Codes and conventions

Header and Masthead

Header: This is the newspaper’s name, often printed in large letters at the top of the front page. A newspaper’s identity and brand is closely tied to its header.
Masthead: This small section of the page, typically at the top, contains information about the newspaper’s publisher, location, days and times of publication, subscription rates, and contact details.

Grid Structure: Newspapers typically follow a grid structure, with information broken down into individual stories or articles.
White Space: Effective use of white space is paramount to ensuring the newspaper isn’t too cluttered and is easy to navigate.
Images: Photographs and illustrations are used to attract attention and supplement text. They are often placed next to relevant articles.

Serif and Sans Serif: Newspapers typically use a combination of serif (e.g. Times New Roman) and sans serif (e.g. Arial) fonts. Serif fonts are usually for body text, while sans serif for headlines.
Font Size: The size of the font is used to denote hierarchy — larger fonts for headlines and smaller fonts for article text and captions.
Bold Text: is used to draw emphasis and attract attention. It’s also used for article headers and sub-headers.

Language Style: The language style varies depending on the target audience. Tabloids generally use more informal language, while broadsheets opt for a more formal tone.
Headline Language: Headlines often use large, bold, and attention-grabbing language to entice readers to the story.

Lead Story: This is the most important news and is usually displayed prominently on the front page.
Features: Longer, in-depth articles that delve into specific topics.
Editorials: These are opinion pieces, usually related to current events, which reflect the viewpoint of the newspaper’s editorial board.

Bylines: These give credit to the journalists who wrote the article. They typically appear below the headline and above the story.
Datelines: These let readers know when and where the story was written. They often appear at the beginning of the article.
Captions: These give context to images, providing details about who, what, where, and when.