Media products are governed by particular codes and conventions that are established. They are the associated 'rules' by which a media form is structured, created or understood. The audience expects these codes and conventions to appear consistently within particular media forms.
Codes are of two types, technical and symbolic. Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface by using objects, actions or settings to convey the deeper meaning or set the mood for the readers. Technical codes refer to all the ways equipment is used to convey the message in a media text. For example, camera angles, editing styles, and typography which impact the presentation of a magazine's content. These are further elaborated on below.
Conventions:
Conventions are accepted ways of using media codes. Conventions are closely connected to the audience expectations of a media product. Magazine conventions refer to certain protocols which are reoccurring styles, themes or elements that are specific to a magazine genre. These range from the use of cover lines to the structure of feature articles. This balance not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also aids in guiding the reader’s eye path throughout the content.
Cover elements: These are an essential convention used to entice readers. The masthead, cover lines, main cover image or star, and price bar establish the identity and offerings of the magazine. This is elaborated below with an example:
Layout and design: These form a crucial part of convention, with a distinct pattern showcasing a balance between texts, images, graphics and whitespace.
This can be analyzed by the following example that showcases how the white spaces are balanced throughout the magazine.
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