Regional Magazine Genre Conventions

Front Cover

In terms of the layout the common codes and conventions are very straightforward. The main image should be the main focal point for the viewer so this should fill the complete cover even if some of it is used as a background for other features. I have analysed many front cover that only have one main image and they have done it well to a professional standard but conventionally it should also have a couple smaller images which are visuals to relate to a certain article.
 The masthead is also a focal point for the viewer and should be a conventional house style (suiting the nature of the product) and with neutral colours such as white. The masthead conventionally is placed centrally in the top third of the front cover. It is important the masthead remains the same from issue to issue in order to create a sense of similarity and connote regularity and constancy. this is done so the readers can recognise the brand on the magazine while its on the shelf. So for this reason there should be no drastic changes in the masthead from issue to issue. As the masthead needs to relate to the target audience and to the nature of the magazine. For example if its target at an older audience the it should be kept simple and neutral while sophisticated. The purpose of the masthead is to grab the attention of the audience from the shelf so it should be bold and large to stand out from the other features on the front cover.
 There should be around four to five cover lines which provide the main article which should appeal to the majority of your target audience. The cover lines must feature inside the magazine and there maybe a line with a larger and bolder font which represents the main cover line. This main cover line should link to a double page spread inside the magazine. The smaller images that I previously mentioned should link to the smaller cover lines. The colour of these colour lines needs to contrast the background so they jump out at the reader and grab there attention but it also needs to make sure it doesn't over power the masthead. The language of these cover lines will be formal as colloquial language will not appeal to my target audience. As I want to attract my audience from these cover lines I will be ensuring that it includes a topic that they are interested in. I will get this information when I get my results back from questionnaire. Furthermore all the text should be positioned around the main image.
Bar code, date and the issue/price number should all ideal be put together on the front cover. This is done to almost hide the price in order to not off put your potential audience. This basic institutional information must feature on the front cover and conventionally placed in the bottom right.

Contents Page

After analysing a series of regional magazine content pages I learned that they all have plain white backgrounds in order to connote sophistication and professionalism. The same masthead should be used on the contents page conventionally at the top and in the same font used on the front. The only thing that could potentially change is the colour depending on the background. You always want the masthead to contrast the background. 

All of these content pages are all also quite informative. This is done by smaller text to cover a lot of articles. The layout's are organised, neat and tidy with text in columns for the viewer to easily read and the images are structured around it. The common amount of images used on a contents page is four or five. This images are not supposed to be huge but one image can be the main image which relates to the main article in the magazine and the main cover line could be re located here too. Partnering the images will be the page number for easy navigation around the magazine. 

There is usually bold sub headings in these columns which quickly tell the audience what the article is about in brief and then underneath is a sentence in a normal font which explains more about the article. Conventionally there is normally a page number along with these sub headings to allow the reader to easily navigate through the magazine. In a few of the content pages that I analysed there is an editors note. These are conventionally located on the left hand side never to the bottom. 

Subscription and contact information is conventionally located on the bottom right of the contents page, this is also done is a smaller font so it doesn't potentially bore the audience. 

Double Page Spread

There should be a continuation of the house style throughout the magazine including the double page spread. 

This is too create a recognisable feel to the brand. In the main image used on the double page spread if there is a person used they should be directly addressing the audience by staring right down the lens of the camera. This will grab the attention of the reader and could also give a personal identity to the audience. Alternatively there will be an aspirational image which relates to the nature and lifestyle. The image should take up the majority of the double page spread and any part of the double page spread should be white as a background. Conventionally black text is laid onto the double page spread to contrast the image and/or the background. The black text connotes the tidiness and the nature of the double page spread. The 'rule of thirds' is also necessary here especially for the main focal images.

 In the double page spreads that I have analysed they use a lot of formal text instead of colloquial which appeals to their target audience. In some double page spreads they use a quote which is pulled out and made larger and bolder so the reader can clearly read and see it. This looks very professional on a double page spread and also follow common codes and conventions. There is normally an introduction paragraph which even can be bold which outlines what the article is about and tells the reader what the article is about. The rest of the text will then be in columns with about three to four columns per page to present tidiness and to make the spread easy to follow and read.