Research : Genre: magazine conventions

these are some of the magazine conventions. these are used to help create a magazine.

• All magazines follow the same rules.
• the image of the magazine must fit the content and the target audience.

• the name (heading) of the mag must also do this.
• magazines usually include stars/celebrities.
• stars are admired and are inspirations.
• famous people are conventionally included on music magazine covers to sell the magazine.
• The front cover of a magazine is its main advertisement.
• It should be bright, interesting, and eye catching to entice the reader to buy the magazine.

• The colours should not only reflect the target audience but in music magazines they should represent the genre of the music.
• There tends to be a variety of fonts on the cover to make it visually interesting and eye catching.
• Title/header usually at the top of the page (this logo/header will also create the brand image of your magazine and will make it instantly recognisable for your audience.
• one main model/star photographed.
• The leading caption usually dominates the page.
• Subheadings of the main stories you want to advertise.
• Straplines usually go at the or the bottom of the page.
• The date and barcode and usually now with the web address.
• Magazines are usually expensive monthly 'Glossies' (Q, Marie Claire, FHM) or cheaper weekly magazines e.g. NME, Zoo, Nuts etc.
• The contents page should be bright and colourful.
• Again- as it is typical of magazines images dominate the text (to allow for 'grazing') Image with page numbers included.
• Again direct address is used in all images.
• The title/header usually appears on every page (usually at the top of the page).
• There is a list of contents- usually under usual sections e.g gig guide, reviews etc.
• Headlines and subheadings to explain the story and catch the audiences interest (usually witty, puns base on the star/artist or new album/tour etc).

• Remember artists do not appear in music magazines unless they have something to sell (album/tour/DVD).
• Again the images should dominate- 1 large image and other smaller ones (usually different- location, setting etc..to make the article interesting.
• Dont be afraid of white space- there is a lot of this in feature articles- use it to frame your writing and images.
• The cover price of a magazine does not pay for the magazine to be published.
• The majority of the money that make magazines possible comes from advertising revenue.
• Your magazine has to appeal to its audience to sell well.
• The magazine can then charge well for advertising space, and encourage companies to advertise within the magazine.