Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Double Page Spread

Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Double Page Spread

Colour scheme:  The colour scheme used in the double page spread is left simple and formal as the image also look relaxed and this goes well with each other.

Image:  The image is the main source on these two pages and it shows the purpose of the page, but without confusion it would have been much easier if some of the text on either side could have overlapped on to the image or the image could have been more bigger which would fill in some of the space on the other side of the page, this would have made it clearer that both pages are related to each other.

Subject name: The subject names are shown in different colour on the magazine double page spread.

Quotes:  In the magazine double page spread there would be often quotes taken by the person getting interviewed and this would be sometimes placed under headlines, pictures etc.

Headline:  For this double page spread, unlike other magazines which have there headline placed at the top of in the middle, the headline for this is places at the bottom left hand corner. The headline may not always relate to the information on the pages but could be a song written quote.

By-Line: A by-Line is where the editor’s name is placed some where on the double page spread and also the photographers

Columns:  There are mainly 2-4 columns placed on a double page spread

Strap Line:  A strap line shows what the subject is about and its also placed either the top or the bottom of the page.

Codes and conventions of a Magazine Contents page

Colour Scheme: The contents page uses the same colour scheme as the front covers so that it doesn’t look to colourful as it all relates to the same theme.

Mix: Content pages have many features on it such as pictures/photo, the heading and textboxes and these can be up to 2 pages in total.

Columns:  Content pages in magazines usually have columns so that it is easier and quicker to find information

Main Image: The main image relates to the magazine and also the front page.

Other Images:  Content pages also have smaller images which are sometimes put right next to a page number and the text which shows you a sneak peak of what the text is about using an image to show this.

Masthead:  The masthead would be placed at the top of the contents page in a smaller version as it is on the front cover of the magazine.

Title: The contents page would also include a title called ‘contents’ so that it would show the audience where to find what is in the magazine. The contents page includes many things such as the issue date, contact information, the web address, the pages numbers, Images and much more.

Categories:   The categories would show the regular features in the new updated magazines as well as the new which would be only shown once in the issue.

Text boxes: There are many text boxes which sometimes comes in columns and so one of these would use a word or two which would stand out to the reader mainly using a bold text and capital letters.

Sub-lines:  The Contents page also uses Sub-lines which is usually used in a smaller font size than the sub-heading and this shows us a clearer description of what the sub-heading is about.

Background: The background doesn’t use a lot of colours so that the reader concentrates more on the text.

Codes and conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

Codes and conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

Masthead (Logo): The Masthead which is called NME represents the whole magazine. It is big, bold and uses capital letters which makes it stand out and it’s the first thing you would recognise as it looks unique from other magazines. The masthead is also the logo which is good for advertising and more.

Dateline: The dateline is usually printed near by the price of the magazine so that we no for sure that the magazine is updated with the correct information and price.

Main Image: There is a single Image of the famous singer Rihanna also with an unreal bird which is sitting on her shoulder. The image is clear as we can see her face all the way down to her waist and the singer is also looking directly at the camera giving eye-contact.

Cover- lines:   The NME magazine uses many different cover-lines using the main colours it has chosen for the magazine front cover. The cover-lines are distributed at the corners of the magazine so it doesn’t interfere with the main image to much. One of the cover-lines ‘world’ are the same colour as there backgrounds and this should be changed as it clashes the colours together and takes time to figure out what the word is.

Main Cover-line:  The main cover- line ‘Rihanna’ stands out the most because it looks large on the magazine and takes up a lot of space, it is placed in the middle so we know what the cover-line represents which is the image and this promotes the singer. The cover-line works well with this magazine as it doesn’t clash into other similar colours but stands out and is also clear to read.

Left Third: The left third of the magazine is important because when it is shown on stands in a shop the other half of the magazine may be covered and so the masthead and the cover lines must be clear to stand out when trying to sell with much more other competitors of different magazines in the way.

Bar code: The bar code is placed at the bottom right hand corner which is at a good standard.

Selling line:  The selling line is not that short or long  and says that it is a new NME which would make the audience want to buy the special edition of the magazine because it is nothing compared to the old version as it says ‘ Introducing the new NME 4 of 10  special edition covers’.

Website link: The NME magazine doesn’t state the website on the front cover.