Codes and Conventions

Codes and Conventions are the styles of a magazine or indeed any other media product that make it definable. The four main focuses of a front cover that are conventional are the style of image, text, colour and layout. NME is an indie/pop magazine aimed at young adults. The magazine has several codes and conventions.

One convention of NME is to have the masthead in the same position every single issue. The masthead occupies the top left hand corner of the front cover in bold writing and vibrant colour (red). This identifies the magazine and is a necessity for every issue.

Another convention that is usually followed by the distributors IPC Media is that the front cover usually contains a lot of text and one large, dominant image. This convention is generally followed by most music magazines. This is because the front cover is the part of the magazine that attracts the consumers. Therefore, it is important for the magazine to get as much information onto the front as possible so that it makes the consumer want to look inside.

Lastly, the colours used on the front of NME can differ. However, generally there is red and white. This is because white is a neutral colour and red stands out on the white background. Also, it is the colours used in the logo.

Looking at the codes and conventions of NME has provided me with some inspiration for my own magazine.