Codes and Conventions of a

music magazine

AS Media Studies

What is a Convention?

Definition of Conventions: NOUN

“The rules that are generally understood and accepted when producing

a media text, in a particular genre.”

What are codes?

Definition:

“A system of symbols, letters, or words given certain meanings, used for

delivering messages requiring secrecy.”

• So a media text like a magazine has a message that it wants to

communicate to us (mainly this is “buy this magazine!”) and there are

certain methods or codes by which it does this.

• We might say that codes give a message or meaning to particular

conventions.

Colour scheme:

• Black – Connotes old age,

• White – Something from the past

• Red – Important parts e.g.. Main story

• Yellow – The free puffs – Stands out

Masthead – Iconic with a 3D effect

Strip – At top of the page – big names

encourage a varied audience, old and young.

Main image, looking straight at us,

this connotes he is talking to us.

“The music magazine” Signature of the

magazine, makes it more personal as its written

in free hand. TAGLINE.

Features cover and sub lines to

the sides of the image.

“MOJO” placed behind main image, to either show

how well established it is, and that it does not need

to be completely shown or that the person in the

image is a significant person.

Layout – column.

Connotes order/information.

“Contents” – Same as mojo title

masthead – House style.

The main image (man) takes up 2/3 of the page –

implying his importance.

Colour palette – white, red and black

With blue featuring strongly to give off a calm

and rustic feel.

The red in this case, highlights important

information.

The blue also connotes that he is a

friendly, caring man.

The dog features in the image, giving a

soft feeling.

Using a quote makes the

picture more realistic.

It also anchors the picture in

the past.

Shows that it is a worldwide magazine

Although the second

contents page, it is seen as

the main contents page.

Colour palette – Red, Yellow,

Black, Blue and White

Yellow used to stand for the

more modern of things.

Blue signifies something

additional and special as it

did on the page before.

Column layout

Main idea and explanation

Anchors the page

Contnts page links back to

the front cover, reminding

you of the masthead.

Pictures are in a

hand drawn stlye, to

make the magazine

more personal to the

reader.

Highlighs

important

information.