Magazine – Codes and Conventions

Here are some of the codes and conventions which encapsulate the audience of a magazine simply on the front cover:

Layout - The design of a page of a magazine, including the composition of written text, images, graphics etc

Headline - Written text that indicates the content of an article, usually in a large font, and positioned at the top of the page

Masthead - The title of the magazine, usually positioned at the top of the front cover and the contents page, it establishes a a sense of the magazine's brand identity.

Sidebar - A brief article or story on a page - may be placed in a box or written in a different font to separate it from the main article

Feature - A key visual element on the front cover that usually dominates the page. It could be a model/celebrity or other picture that is relevant to the magazine content.

Pull quotes - Key phrases from an article that are featured in a larger font to attract attention.

Anchorage - Where text is used to 'pin down' the meaning of an image.

Strap-line - Short phrase encapsulating the essence of the magazine, usually positioned below the masthead

Brand identity - This communicates a clear message about the magazine to the target audience, it includes the image of the magazine (masthead, style, design etc). as well as its ethos and values.

Some other codes and conventions:

Cover (featuring masthead, strapline, main image, cover lines, banner, date, barcode and price)

Editor’s letter - Introduction to the magazines -ideals and ethos

Publishing information page - Authors information, ISBN, title of book etc

Readers’ letters - Letters given in by readers perhaps asking for specific content-gives a sense of community

Regular features (relevant to the sub-genre of magazine)

Feature articles (double page spread or extended features over several pages, including headline, 

stand first, pull quotes/ sidebars, images etc.)

Advertising, including advertorials -First person account of a product.

Competitions - draws in audience for chance to win

Consistent house style across the magazine - a reoccurring 'internal' style e.g red borders, common logo, reoccurring text font.