Conventions of listing magazines

TV listing analysis

All of the imagery in these skateboarding magazines show skateboarders taking part in the sport or objects associated with skateboarding such as wheels and decks. Due to these conventions of skateboarding being used, the subject/topic of the article is immediately recognised and understood by the audience. The media used in the skating magazines shown above usually dominate the page, usually taking up 2/3 of the spread. The photographs used in the magazines conventionally show skateboarders using action shots – showing the participant whilst moving.The text is organised in a simple fashion, usually placed into columns surrounded by topical photographs to frame the paragraphs. In many instances, the background of the two-page spread is a photograph similar to the ones already used, but is often showing a picture at a larger scale. These photographs usually concentrate on the environment as well as the skater and are often framed on either the left or right hand of the spread (usually opposite to the text). The page containing the main focus of the photo is usually shared with the article title and various other key features, such as quotes from the article or other, smaller photographs. In many examples, this part of the page is often stylised to suit colours already seen in the pictures used and therefore exaggerates a certain mood or images – for example, in certain instances, black and white imagery have been matched with a contrasting white text to emphasise key points of the article, such as the title.

Conventions of skating magazines

Transworld Skateboard Magazine –In these examples, photographs dominate the text on both pages. Due to skateboarding being such a visually orientated sport, imagery is far more widely used than text in skateboarding magazines. The sport is too hard to explain in-depth so visuals are more commonly used instead.In the first image, Transworld have shown a 9FPS (frames per second) frame-for-frame skateboarding trick, taking up the whole width of a full two-page spread, along with some text in the bottom corners of the pages, addressing the participants name and a short summary of this event. The pictures used in the article gives the reader an insight on the topic that will be the main focus.In my two-page spread magazine article, the majority of the pages would be imagery using minimal text unless necessary and for the most part, the only text I will need is to explain our documentary. All of the imagery used in the spread will be taken from the documentary and show similar shots to the ones in the Transworld article – action shots. These stills can be taken from the short clips used throughout our documentary, courtesy of Props – showing local skateboarding.The use of imagery in this example is vastly dominating in comparison to the use of text and I really like that the visuals are the main purpose of this spread. In my two-page spread, I would also use a similar method, making imagery the main point of focus. This is because skateboarding language can only go so far to explain what the reader is expected to see, so by using visually aids, the viewer can physically see what is trying to be explained.Price: £4.99 | Released every month | Topic related sponsors and adverts | www.skateboarding.transworld.net/

Skateboard Mag. –In these examples, the text is more aesthetically pleasing than the text due to the odd arrangement of the words. In the first double-page spread, text is aligned into the shape of a skateboard and the other text is cut diagonally, breaking conventional magazines format, making it more intriguing, but alternatively making it very difficult and awkward to read. Although this is a very original and unconventional way of presenting text, I feel it is very unnecessary for the reader and has been produced solely for aesthetic purposes.In the second image, the word ‘Skate’ has been cut out of a skateboard deck – I find this way of presentation very appealing and catches the eye very well, as it is a very unique and original way of showcasing the title and using a skateboard deck means that it is directly related to the topic of the magazine.Also in this example, the text has been aligned diagonally again but in this case to fit the parallel positioning of the skateboard deck. I feel that this has been used for aesthetically purposes once again, as it serves no beneficial purpose for the reader and just causes an annoyance when trying to read the article.One aspect that I do like about this magazine is the layout and the way each source of media share different proportions of the page. I will follow a similar style, as I plan to use 2/3 of the page with pictures, then the remaining area filled with text. Price: £3.98 | Released every month | Topic related sponsors and adverts | www.theskateboardmag.com/

Skateboarder Magazine –In Skateboarder Magazine the general theme of the two-page spread is very dark – using solid black and most white images in areas and generally dull colours. Despite Thrasher’s choice of colour scheme in this issue, I find that the dark background makes the text easier to read and helps to emphasise the imagery because of the contrasting choice of palette. The text is generally white, whereas titles, quotes and introductory paragraphs are a shade of gold. In this specific example, I feel the lack of colour is aesthetically pleasing –such as the contrasting tones of the white text on the black background, alongside the simple colour palette.A pull-quote has been used in the foreground of one of the images used in the magazine, quoting a short phrase from the interview on the opposite page. The general house-style of white and gold has been continued here, with the text being white and the interviewee’s name being gold. The use of the pull-quote catches the attention of the reader, aswell as the pictures being used for similar reasons. Although the pictures give you a visual insight to the contents of the article, the pull-quote is taken straight from the article in order to intrigue the reader.The alignment of the text in the second image uses the ‘Justify’ method, in order to create a clean edge to the columns. This method is completely different to the ones that I’ve previously seen, as it is a lot simpler to read . I will probably follow a similar method to the alignment used in this magazine (Skateboarder Magazine), to create a similar ease of reading.Price: £5.99 | Released every month | Minimal ads but when used, all related to topic | www.skateboardermag.com

Pull-quoteQuotes from the article that are usually controversial or off-the-wall to catch the attention of the reader.

CaptionPhotographs captioned with quotes in relation to the subject. In this magazines, captions are based on the participant in the photograph.

Page numberIn relation to the contents, making articles or specific pages easier to find. Also stylised with the ‘Skate’ magazine logo, to enhance product branding.

ImagesA largely used convention in all magazines – mostly used to emphasise the topic of the articles and visually represent various areas. The action shots above are conventionally shot from a low angle to fully frame the skater and the board – this style is largely used in the sport and is recognised by the majority of skateboarders.

Fonts/typefaceThe standard font of the article is Helvetica, which is used due to its clean nature and ease of reading. Quotes are written in a handwritten typeface to differentiate them from the other media to shift the level of importance.

Planning

The two page spreads used in Transworld Skateboarding commonly show pictures, taking up 2/3’s of the page. This style breaks common conventions in skateboarding magazines, as the images used usually stop at the halfway point of the page or take up even less space. The article itself is written in a contrasting colour to the picture to ensure that the article is presented just as importantly as the images used on the spread. The choice of contrasting colours balances the column in which the story is written to the images and leaving no section of the page dominant to the other.In many cases, the colour palette of the article uses similar colours to the media used – such as the font colour matching the colour of the deck in one of the stills. This ensures that the spread has a constant house-style and theme to follow, which leaves the entire page looking more professional and representable.

Layout mockup and label

Target AudienceThe target audience of my article will be (preferably) skaters in order to target the people of similar interest. Obviously due to the niche community of skateboarders, this style of magazine is usually unseen by this audience as it won’t qualify for their interests in the sport. Skateboarding isn’t usually covered in any form in a TV listing magazine and advertising No Comply will be unbeneficial when attempting to target my chosen audience. Therefore, in order attract a valuable base of people, my article will have to be targeted at every reader of listings magazine and the language I use will have to universally recognised and not skater slang, in order for it to be understood and appeal to all readers. Due to my target audience not being specific to any particular group, the article on my double-page spread will have to be readable by all viewers.The imagery I will use are is not bias to a specific target audience because it is simply showing the sport and does not support any negative social characteristics often related to skateboarding – such as hooliganism. The stills I will use will be action shots and show the globally recognised nature of the sport – the tricks. Therefore visually representing skateboarding to the viewer and hopefully intriguing the reader, making them want to read the article. Due to the scale of the picture I would like to use, the image will be easy to see and will hopefully catch the eye of any reader looking through the listings magazine. The pull-quote “skateboarding means to me…everything”, overlaying the image will also help promote a positive nature to the sport and help engage any viewers, even if they don’t have an interest in the topic.