The Magazine Genre

Codes and Conventions

AS Media: Foundation Portfolio

Conventions of the Magazine Genre

• All magazines follow the same rules - whether they are…

• Lifestyle magazines (FHM and Marie Claire)• Fashion magazines (Vogue, Look)• Computer Magazines (Xbox Live)• Music Magazines (Kerrang, TOTP magazine)

Image and Logo/Header

• The image of the magazine must fit the content and the target audience.

• The name of the magazine (or header) must also do this.

• the colour scheme is also very important too - in creating a ‘house style’ and in appealing to the target audience.

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Mode of Address

• Is the way a text creates a relationship with its audience.

• The most common MODE in magazines is DIRECT ADDRESS - this is created when the person on the cover looks straight out of the magazine - inviting the reader in.

• INDIRECT address = when the person looks away - is not the convention - but it has been used on magazine covers.

• MOD can also refer to the writing in a magazine and how it addresses the reader - usually in a friendly , informal way.

Stars and Celebrities

• Magazines usually include stars or celebrities on their covers to increase sales and therefore profit.

• Stars are admired and are aspirational for the audience.

• Stars/famous musicians are conventionally included on music magazine covers to sell the magazine.

Magazine Covers

• The front cover of a magazine is its main advertisement. Because of this it has to be representative of the magazine as a whole.

• It should be bright , interesting and eye-catching to entice the reader to buy the magazine.

• The colours not only should reflect the target audience but in music magazines they should represent the genre of music e.g. red and black for Rock magazines etc…

• There tends to be a variety of fonts on the cover to make it visually interesting and eye-catching (this is seen through the whole magazine- but be careful to stick to the same ones throughout to create your recognisable ‘house style.’)

Magazine Covers

• Title/Header- usually at the top of the page (this logo/header will also create the ‘brand image’ of your magazine and will make it instantly recognisable for your audience.)

• Sometimes a slogan is used under the header to explain the magazine content or to make it stand out from its rivals.

• One main model/star photographed either in close up (head and shoulders shot) or medium shot - direct address.

in music magazines it can be a group shot.• The Leading Caption usually dominates the page - this is focused on

your feature article (main article) and this should ‘anchor’ your cover story.

• Subheadings - of the main stories you wish to advertise in you magazine (usually appearing on the left/right hand sides of the cover.)

• Straplines - usually go at the top or bottom of the page -highlighting stars in the magazine or other stories/sections in the magazine.

Magazine Covers

• Date and barcode - usually now with a web address provided to entice audiences to the magazines’ website.

• Magazines are usually expensive monthly ‘Glossies’ (Q, Marie Claire, FHM) or cheaper weekly magazines e.g. NME, Zoo, Nuts etc…

Contents Pages• Contents pages should be bright and colourful- encouraging

the reader to read on.

• Again- as it typical of magazines images dominate the text (to allow for ‘grazing’) Images with page numbers are included.

• Again direct address is used in all images.

• The title/header usually appears on every page (usually at the top of the page.)

• There is a list of contents - usually under usual sections e.g gig guide,reviews etc…

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Feature Article(Double page spread)

• Headlines and subheading to explain the story and catch the audiences interest (usually witty, puns base on the star/artist or their new album/tour etc…)

• Remember artists do not appear in music magazines unless they have something to sell (album/tour/DVD) - so remember to push this through you article and refer to it at the end!

Feature Article(Double page spread)

• Again the images should dominate - 1 large image and other smaller ones (usually different - location settings etc.. to make the article interesting.)

• Don’t be afraid of white space - there is usually a lot of this in feature articles - use it to frame your writing and images.

• Depending on your audience - your writing should be clear and easy to follow directed straight at the reader. Usually informal in music magazines and sometimes using slang words (that may be appropriate to your genre of music) and swear words etc..

• Try the pyramid structure!• Text Grabs (quotes from the article made bigger that break

up the columns) are typical , again to make the reader read the article - they are usually controversial, funny or rude!

Magazine - Revenue and Profit

• The cover price of a magazine does not pay for the magazine to be published.

• The majority of the money that make the magazine possible comes from advertising revenue.

• Therefore your magazine has to appeal to its audience and sell well (have large circulation figures) to make profit.

• The magazine can then charge well for advertising space and encourage companies to advertise within the magazine.

Music Magazine Circulation Figures (ABC Feb 2009)