Media Studies Portfolio: Genre Research #2-- "Blog post #1"

1. Genre:

Travel Magazine

2. Genre Conventions- content

The main purpose of a travel magazine is to promote tourism and also to inform and entertain those who love to travel with articles. Therefore, this genre normally features seasonal recommendations of places to visit, interviews with experienced travelers, and traveling tips when traveling far from home. The front covers of travel magazines always consist of the name of the magazine in large colorful font to attract viewers. In addition, the front cover of these magazines have large pictures of extravagant landscapes to show the main topic discussed in the issue.

3. Genre Conventions- Production techniques

Most of the pictures for a travel magazine are shot on location rather than a studio this is because these magazines are about promoting people to visit a location. Location shootings can often be quite difficult since it often requires clearing people from a location to take a decent picture, it is especially hard for places that have a lot of tourism. In order to provide beautiful high resolution pictures of a location, photographers are required to take them in professional cameras. In addition, photographers have to be aware of conventions such as composition and angles to create a nice looking picture. Travel magazine production can take a long time, since it requires patience to take good pictures when visiting a place, and then must need the help with editing.

4. Sample #1

Travel + Leisure March 2013 issue

This sample embodies the travel magazine since it contains most of the features that a travel magazine would have. For example, the front cover of this magazine depicts the title in large bolded letters to grab any reader’s attention. It also contains large picture of a well known Roman building to show the main topic discussed in the magazine. In addition, just how travel magazines are, this magazine shows tips on traveling and recommendations in places in Rome. As for production techniques, the pictures show that these were photos taken on location, just like any travel magazine. It also looks to have been taken by a professional camera as well as taken the time of having it edited since the front cover picture looking to be in high resolution and have a nice filter over the original.

5. Sample #2
Condé Nast Traveler April 2015 issue

This second sample embodies the travel magazine genre in many ways. Content wise, just like any travel magazine, this magazine has its title in large letters to attract viewers and depicts one main focus that is going to be featured based on the front cover picture. It also features other main points that relate to traveling around Europe, informing what articles will be shown throughout the magazine. For production techniques, it uses everything that a travel magazine would do, the pictures were shot on location with a professional camera to show the picture in high definition. All of the edited techniques of the photograph and design create an aesthetically pleasing front cover, just like other travel magazines.