Codes and

Conventions
of a double
page spread
Lauren Stocks

Analysis
Headline

Main image

Stand
First

TV
Listing

Drop Cap

Quote

Columns
Minor

Headings

Page number

Image
The main image is the largest image on the page which is of the
individual or object the article is about. It is conventionally placed on
the right hand side of the double page spread and the colour scheme
of the magazine will also match the image. The image usually used
represents what/who the article is about and can sometimes bleed
between the two pages so that they are linked together. Sometimes
the picture can fill the whole double page and have the text written
on top of the image. Direct address is also commonly used to attract
the target audience, along with the rule of thirds so that the image is
presented in the center of the page. The TV listing sometimes has
minor images to represent the visuals of the program and are usually
not as important as the main image because they are used as extras.
When we are creating our double page spread the way we layout our
images and which ones we use are something we must consider. The
props that we will use are most likely going to be phones so that the
audience can clearly see what the article topic consists of.

Magazine Title
The magazine title is conventionally
presented at the bottom of the page near
the number. This is used to brand the article
and inform the reader who published this
article inside the magazine which is an
important convention for a double page
spread. This is another important aspect to
include to brand the double page spread.

By-lines
By-lines are conventionally used on a double page
spread to inform the reader who wrote the article
and the photographers credit. This is commonly
presented in a small font size so that it isnt very
noticeable nor larger than the article. For a TV listing
it is also commonly presented in the top or bottom
corner of the small section it has been presented
with. When we present our images and text on our
double page spread for our documentary we will
need to make sure that we give the certain individual
who wrote it and took the pictures credit.

Quote
Pull quotes are sometimes used on the picture to
highlight the information that is most important or the
most interesting. They are also often used within the
article for emphasis and is typically placed in a larger or
distinctive font on the same page to draw the readers
attention to this. A side quote can also be used to give
the reader some context about the image. Quotes from
our article will be used from our research and interviews
that we have conducted ourselves so that the reader can
have an insight to our documentary on the mobile phone
obsession. When we have finished our article, we will
have to carefully select the text we want to stand out and
what we think will encourage the audience to read it.

Colour Scheme
The colour scheme conventionally is shown
throughout the magazine and its important because it
creates the magazines whole image. Colours are
usually kept to a minimum so that the double page
isnt too crowded with a wide range of colours that
clash. Commonly 3 colours are used that complement
each other so that the audience has something nice
to look at when reading. When we create our double
page spread we want to keep our colours in relation to
the topic, so we decided to use blue, black and white
because those are the colours that are commonly
related to mobile phones.

Headline
Headlines are used to inform the reader and is an
important aspect to complete the double page
spread. It is conventionally presented in a short,
catchy, intriguing way so that the audience wants
to pick the magazine up and read it. A headline is
vital for us to use on our double page spread and
we will also need to make sure that it is the
biggest writing on the page so that it stands out
amongst the article so that the reader can decide
if they are interested in reading it.

Page Number
The page number is conventionally always at the
bottom of the page so that it makes it easier for
the reader to navigate around the magazine and
so they are able to find a certain article they want
to read quickly and simply. It is in a small font at
both bottom corners of the page, on the left page
the number is conventionally presented on the left
bottom corner and on the right hand page, the
number is conventionally presented on the right
bottom corner. This is also another code and
convention we must use on our double page
spread so that it is easier for the target audience.

Stand First
The stand first gives a brief outline of the
article and can summarize the information
included. It is conventionally used to intrigue
the reader into reading the whole article.

Layout
The layout of the double page spread is
another code and convention that is very
important because the layout is created for
the reader. The layout represents the
publisher and the article because of the way
it has been set out will be so that its easy to
the eye. If the layout was messy and all over
the place the audience wouldnt read the
article and not take it seriously because it
doesnt look professional.

Drop Capital
A drop capital is conventionally used to draw
attention to the start of the article and to
connote the beginning of a text. The first
letter is always larger than the rest of the
text so that it stands out to the reader and
adds emphasis. This is another code and
convention that we need to include within our
double page spread because if we didnt use
it, there wouldnt be any emphasis to the
start of the article which is important.

Columns
The three column layout it another typical
convention when it comes to double page
spreads as it allows the reader to flow through
the article smoothly and it keeps the page
looking tidy and well structured. This makes it
easier to read and for a TV listing it is usually
kept in one column at the side of the page so
that it doesn't take up the whole page. They are
used to break up large amounts of texts and so
that it looks appealing to the audience when the
text has been split up into smaller sections.

Date and Time