I will be looking at a range of different regional magazines, looking at their codes and conventions of the:

* Image

* Masthead

* Colour scheme

* Layout and design

* Text (the language of it)

I will be analysing the 7 front covers, 7 contents pages and 7 advert pages of regional magazines. I will try to vary the

magazine I use to get a range of different techniques used.

Examples of Regional Magazine

Masthead:

The mast head is a big

part of the magazine as

that is one of things that

makes people recognise

the company, along with

a logo. The white text

over the dark background

makes it stand out. Also

the use of putting the

text over the image

shows the masthead is

important.

Image: the image, showing

direct mode of address is

the main focus of the

magazine. That is the first

thing the buyer will look

at. The image also stands

out against the dark

background.

Second Image: a second

image on the cover page is

common in regional

magazines and makes for a

wider audience. So it

follows code and

conventions.

Barcode: the

barcode is a

main code and

convention of

any kind of

magazine,

placed in the

bottom right

corner.

Cell lines: the cell lines

are specifically placed

so it is easy for the

reader to read and

interest them. They are

in white text to stand

out against the dark

background and it also

follows the colour

scheme.

Berkshire Life regional magazine

Colour scheme: the colour scheme of

this magazine is orange, white and

dark blue/black. This makes the

important things, such as the image,

masthead and cell lines stand out.

Banner: the

banner at the

bottom shows

other content in

the magazine,

this makes for a

bigger audience.

Masthead: the

masthead on this

magazine is behind the

image, showing that

the magazine is very

recognisable to their

target audience. The

different colour of the

different words breaks

codes and conventions

as usually it is one

block colour, but it fits

in with the colour

scheme.

Image: the image, which is

of two people, is very eye

catching especially for

people interested in

weddings. There is no

direct mode of address

which is uncommon in

regional magazine which

have people in it image. So

it breaks the codes and

conventions.

Cell lines: the colour of

the text fits the colour

scheme, it also helps

make it stand out and it

easier to read.

Bar code: a main

code and convention

of the magazine, it

also shows the price

of the magazine,

which is important.

The chance of winning

money draws the reader in

and make them more likely

to buy the magazine.

Putting the text to fit the

colour scheme makes it

stand out to audience.

Colour scheme: the colour scheme of this

magazine is yellow, white and orange. Having a

colour scheme makes the overall look of the

magazine look presentable.

Pure Weddings regional magazine

Text: ‘Plus’ this attract more

of an audience and it shows

other content in the

magazine which might

appeal to other people.

Text: use of the word

‘personal’ makes the

reader feel as if the

magazine is for him/her

so they will be more

likely to buy it.

Image: the image, which

is of a landscape is very

common in regional

magazines, this is

because taking a picture

of the regional area will

interest a buyer more

than an image of a

person would do. The

image is also very

picturesque with the use

of the colours and will

make the magazine

standout amongst the

others.

Essex Life regional magazine

Barcode: the

barcode which is

important is located

in the bottom right

corner, as it is on

many other regional

magazines, so it

follows the codes

and conventions.

Colour scheme: the colour scheme is

unusual because of the image, usually its it

either a dark image with light writing or

vice versa. But the colour scheme would be

yellow, white and purple.

Second image: a second image

allows the reader to see more of

the content inside the magazine.

It is also very common to have a

second picture on a regional

magazine. So it follows codes

and conventions by having it.

Masthead: the

masthead, big white

writing on a dark

purple background,

makes it stand out and

catch the readers

attention. It also

identifies the magazine

straight away as one

local to the Essex area.

Cell lines: the cell lines

of this magazine,

follows the colour

scheme which makes it

stand out and easy to

read.

Secondary Images: the use of more images on the

front cover targets a wider range of people, and

they are usually placed on the banner at the bottom

of the page, so this follows codes and conventions.

Devon Life regional magazine

Colour scheme: the

colour scheme of the

magazine is mainly

white, red and green.

Most of the writing is in

white which makes it

stand out against the

green background.

Image: the image, much

like the pure weddings

magazine consists of two

people, not looking at

the camera. The images

is the main focus of the

magazine and is the first

thing the reader will look

at.

Barcode: again

follows the

codes and

conventions by

it being

situated in the

bottom right

corner.

Masthead: the masthead

of the magazine is

situated in the top

centre of the page, this

follows codes and

conventions. Its is also

bold and easily

recognisable. Although

part of the text is hard

to see against the

background, but it is still

recognisable.

Cell lines: the cell

lines, also in white

text, is clear to read.

The use of different

sized text will draw

the attention of the

reader to the more

important parts.

Font: the font also

follows codes and

conventions by not

being too unusual

and being easy to

read.

Image: the image,

having direct mode of

address attracts the

readers attention. It

again is the main focus

of the page being the

first this the reader

looks at.

Pure Weddings regional magazine

Barcode: the

barcode is a main

code and

convention of the

regional magazines

I have researched,

saturated in the

bottom right

corner.

Second images: the second images allow for a

wider audience as it shows more of the content.

Again the images are situated on the banner and

the bottom of the page.

Masthead: the masthead

is situated on the top

centre of the page, in big

bold writing, making it

stand out and second to

catch the readers

attention (the first being

the image). Its use of

white writing again the

dark background is

common. The way the

text is partly over the

image suggests that the

masthead is important

Cell lines: the cell lines

follow the colour

scheme of the

magazine and also

stand out against the

dark background. The

use of different size

text makes the more

important text

standout more.

Colour scheme: the

colour scheme of this

magazine is white, gold

and black. The gold

makes it more

appealing because it

gives the magazine a

more professional feel.

