelf. Here you would find the menu of secondary articles in addition to the Lead Story; this is why the mast head is usually placed in the top third of the magazine, so that it is covered by the display.

Cover Line
This is an article that you would only find in that particular magazine, usually an exclusive and has an exaggerated line, to engage the target audience to read the magazine through the use of formatting this includes:
Type
Font
Colour and
Size.

Quotes
Quotes from articles are used in order for the audience to get an insight to the magazine; this has a starter sentence and sometimes is left as a cliff-hanger or is a rhetorical question. This creates anticipation within the readers, luring in the audience, once again. Some quotes are from stars, the aspiration for readers who idolise celebrities tend to buy the magazine due to the star quote.

Pug
A pug is a promotion found at the top of the cover, also known as being called the ears of the page. The pug can include: logos, prices and trends and is well placed to catch the reader’s attention.


Puff
This is an exaggerated advertising technique which associates with the magazine as being one of a kind. These are used a lot through out a lot of secondary leads.
E.g. Gradia – ‘Britain’s no 1 Glossy’.

Can
A form of interaction between the audience and the magazine, this generally comes in the form of a website.
E.g. Smash Hits has the fan club website – www.smashhits.co.uk

Lead Story
This is the main article found in the issue of the magazine also known to be called a Splash.

Secondary Leads
These are other stories found in the magazine and they are presented by having an image along with a caption. These are found in the left third, lined up in a menu style format.

Headline
This is the main statement presented in the largest and boldest font which crosses the page explaining the main story.
E.g. Kerrang – ‘100 greatest gigs ever’.

Kicker
This story tends to stand out form the page due to the different use of formatting.

Lure
This is either a word or a phrase which insists the reader to read a particular article.

Tag
This is a phrase used to interest the reader with what article follows, these are used to single out the magazine from others to show it’s unique.
E.g. ‘Exclusive, The upgrade’

Tip-On
This is a free gift which comes with the magazine, it is used as an attempt to lure in the target audience.