When making my media product, a music magazine, I looked in
depth at the codes and conventions of music magazines, the unofficial “rules”
of how a magazine should be constructed and ‘put together.’ A convention is the
generally accepted norm; most magazines follow the conventions set by the
“larger” magazine companies. Conventions are used to fit in. The typical
conventions of magazine front covers are; banners, mastheads, a barcode, a main
image and feature stories around the side of the main image. These are used to
codify the form of magazine, to make magazines easily identifiable and
relatable. The way magazines use the conventions is very formulaic as the
conventions used are like a formula/pattern to making a magazine. These conventions are still used in most magazines as most people have grown accustomed to these set layouts and are familiar with them, so people might be sceptical when going to buy a magazine that doesn't follow these rules. Although the
forms and conventions of magazines are almost always used, there are magazines
that challenge these on purpose. Conventions might be challenged to appeal to a
certain audience. An example of this is the niche audience aimed film magazine "Little White Lies." Little White Lie's front covers have one single image, the title, the main story and that is it (it also has the barcode and date and price as required on every magazine intended for sale). Little White Lies have an audience that like to see themselves as unique and unconventional so little white lies break these conventions to appeal to their audience.
Whilst constructing my magazine I wanted to follow my conventions largely and stick to the generic form of magazine construction. My target demographic are males aged 13-17 that listen to pop-punk/hardcore music and have grown up around these conventions and are too young to want to challenge these conventions or change them, so it would be safer to follow them. On the market currently there are no magazines target exactly at my demographic so there aren't any specific conventions that I have to follow other than the main ones set by magazines like 'Kerrang!' and 'NME.' Following the conventions would be most appropriate for my mode of address.
My front cover has followed almost all of the major conventions. These are:
- banners at the top and bottom of the page
- the bar code in the bottom left corner of the page
- the title in the top left corner
- one main image looking directly at the camera (direct address)
- feature stories going around the main image
- additional incentives/an ear piece in the top right corner
There are other conventions to front covers such as the position of the date and price but those are the main ones followed by almost every major magazine, not just music magazines.
My magazine front cover has both banners at the top and bottom of the page. These banners are often used to create brand identity as these banners will typically be on every single page, the same colour. This is done because the more and more a reader sees it, the more likely they are to subconsciously start to link that colour with your magazine. My bar code is in the bottom left corner as it is legally needed on the magazine to be allowed to sell the magazine, but it is not important to my magazine so I have put it in the last place people look when they read, so it does not take up too much space or take attention away from the front cover. My title spans the top left corner as this is what people read first, so the first thing people see will be the title. Also, on a display stand, if my magazine is behind another magazine, only the top will be seen, so putting my title here makes my magazine more visible and distinctive. My main image is using direct address and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the artist pictured is of a similar age to my target demographic so they will aspire to be him. There are feature stories surrounding my main image and I have included an additional incentive in my top banner (a free poster) to get people to buy my magazine.
The conventions of contents pages are:
- a band index
- small images with anchors and a page number
- different dividing sections (regular features, cover stories etc)
- a letter from the editor
- banners at the top and bottom
- the word contents or the name of the magazine
My magazine contents page contains a band index like most music magazines and I have included a variety of images with anchors and page numbers on them. My magazine somewhat breaks conventions in that I only have two dividing sections compared to NME who have six different sections. I have decided to only have two sections as it made my page look neater. My letter from the editor is bigger than most and this is to take some space up on my page and because I want to portray the editor of the magazine as someone who has a lot to say about the magazine, showing his passion.
The conventions of double page spreads are:
- one large image that predominantly takes up one page
- article largely on adjacent page
- small sub-article such as a fact file or album review on the artist featured
- quotes and images that split up the article
- article title going over both pages
My double page spread is my most conventional page, I have kept the main focus of the image on one page whilst the article is on the other page. I have an image to split the article, this makes the article look bigger and it also makes the text not look so "intimidating." My article title is going over both of the pages, this is often done to link the two pages so people know the two pages are part of the same article. As this is an artist that has not been featured much in my magazine, I have included a fact file.
Overall I believe my magazine has largely used/developed the forms and conventions of existing music magazines.
