Codes and Conventions

Of the contents page in an indie music magazine

• Using NME, Q and Kerrang! Magazines

Banner • Recent information• Informative• (uses and grat)• Included logo and

house colours (red white and black)

Alley• Outside alley• Used effectively to add

extra information• Enticing the reader to

flick to the pages

Boost Photo• Promoting the

featured story• Keeping the

readers attention-appealing

• Centre of visual interest.

List• To show the

magazines vast information on loads of different bands.

• To out-do competitors

Cutlines & kickers• Providing

information on the photo

• Developing stages of engagement with the reader.

Exclusivity• ‘Plus’ even more articles and

information after such an extensive contents page

• Shows the reader its full of information (uses and grat)

• ‘Uks No.1’ beats all the other indie music magazine

• Deal advertisement• Appealing

Font• Keeping to house colours but using a

mixture of Sans and Sans serif to catch the readers eye

Sub headlines• Followed with straplines that

include pull quotes and overlines of the articles inside.

• Enticing reader with info (uses and grat)

Page numbers• Throughout contents• Easy to read – different

colours

Stereotypical colours• Red, black and white• Classic colours for this style of magazine• Appealing for the target audience

Banner• Containing info for the reader, such as the

logo and issue number- direct info- (uses and grats)

• Simplistic yet effective and clear.

Logo • Consistently

positioned in the top left hand corner

• Gains brand awareness

subconsciously

Decked overlines• Various

featured pages presented clearly with the page number in columns

• List format to show a lot is in the magazine

Boost Photos• Various sizes to attract the reader.• Large numbers in the corners of the

images for quick reference to gain more info (uses and grats)

Preview • Other issues

shown to get the reader to possibly collect or gain interest.

• Also previews of the double spreads in the magazine giving a professional edgy look.

No negative space• Full of images and text, the contents page

for Q wants to give the effect of having the most up to date info and music news for the reader and that they are not short.

Standfirst• Containing

an overall review of the magazine, it hooks the reader as it is sociable.

Logo• Same position as its front cover• Reabsorbing brand awareness for

the reader• Hypodermic needle

Main boost photo• Direct mode of address- personal

relationship with reader- (uses and grats)

• Positive and bold model pose, pleasant to the eye.

Other boost photos• Previews of double spreads-real

insight into the magazine• Clearly presented with almost box

out page numbers- exclusivity- enticing

• Hermeneutic images as the reader gets the idea but wants to read fully

Box out• Linked towards the article shown• Badge like- linking to possible target

audiences with their fashion• Eye catching

Font and House colours• Sans font- bold- matches the logo

font- increasing brand awareness• House colours go against the

streotypical- different- standing out from other magazines

Banner• Containing issue number and date• Recent information – information – (uses and

grats)

Decked Overlines• Bold subheadings in contrasting

colours• Clear sections• Hermeneutic questions – making

the reader go further• Pull quotes and buzz words

relating to the target audience• Providing more info –(uses and

grats)

No negative space• The style that other indie magazines

go for-ability to compete for sales• Showing how much they have to

offer-attractive• Providing loads of info to the reader

(uses and grats)

Promotions• Celebrity promotions- out beating

other magazines• Buzz word ‘subscribe’ promoting

the sales of the magazine- sub-consciously selling the magazine-hypodermic needle.

• Linking the reader even more into the music world and magazine.

Byline from the editor• Connects reader directly to the magazine- personal relationship-(uses and grats)• Positive image-positive feeling towards the magazine

From my codes and conventions research on contents pages I want to include in my production:

• Boost photos of different sizes with prominent page numbers, I thought this was very effective as it shows off the articles and artists that are featuring in the magazine. It was a very professional, unique and edgy look that I wish to achieve in my magazine.

• The list approach to decked overlines and subheadings, although on the Kerrang! Magazine I thought this looked slightly crowded, I feel that the Q magazine had the right balance of images and text with the ease of reading and finding out information.

• The banner containing the information, but going down the side of the page instead of across the top to differentiate the magazine.

• the font I will use with be Sans because this is bold and stereotypical for an indie magazine making it recognisable to my target audience.

• I liked the uniqueness of NME having an outside alley using arrows to specific articles and enticing the reader, I will use this idea and possibly the arrow shape for a box out to really grab the readers attention.

• I will also definitely follow the trend of no negative space in my contents page as for this kind of magazine it really does compete with existing market leaders and shows my magazine is full of information too.