Media Studies Magazine Codes and Conventions

1. By Chloe Hayter

2. Masthead is
multicoloured –
Connotates the
‘hippie’ style
associated with
Jimi Hendrix
The layout is
cluttered –
image is large
– with the
writing it
makes the
cover obscure
and eye
catching which
suggests this
article is
making a
statement
Typography of
Cover lines –
Looks like it’s
written –
Connotates the
‘hippie’ style
Colour –
Pink/Purple –
Associated
with Jimi
Hendrix and
his ‘hippie’
style – colours
are
highlighted in
photo
Direct mode of
address (eyes)
– connects
artist and
audience –
personal
relationship

3. Direct mode of
address (eyes) –
connects
audience and
artist –
personal
relationship
Typography –
Masthead
slightly
transparent but
obvious –
doesn’t draw
attention away
from image
Layout – Image
takes up the
whole page –
leaves the focus
of the audience to
only be on what
the main cover
and image are
about
Colour –
Monochrome
in typography
along with
natural image
– nothing
draws the
audiences eye
away from the
image – very
basic
Image –
Natural, detaile
d close up of
face, the main
focus of the
magazine cover
– suggests the
artist is the
highlight of
magazine

4. Direct mode of
address (eyes) –
connects
audience and
artist – personal
relationship
Typography –
Cracked effect
on masthead –
connotates the
rock music
associated with
Kerrang possibly
it’s aggressive
nature
(smashing
guitars on
stage, ‘moshing’
or
‘headbanging’)
Image- Strong stance,
little expression,
reflects harshness of
music and Hayley as
the lead singer
Colour – Black white
red and yellow –
black/white
connotates grunge
style – yellow/red
make cover more
interesting – red
connotates
anger, reflects
message behind the
music
Layout – masthead
image and main
cover line take up
most
page, Paramore
shown as main
focus for audience
with scattered
images of the band
on the cover –
Emphasises the
exclusive ‘special

5. Direct mode of
address – connects
artist and audience
– personal
relationship
Typography – Clear
font – Upper Case –
Makes cover lines
stand out –
Conveys
information better
Image – Aggressive
expression, screamin
g – connotates style
of music – Fire and
the band in Dave
Grohl’s mouth –
Emphasises him as
the frontman/’face
of the band’ – Fire
connotates the rock
genre
Colour –
Red, White, Dark
Green, Black – Red
connotates
aggression
represented in the
rock genre of music –
Red reflects colour
scheme of the logo of
magazine
Layout – The
layout is ordered –
surrounds the
central image –
magazine logo is
behind the main
image – Draws
little attention
away from image

6. Direct mode of
addressConnects
audience and
artist- personal
relationship
Typography –
Bold, includes
upper case and
lower case
making certain
words stand out
– Gives cover a
clean look
Image – Relaxed
image with hat to
one side , hands
in front of
face, nothing out
of ordinary –
informal
Colour – Red and
white font to
match masthead –
Red could have
associations with
strength reflect
meaning behind
the music – Blue
background could
connotate the
relaxed nature of
image and
possibly music
Layout –
Organised –
Surrounds main
image – Masthead
behind main
image – doesnt
divert attention
away from the
image

7. Direct mode of
address – Connects
artist with audience
– Personal
relationship
Image – dramatic
feel with arm
wrapped round
him with love
heart – direct
mode of address
(eyes) – main
focus of the
magazine
Colour –
monochrome except
for heart – dramatic –
draws attention to
image – artist is the
main focus
Layout - The word
‘contents’ arranged in
abstract way –
bold,striking –
connotates iconic style
of magazine – Motif of
masthead shown
behind Kanye west
Typography – Bold
masthead – More
italic for the
headings – Draws
attention to
headings as it falls
away from the
house style slightly

8. Direct mode of
address –
Connects
audience and
artist – Personal
relationship
Image – Laying on
the floor, legs in
the air, revealing
clothing –
suggests
sexy, seductive
image created by
artist possibly
reflecting Ciara’s
style of R’n’B
music – fancy
shoes- suggest
putting on a show
making the effort
again relfecting
seductive sexy
nature of image
Layout – Organised –
nothing covers the
image – keeps the
image the main focus
– keeps within house
style
Colour – natural
colour – highlights
colour of skin –
emphasising the
revealing clothing in
the image and
highlighting the
amount of skin
showing Typography –
Outline of ‘V’
suggest being
stripped back or
revealing – a
reflection of artist

