Welcome to my AS media coursework blog

Throughout this blog you will get the opportunity to view my progress throughout the course and see my plans, sketches, final products and everything else which contributes to my coursework.

Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Codes and Conventions of Magazine Front Covers and Contents Pages

Here I have established the codes and conventions of magazine front covers, contents pages and double page spreads. To the left is an image of the popular music magazine 'Q'. All of the codes and conventions of magazines are easy to find on such a well known music magazine.
The codes and conventions of a music magaine front cover are:
  • A Masthead 
-Which is bold
-Eye catching
-Positioned at the top left hand corner of the page
-Have a unique font
-Should be the largest text on the front cover
  • A Main Image
-Usually a band or singer
-Usually is a medium close up
-The picture conveys an attitude
-Direct address – Looking at the reader


  • Main Cover line

-Anchors the meaning of the main image
-It’s the largest cover line on the page
-It is usually two lines

  • Other Cover lines

-Two or three words – Few words as possible
-Information about the contents of the magazine
-Used to tease and intrigue the audience
-Cover lines not always straight forward

  • Typography

-Consistent
-Only few font are used




  •  A positioning statement by the title
  • A Barcode- on the front because adverts feature on the back page
  • An issue number
  • An issue date
  • Bold font for most text including cover lines on the front cover
  • Buzz words-To attract the reader to the stories
  • Small print is often at the bottom of the front cover. This usually includes the producers name and other small pieces of information.
  • Colour is used to emphasise which genre the magazine is, a colour scheme is important, few colours and simple
  • Puff, something for nothing usually free for the customer e.g. Poster Book
  • Smaller images of artists
  • Sophisticated images and layout



    The codes and convention of a contents page are:

    • The use of headings divides up the contents page so it is easier to follow
    • An editorial letter with a picture
    • One large image and also smaller images (Which has page numbers clearly displayed on or around the pictures)
    • The text is presented in columns
    • There is a consistent colour scheme, which follows on from the front cover
    • Small text is used for text in the contents page ( No bigger than 11 point)
    • Subscription details
    • Social Network details E.g. Twitter and Facebook
    • A white background
    • The main image usually reflects the double page spread
    • Title of the magazine is repeated
    • The issue date on the contents page
    • Title 'Contents'
    • Page numbers, with the title of the article and sublines which are smaller text about the article
    • At the bottom corners of the page the magazine title, issue date and page numbers 
    • Creative photography

    The codes and conventions of a double page spread are:
    • Headlines- Eye catching, and largest text on the page
    • Names are picked out and highlighted, like the artists name
    • Page number, title of the magazine , issue date and often website are usually at the bottom of the page
    • Colour Scheme-Limited use of colour
    • A stand first-Introduces the article and draws the reader in-Near to the headline, before the article begins-Larger font than the rest of the article, but much smaller than the headline-Works with the headline to give a brief introduction to what the article is about
    • Pictures take up at least one page of the double page spread
    • Pictures often bleed across one page to another
    • Headline bleeds across both pages
    • Headline usually is on one line
    • Drop cap at the start of the article. They usually drop between 2-5 lines
    • More than one image should be used
    • Smaller images are used to break up the article for a more entertaining read
    • Drop quotes, attract the reader to the story, usually funny or interesting 
    • The writer usually positions their name in the standfirst or at the end of the article
    • The photographer is also mentioned at the end of the piece of next to the images
    • Laid out in columns, usually three or four per page
    • Creative photographs
    • Text in paragraphs
    • Fairly informal tone
    • The personality of both the artist and writer is shown throughout the article, including personal opinions


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