Post on 14-Aug-2015
The ways in which my magazine use, challenge, and develop the conventions of real magazines
Buzz words
Direct mode of address
Cover lines
Key cover line& model credit
Price
Banner
Masthead
Official info (Issue no, date, price)
Key image gesture
Content signifier
Large numbers
Page example
Badge/flash – graphic feature
Poster preview
bannerwebsite
Publication date
FRONT COVER – CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
These types of words are commonly used by
magazines to encourage people to buy the magazine. It
offers more content for their money and
information that they cannot find anywhere
else
Gives an insight into the content of the
magazine
The key cover line is usually a big name, and uses this main story as the key seller of the magazineThe model credit works as a type of caption for the key image.
Price
Suggests that there is more content
Encourages people to look inside, they will hopefully be hooked by the content on the page and buy the magazine
Makes the word ‘free’ more visible as it is inside a graphic feature in a bright colour
Preview of the poster uses synergy to encourage sales
Gives examples of more content in the magazine
This is an example of convergent media, print-based magazines are becoming out-of-date, and so magazine companies need online content in order to retain a large readership, particularly magazines aimed towards young people.
Publication date
The direct mode of address in the key
signifier catches your eye when the
magazine is on the shelf and is a form of
communication to the reader; they are more likely to see it and, by extension, purchase it
Banners ensure that as much space on the cover is used as possible, it frames the cover making it more attractive and highlights the synergy in the textThe masthead is a necessary part of any magazine, it is big to establish the magazine brand and right across the top in a colour that contrasts the background so that it can easily be seen
This information is key for any purchase, so is in a large font under the masthead where it can easily be seenThe gesture of the artist in the image is reminiscent of someone being caught in the act by the police. This suggests rebellion and mischievousness, which is stereotypical of young artists. Young readers may find this appealingSuggests that the
magazine has a wide amount of content which encourages people to buy/read it
FRONT COVER – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES The house style of my magazine is consistent; this means
that there is a noticeable colour scheme (which is bright and unique), there is a consistency to the fonts which are used, and there are layout designs which can be used on multiple different issues of the magazine, such as the banners which frame the issue as well as the masthead.
I looked at a lot of mastheads during the research phase of my magazine, many take up only a
corner, like Q and NME, but I have decided to use the style of
mixmag instead as I think it looks better in my case.
Primary optical area
Weak fallow area
Strong fallow area
Terminal area
Reading gravity
This area is where the reading gravity
of the magazine begins, and so the
main thing it contains is the
masthead of my magazine. It is
generally important to keep this in the
primary optical area so that it is fully established and
easily legible.
This quarter contains the second part of the masthead and key signifier, alongside the primary optical area of the magazine. It also has the key, official information which is important for the consumer. This includes the issue number, the date of publication, and the price of the magazine.
The majority of the cover lines are sectored in this part of the magazine. This is where the reading gravity naturally falls, so talks about what is inside of the magazine. Likewise, there is a preview of the free poster inside right in the corner , which encourages the consumer to buy the magazine with the thought that they are getting more for their money. This is an important area of my magazine.
The weak fallow area contains the key
cover line and the model credit, which
caption the key image and tell the
reader about the main article inside the magazine. This
section can often go unnoticed, so I have made it contain this
large piece of text so that it isn’t wasted. It
also contains the barcode which is
important to have on the front cover of the
magazine for the sale, but not necessarily
important enough to be in a strong area of
the magazine.
European readers are naturally inclined
to read pages in a certain way, following the
‘reading gravity’. My magazine uses this
by having the title at the top, and
information in columns across both
sides of the page, concluding in the
terminal area.
