What are conventions and why do they exist?

Conventions are what make up the parts or sections of a magazine, they are a vital part in constructing a magazine. Some magazines are more conventional than other magazines, but this is usually because they do not follow the mainstream target audiences and are only targeting sub-cultures or a specific genre.

An example of conventions for a front cover and double page spread are below.

What is the genre/hybrid of my magazine?

The genre of my magazine is indie and alternative music, it includes some rock artists and bands, but the majority is indie. My magazine is split between music & culture and the glossy- music & lifestyle. This is because my inspirations have come from magazines that are in both of theses categories.

I have chosen 'The Face' as one of my inspirations because my magazine has an old fashioned feel to it, and the design and theme of the magazine has been made to look slightly vintage. This magazine is in the music & lifestyle category. It features more of the sense of style just as much as it does the music that goes along with it, which I think would attract my target audience.

Another magazine that I chose which also belongs in this category is 'Q', which is another inspiration to my magazine because the magazine is focused on the quantity of pictures and limtied text. This can be seen in my magazine rather clearly, especially on the double page spread; where an image covers one whole page and a short interview covers three quarters of a page.

Another inspiration that falls into the category of music & culture is 'Rolling Stones'. Like the 'Rolling Stones', my magazine feautes a mix of fashion, photography, a lifestyle and two specific genres. My magazine is mainly about the photographers and their specific style in capturing an image. The lifestyle of my magazine is important, which links in to the particular fashion; this is because they follow an old fashioned lifestyle and are quite laidback but serious about their work. Their work is considered very important and their career is usually to do with the arty or media side. This results in bringing in quite a bit of money and are therefore my target audience is middle class and above (ABC1).