CODES AND CONVENTIONS-

REGIONAL MAGAZINE WEBSITES

Having looked around at all of the different websites for regional magazines, I have found that there are some stand out codes and conventions that usually apply to each site:

Masthead- usually says what the name of the website is

There is a main section- which features the most important content

Adverts- where the magazine will generated revenueSocial media- which lets the target audience interact

with the magazine/websiteFont- tends to be 'sans serif which is easy to readLinks- which send the target audience to various

pagesOffers- which provide the audience with discounts

MAIN CODES AND CONVENTIONS

THE SOURCE BRIGHTON

The masthead is located at the top of the magazine so that they can identify the title of the magazine and recognise the brand name immediately.

There is a variety of content in the subheadings, this is so it can appeal to a wider range of people and appeal to a much larger audience. Also is there for easy accessibility. This also relates to the uses and gratifications theory, the idea of surveillance as it shows all of what the magazine has to offer.All articles are spread out across the page, equal in size and positioning, it shows that all articles are equal in importance and none are prioritised over the other. This therefore means, the reader has an equal chance of picking any of the articles, however, conventions suggest the most important article is positioned in the top left of the website.

The “Facebook, Twitter and Instagram” widgets are important to the audience as it allows them to interact with the magazine, therefore appealing to the younger audiences as they are most likely to have multiple social media accounts.

The advert located along the edges of the magazine website are their main and only source of income, so they need to be relatively large in order to attract the audience and catch their eye.

The “Search Source” engine allows the reader to access what they wish of the magazine, and therefore refine their search into something they are specifically interested in. This relates to uses and gratifications theory as it means the audience feel interactive with the magazine and also allow to make it feel personal.

ABSOLUTE BRIGHTON

The masthead is located at the top of the magazine so that they can identify the title of the magazine and recognise the brand name immediately.

There is a variety of content in the subheadings, this is so it can appeal to a wider range of people and appeal to a much larger audience. Also is there for easy accessibility. The layout of the magazine is important as it means the inclusions of pictures allows people to gain a better understanding of the article before reading the full one. This also relates to the uses and gratifications theory, the idea of surveillance as it shows all of what the magazine has to offer.The different sizes of the

previews of the articles are emphasising the importance and popularity of certain articles of the magazine. This could relate to reception theory, as the preferred reading could be that they want you to engage in reading some of the larger articles.

The “Search” engine allows the reader to access what they wish of the magazine, and therefore refine their search into something they are specifically interested in. This relates to uses and gratifications theory as it means the audience feel interactive with the magazine and also allow to make it feel personal.

Alliteration is used in the language, the title of a specific article, this aims to portray the article in a more accessible and rhythmic way, therefore gaining more readers.

The “Facebook, Twitter and Instagram” widgets are important to the audience as it allows them to interact with the magazine, therefore appealing to the younger audiences as they are most likely to have multiple social media accounts.