Dorset regional magazine

Image: typically unusual

because a regional

magazine cover image

usually includes a

landscape of a person.

The image is again the

main focus of the page

and they have burred out

the background to make

the snow and squirrel

stand out.

Barcode: the

barcode which is

important is located

in the bottom right

corner, following

the codes and

conventions of a

typical magazine.

Second images: the images (along with the text

describing the pictures) follow the codes and

conventions of a typical magazine by being

located on the banner at the bottom of the page.

Masthead: the

masthead (white text

against a dark

background) makes it

stand out and will

attract the readers

attention. It bold and

large writing also

follows the codes and

conventions of what

mastheads usually

look like, again with it

also being at the top

in the centre of the

page.

Colour scheme: the colour

scheme of this magazine is

mainly white and red. This fits

well with the theme of the

magazine.

Text: a lot of

describing words

are used to

interest the

reader, some of

the words also

relate to the

theme ‘glittering’,

‘magic’ etc.

Cornwall Life regional magazineMasthead: again the

text is white against a

different colours

background to make it

stand out. It follows

codes and conventions

by being big and easy

to read, also by being

situated in the top

centre.

Image: the image

used contains

many different

colours, this is

unusual but also

very effective.

With all the

different eye

catching colours

makes it stand out

the most and will

be the first to

catch the readers

attention.

Barcode: the barcodes breaks the codes

and conventions as it is places in the

bottom left instead of the bottom right.

Banner: there are no second pictures but there

is a banner. This follows codes and conventions

and also allows for a wider audience.

Cell lines: the cell lines

also is different on this

magazine as they tend

not to have boxed

behind them, but on this

particular magazine it

makes the text easier to

read against the

background.

Colour scheme: the colour

scheme for this magazine

is white, light

green/brown. The use of

the muted colour on the

banner allows more

important features stand

out.

Text: Use of ‘FREE’ (in

capital letters) draws the

reading in and make them

more likely to buy.

Image: the image is

common for watch

magazine adverts as they

usually just include the

watch face (close up of the

watch). The high key

lighting used shows the

watch more clearly and it

looks more professional.

This is standard for a

magazine advert of a

watch so it follows the

codes and conventions.

The picture, much like on

the front covers, is the

main focus for the reader.

This is because if the text

was the main focus people

might not be as interested.

Magazine watch advert (single page)

Font: Unusual text for

a magazine but it is

the text of the brand

company. The way the

brand name is bigger

then the other text

shows its importance.

Background: The

background also

follows codes and

conventions by being

black. Most watch

adverts have a black

background because

it makes the image,

in this case the

watch, standout

more.

Colour scheme: the colour

scheme; being red and white is

symbolic to the companies

colour scheme. Also the red in

watch links all the colour

together. And the use of any

bright additional colours haven't

been used as it would break the

codes and conventions.

Text: the use of extra text, gives more information about the

product. But the text is quite small as it is not as important as

the image or brand name.

Magazine necklace advert (double page)

Brand name: the brand

name has been made so

the colour of it matches

the necklace. Giving the

reader a continuous feel

of the advert.

Image: the image which takes up most of the page is

the main focus of the page. Again the image is bigger

then the text because of it importance. The image of

the necklace contains a lot of detail so only an image

and one word text is used.

Background: the black

background again

follows codes and

conventions because

that is the mainly used

colour background

Colour scheme: the colour scheme

for this advert is simple black and

gold. This gives a profession feel to

the magazine.

Magazine phone advert (single page)Colour scheme:

the colour scheme

of the advert is

pink, brown and

white. The way it

uses the colours is

specific, the

bright pink is used

to make the phone

standout and the

white text is used

to make it easy to

read against the

dark brown

background.

Text: the text, being

in large, bold wiring

draws the attention of

the reader. It follows

codes and conventions

because the font is

clear and not too

unusual.

Image: the image of

the phone shows what

the advert is

advertising, so the

image is stands out

with its bright colour. It

is also a big image

taking up half the page

(length ways).

Text: the text at the bottom, in line with the rest

of the text and image, gives more information

about the product. The text being the smallest text

on the page gives way to the more important

features on the page, for example the image.

Brand name: the brand

name, used in the same

text as the brand makes

the reader easily

recognisable. The brand

names is the second

biggest text on the page

making it easy for the

reader to see.

Magazine camera advert (single page)

Image: the image,

is the main focus

of the page,

following codes

and conventions.

The use of high

key lighting gives

the product a

sense of

professionalism.

Logo: the logo makes

the brand more

recognisable. Its use of

yellow makes it

different from the rest

of the text and it

follows the colour

scheme of the actual

brand.

Brand name: the

brand name which

also stands out as

much as the image in

white text (against

the black

background)

Text: the text placed

just under the brand

name, give a little bit

more information about

the product. The use of

‘ultimate’ sells the idea

that it is a excellent

product. The text, again

is the smallest text,

stand out against the

dark background making

it easy to read.

Colour scheme: the colour scheme on

the page is white, black and yellow.

The use of black and white makes the

advert look professional.

Magazine Phone advert (double page)

Brand name: the

brand name is in

simple writing,

black against a

white

background. This

gives off a

simplistic feel.

Background: the white

background breaks

codes and conventions

as usually it is a black

background. Against

the image though it

makes it stand out.

Image: the image, taking up most of the page shows

off the product. Because IPhones are very

recognisable the image is only needed for people to

recognise the product. It follows codes and

conventions by its being the centre of the pages and

the main focus.

Colour scheme: the

colour scheme of

this advert is black

and white, this

also give it a

simplistic feel but

also professional

feel.