Key image/signifierThe image uses a direct mode of address to hook the reader into the issue. The “caught in the act” gesture suggests rebellion and mischievousness which will attract younger readers as they are stereotypically rebellious themselves
FRONT COVER – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESTHE GUTENBERG DESIGN PRINCIPLE
CONTENTS PAGE – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
Page title
Twitter link
Pull quote caption
Photo
Subscription information
Editorial
Page number
Page number photo caption
Photo
Pull quote/photo
caption
Content numbers
Flash
Subtitle
Label: Cover Story
Website
Content
CONTENTS PAGE – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
This follows the house style of the front cover, and tells the reader that this is the contents pageReaders in this generation will know that the ‘@’ symbol signifies a Twitter link, which will appeal especially to young readersThe photo is captioned with a pull quote taken from the inside, this is used to hook the reader’s interest and make them read the rest of the article
This photo links to the page number in its corner, which advertises the content of the page
Magazines often offer subscription deals to people who buy their magazines; this offers them a subscription which is important as it ensures a regular readership of the magazine.All magazines have an editorial in them, and a lot put these on the contents page. This is a message from the editor, telling the reader about the content inside.Each page is numbered so the reader can keep a track of what page they are on and can follow the contents list. This is an extremely important feature. Also, the magazine name is repeated with it to make it more aesthetically pleasing
This photo is taken from one of my photoshoots,
linking to one of the articles in the magazine and encouraging people
to read it
The photo caption advertises the content and attracts people to
read it
Each page of content is given a page number as
in all magazines, and this goes up to 120 as it
is designed to be a monthly magazine so
needs a lot of content.
This flash encourages the
reader to look at this article, and makes it
seem important where it may be
otherwise ignored.
This part of the content for media is labelled
‘cover story’ so that the reader knows where to turn to in order to find
the main article which is advertised on the front cover, most magazines use some form of label
for the cover article.
Print based magazines are going out of date with the
era of Web 2.0, so it is important to include links
to online information. Also, this encourages a
readership of younger people.
The subtitles show the reader where to find certain types of
content, including features, articles
created by experts, and reviews of existing music.
The photo is captioned with the page number
so the reader knows what article the photo
links to
Colours and typographies used around the page follow the same house style as those used on the double page spread and on the front cover.
Gives a title for the content and a short
explanation
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
Pull quote
Image
Page number
Masthead
Key signifier
Photo credit
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD I – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
This is a quote from the article
on the next page which can be used to hook the reader into
exploring the article. It uses
strong and informal
language to hook the target reader – young
adults.
This is another image from the
same photoshoot of
my artist, which highlights his
significance in this article.
The double page spread runs over two pages, so there are two page numbers. Like on the contents page, the masthead is also repeated to make these corners look more attractive and to establish the brand.
This introduces the article, putting
it as it is. The same font as the masthead on the
front cover is used again as part of
the house style of my magazine
The key image on this page has been edited using photoshop so that the background has been removed but the artist and the shadow remain, allowing full emphasis to be given to his gesture codes.
Real magazines use photos from various different photographers and have to give them credit for the photo. I have done this here, although all of the photos are my own.
Introductory double page spreads are not always used before key articles, but do help grab attention for key pages inside. This is a technique that I
spotted in Q magazine, notably in those that I analysed during my market research of double page spreads, and is something that I thought my
magazine could benefit from.
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
Kicker/Pull quote
Enlarged letter
Text (in columns)
Page number
Interview questions
Pull quote
Photo caption Convergent media links
Pull quote
Image
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD – HOW IT USES CONVENTIONS OF REAL MAGAZINESMAGAZINE FEATURES
My magazine kicker is also a quote from the
actual article, it introduces the
text with an immediately
hooking line that will ensure
readers
An enlarged letter to start
the text is how many forms of
print-based media workText is
generally presented in
columns in articles in
magazines, it is neat and easy
to read
Page numbers lead on from the previous
pages and make it easier
to find this specific content
Interview questions are in a different colour than the main text and in a different font, Dimitri, the
same font as the masthead, this makes them clearly stand out
This pull quote is bigger, in a different colour, and given a background colour so that it is easily legible and looks good as part of the article
The photo is captioned to give it context and to fit it into the article
Most artists use technological convergence in this era in order to sell and advertise their music via technological convergence. Providing these links to social media platforms is customary in magazines today.
The pull quote is another insight into the article to make people want to read itThe facial
expression and pose in this article suggests cheek, which young readers will like (stereotypically).
A pull quote being used as a kicker is
something that I spotted within Q magazine, which
inspired how I have made mine
here.
The main image on my double page spread bleeds across both pages, which serves to fully link them together. The house style is consistent throughout.