9. Direct mode of
address –
connections with
audience and artist –
personal relationship
Image – natural
close up of Adele –
Connotates ‘up
close and personal’
suggests a look into
her life possibly
through interview –
Artist is the main
focus
Layout – image
takes up most of
page – the main
focus – headings
are listed –
showing the vast
range of what the
magazine offers
Typography –
Bold, Upper
Case – Keeps
within house
style – highlights
key bits of
information –
possibly
considered as the
most important
parts
Colour –
Red, Black
White, Grey –
Keeps in house
style – Possibly
reflects different
moods of musicgenre’s –
Emphasises
eclectic range of

10. Colour – Black
, White, Yellow –
Keeps within
house style –
Reflect harshness
of rock music
with contrast of
yellow/white
against black
Layout – image
takes up half the
page – the band is
the main focus
‘bring me the
horizon’ –
organised with
headings and
page by page
guide listed
showing large
amounts of what
the magazine
offers
Direct address from
secondary images
and editorial section
– connects audience
and artist – Personal
relationship
Image – Artist
signing for fans –
shows popularity of
bands featured –
emphasises style with
the ‘emo’ looks of
artist and fan – styled
hair, unnatural
colour, tattoos
Typography – worn
and cracked look on
the headings –
reflects rock music
and it’s often
associated
aggression

11. Typography –
Upper
Case, Bold
heading –
highlights the
important
information keeps to house
style
Image – artist
playing live –
suggests what
the magazine
offers
information
about such as
gigs and live
music
Layout – a page by
page guide of the
magazine listedshows large
amount it has to
offer – information
surrounds image
suggesting the
image to be one the
highlights of the
magazine
Colour –
Red, Yellow, Black,
White – keeps to
house style – red =
strength, black =
harshness, white =
plain, innocence, yell
ow = happy – The
contrast adds to
striking style of the

12. Direct mode of
address (eyes) –
Connects
audience with
artist –
personal
relationship
Image – one
Main image Revealing mid
shot, scruffy
hair, smokey
eye
makeup, chai
n around neck
– represents
the wild side
of artist, sexy
and revealing
image
Layout – Takes up whole page, she is the
only topic and focus of this article. A whole
page of writing filled with information just
about her – Three columns to divide up
information (easier to read) – Transparent
‘L’ to highlight the articles about her
Colour –
monochrome
with red –
sticks to house
style – red =
passion reflects
sexy image
Typograp
hy Transpare
nt ‘L’ to
highlight
the articles
about her
Smaller
text for the
body of
the article
– Italic for
‘lady’, stan
ds out

13. Colour –
Black, White, Red
– Makes overall
spread look more
striking with the
black and red
against white
Direct mode
of address –
Connects
audience
and artist –
Personal
relationship
Typography –
Heading different
sizes, bold –
Reflects
rebellious nature
in artist, possibly
their childish side
too -
Image – dark make up, messy styled
hair could represent a rebellious
childish side reflected in the
masthead with the words ‘attention
seeker’
Layout – Title and
Image take up ¾ of
the pages – Title
makes a statement
by quoting artist in
a large size – four
small columns in
small size looks
easier to
read, creates
illusion of being
short sharp and to
the point

14. Direct mode of
address –
connects
audience and
artist –
personal
relationship
Colour –
Pinks and
Black –
suggests a
girly article –
more interest
in article
from women
Image – The word ‘icon’ on a ring
– striking leopard print clothes –
bright pink lipstick - Abstract
image – makes a statement
Layout – Image and heading
takes up most of page – ‘Nicki
Minaj’ is the only topic – Text in
several columns across the page
– looks more attractive and
easier to read for the audience
Typography –
Heading, big, b
old, upper
case, pink –
relfection of
artist and their
statement –
more italic
writing for
‘The gospel
according to’
could suggest
feminine side
with a ‘pretty’
font – suggests
only her word
is true and
correct

15. Direct mode of
address –
connection
between artist
and audience –
personal
relationship
Image – plain
image but
with a strong
stance from
the band relfects strong
sound in their Layout – image takes up the double page
rock genre of spread – title takes up whole page -Writing
music
is small, only takes up ¼ of page in three
columns – gives illusion of being easier to
read and to the point
Colour – black
red and white
keeps to house
style –
harshness of
music
reflected in
contrast of
black on white
Typography –
Gives title a
worn look on
the bands
quote – makes
a statement –
looks like it’s
been stamped
down on the
page

16. Direct mode of address (eyes) –
Connects artist and audience –
Personal Relationship
Layout – Image takes up
whole page – the artist is
the only topic – Writing in
two columns – looks easier
for audience to read
Colour – White black and
orange – Contrast in
colours makes the article
striking
Typography – Small font for
body text – Bold black on
orange background for quote
– makes it more striking –
more of a statement/
important message – Upper
Case headings in black and
orange – more striking
Image – abstract shirt – Striking, obscure, making
a statement – setting of a city with over cast sky –
moody image with a serious expression on artists
face – suggests being from rural area – gives
sense of artists background