Textual ResearchI have annotated magazine pages with the codes and conventions and analysis of mode of address, these pages include front covers, content pages and double page spreads. I have done this task in order to help me find the codes and conventions and mode of address of my own magazine and so I can have a clear picture of how to reach my audience.
Front cover
The front cover is the most important page of the magazine, because if it does not draw attention instantly it will not be worth buying and so there would be no point in reading the rest of the magazine. The front cover has to either welcome back the existing reader or introducing the reader to the world of that magazine. This means that the reader is given the feeling of belonging or their desire to belong to a community is fulfilled. The front cover of a magazine has to have a template design to which each issue is similar in order to secure familiarity and brand identification. The use of semiotics (the study of signs and symbols and the meanings attached to them) is important when creating a magazine, this is because when choosing a sign or a symbol in order to use in the magazine it will have many connotations and so signs and symbols have to be used carefully in order to relate to the audience.
The front cover is the most important page of the magazine, because if it does not draw attention instantly it will not be worth buying and so there would be no point in reading the rest of the magazine. The front cover has to either welcome back the existing reader or introducing the reader to the world of that magazine. This means that the reader is given the feeling of belonging or their desire to belong to a community is fulfilled. The front cover of a magazine has to have a template design to which each issue is similar in order to secure familiarity and brand identification. The use of semiotics (the study of signs and symbols and the meanings attached to them) is important when creating a magazine, this is because when choosing a sign or a symbol in order to use in the magazine it will have many connotations and so signs and symbols have to be used carefully in order to relate to the audience.
Contents page
The contents page is one of the most important pages of a magazine; this is because the contents page includes the best features of the magazine and locates the reader to the article they want and so not wasting time in flipping through pages and pages of unwanted topics and information and so helping to organise the magazine into understandable units. The pictures used on the contents page are normally to balance out the images and text, however they may also be used to help sell the magazine this is because using text alone will not help interest anyone. The contents page needs to relate to the front cover in terms of colours, fonts and use of images. The language used on the contents page needs to be clear and sharp in order to make it specific to the reader where each article is issued within the magazine.
Double page spread
On the double page spread normally there is one main image which takes up most of one of the pages or even all of one of the pages (normally on the left hand side). The picture is used in order to tell the reader who the article is about; it helps to draw attention because if the image is of a well known artist the extreme large image of the artist will draw their fans in to read the article. The picture also helps to construct the representation of the featured artist and will 'anchor' or illustrate the focus of the story. The double page spread normally helps to promote a band or an artist and it is a form of advertisement.
Target audience
It is important to know your target audience well, in order to meet their needs and so the magazine is designed and laid out the way that its audience would prefer it to be. The colours, fonts and designs used on the magazine are situated around its audience and so it is important to keep in touch with the audience through the form of the language used in the magazine. The audience includes age, race, gender, class and one of the most important is the interests of the ‘target audience’ and the specific target market.
The contents page is one of the most important pages of a magazine; this is because the contents page includes the best features of the magazine and locates the reader to the article they want and so not wasting time in flipping through pages and pages of unwanted topics and information and so helping to organise the magazine into understandable units. The pictures used on the contents page are normally to balance out the images and text, however they may also be used to help sell the magazine this is because using text alone will not help interest anyone. The contents page needs to relate to the front cover in terms of colours, fonts and use of images. The language used on the contents page needs to be clear and sharp in order to make it specific to the reader where each article is issued within the magazine.
Double page spread
On the double page spread normally there is one main image which takes up most of one of the pages or even all of one of the pages (normally on the left hand side). The picture is used in order to tell the reader who the article is about; it helps to draw attention because if the image is of a well known artist the extreme large image of the artist will draw their fans in to read the article. The picture also helps to construct the representation of the featured artist and will 'anchor' or illustrate the focus of the story. The double page spread normally helps to promote a band or an artist and it is a form of advertisement.
Target audience
It is important to know your target audience well, in order to meet their needs and so the magazine is designed and laid out the way that its audience would prefer it to be. The colours, fonts and designs used on the magazine are situated around its audience and so it is important to keep in touch with the audience through the form of the language used in the magazine. The audience includes age, race, gender, class and one of the most important is the interests of the ‘target audience’ and the specific target market.
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