Codes and Conventions

Kerrang Front Cover

The title ‘Kerrang’ is written in bold white writing in a sans-serif font allowing the title to stand out more clearly. There are lines going through the letters which is a theme carried out throughout the magazine allowing the reader to recognise that they are reading ‘Kerrang’. The title is half hidden with the band Good Charlotte overlapping it attracting readers who like the band.

There is a 3 colour scheme used with the colours being red, black and white. Having the black as the main background colour allows the red and white writing to stand out more grabbing the reader’s attention. The dark colours help the magazine to target its audience of young female and male adults. The sub-headings next to the title Good Charlotte are written in red with a separate black background around them making it easier to read against the picture behind them.

The main image used is of the band Good Charlotte but there is also smaller pictures used. Having Good Charlotte as the main picture allows the reader see the importance of it in the magazine compared to the smaller pictures used for Paramore and Greenday etc. Although Paramore and Greenday etc are smaller pictures, Paramore is separated from the other pictures showing the reader that it is a more important part of the magazine compared to the other small pictures. There are five small pictures along the bottom with a black border around each one then a red border around all of them together. These colours help the pictures to stand out and grab the reader’s attention even though they are small. Having a selection of different pictures on the front cover gives the reader a brief view of what they will find in the magazine.

There is a variety of different fonts used on the magazine the majority being sans-serif fonts but having a few other parts written in just a serif font. Having different fonts on the cover makes it more interesting to look at grabbing the reader’s attention. The titles are mainly written in sans-serif as it is a simpler font therefore easier to read. It also stands out more when in bold, block capitals. The writing above and below the title Good Charlotte is the only text written in the serif font. This is because it is telling the reader more information about Good charlotte therefore a more interesting font has been used so the reader is more likely to read on.

A symbol of a plus sign has been used at the bottom of the front cover. It is white with yellow lines coming out all around it like sun rays, grabbing the reader’s attention. This has been used at the bottom of the page to let the reader know that the magazine has everything on the cover in it as well as much more. A circle has also been used on the left hand side with ‘926 gigs listed inside’ in the middle of it. The 3 colour scheme has been used here with the background black, the border red and the writing white. Using a circle, again makes the front cover look more interesting by having a variety of different ways of presenting what is in the magazine and not just having it all written down the sides.

From this magazine I will take forward the colours used and the fonts used. I like the plus sign at the bottom of the page and how it also lists more bands. I like the fact that one main image is used along with smaller images used around it and also I like the fact that the title is half hidden but because it is so bold you can still see what magazine it is. I will try and incorporate these features into my own magazine.