In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

1. Question 1:
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?

2. Masthead:
My masthead for the magazine is shown here; I decided the name of the magazine to be “Acoustic” as I believed this was
fit for the genre of the magazine which is Alternative/Pop. This challenges the forms and conventions of existing music
magazines and the name of the magazine reflects the type of magazine this is, which is of course a music magazine.
Acoustic in science is the studies of sound and in music is the primary instruments that do not need electric amplification
to make a sound such instruments include the acoustic guitar/bass guitar. The acoustic bass guitar is used in my masthead
as replacing the „I‟ in acoustic; this visibly shows the purpose and aim of the music magazine. This challenges existing
music magazines as this has never been done before; this makes my masthead unique. While researching on case studies I
realised that most music magazines have a big bold masthead which is usually placed at the top of the page, this was also
used on my magazine as I believed this will attract the audience.
The colours used as the house style are burgundy, black and white. This was not initially the colours I was going to use;
however when the pictures of the artist/model were taken I decided to change them as these colours were more suited to
her clothing and the type of genre she is in. Most magazines have a maximum of three colours as their house style; this is
used in my magazine as this ensures it is organized and makes it look more appealing. I believe I have followed all of the
above.
The font of my masthead is very simple and easy to read; this allows the reader to clearly read the masthead. From my
research, I found that many magazines have use this type of font for the stated reason mentioned.
I decided to place the masthead behind the head of the artist/model. I noticed that almost every well-known magazine do
this as their magazine is familiar and recognised by everyone, however many magazines do not begin their magazines by
doing this, as they become bigger and better; they tend to vary this according to how well-known their magazine becomes.
Although my magazine is new and I used this technique; I believe it challenges these magazines as I decided to do this in
the first issue unlike other magazines.

3. Images: Front Cover
The image I used for my front cover of my
music magazine is of the model/artist at the
centre of the page looking directly into the
camera. It is a medium close up shot of the
artist; this is used to show the general body
language of the artist/model. This is a
common convention in several magazines.
The model hands/arms are placed behind
her neck which connotes that she looks
relaxed and comfortable. This type of body
language is used in many magazines which
feature female artists. However, the model is
smiling at the readers/audience, this
challenges existing magazines as many
magazines generally have the models not
smiling and looking very serious. I decided to
do the opposite as I felt this attract the
readers more.

4. Images: Contents Page
The images used in my contents page are
shown in the image on the left. As you can
see the central image is attention
grabbing as the featured artist is the main
aim of the magazine. This is a common
convention in existing magazines as the
person featured in the front is featured in
the contents page and double page
spread. The other images in the side bar
are of the interviews of the other artists
that also in the magazine. This makes it
easier for readers to see who they are and
what they look like.

5. Images: Double Page Spread
These are the images used in my double page spread. As you can see I used four images
that are placed in a montage. This gives the readers a variety of images to look at and
because I found it difficult to pick just one image. Additionally, the images of the artists
are very casual and she looks relaxed; this reflects the interview and article that was
written beside it. This challenges other magazines as they only have one central image of
the artist, however my one has four. This technique is used from a music magazine
featuring Nicole Scherzinger; upon viewing this I wanted use it in my own word.

6. Written Content:
The written content is very important in addressing the audience. Since my
magazine is aimed at the younger generation for ages 13-21, it was vital that
the language used is simple and easy to read as if the language was very
advanced some may not understand thus preventing them from reading it.
Additionally, I have done this by adding more attention to the things need to
stand out, making it easier for the reader to know where to look and what to
read; for example, the masthead, the headings and subheadings in the
contents page and the title and name on the double page spread. The article
featured in the double page spread is in a question and answer method
where the question is written in a different colour to the answer thus making
it obvious which is which and is in columns. From my research, I figured that
most in fact all magazines use this and since this is a common convention in
every magazine, I felt it was the best method to be used in my own.

7. Layout: Front Cover
The layout of the front cover is one of the most
important aspects of my music magazine as this is the
first thing the audience will be attracted to. One of the
key points I had to follow was to ensure that my front
wasn’t too crowded and looked organised, I feel I have
done which is shown in my cover. I used the common
conventions used in all magazines by positioning the
model/artist in the centre as I didn’t want any of the
attention taken away from her as she is the person selling
the magazine. Other common conventions include
applying the masthead at the top of the models head as
they will attracted to model there attention will then be
towards the masthead thus ensuring that they know
which magazine it is. The cover lines also followed
common conventions as it is on the side and not
attracting much attention. The artist is clearly visible so
the audience is aware of who she is. The barcode
challenges other music magazines many existing
magazines have the barcode at the back not at the front.
However I decided to have it placed at the front as this
gives it a professional look and an actual real magazine.

8. Layout: Contents Page
The layout of the contents page was also very important
as this is where the audience will refer to if they felt they
couldn’t find a particular page. So I had to ensure that it
looked detailed and depth to as this is a common
convention in many magazines. The title of the page
‘Contents’ is clearly visible as it stands out and is placed
at the top left hand corner of the page. The
name/masthead of the magazine is placed beside the
title so the reader is aware of which magazine they
reading. This challenges the forms and conventions of
existing magazines as not many magazines do this. The
featured artist is again the focus of the page as this is the
person selling the magazine- this is a common convention
as many magazine always use this technique. The layout
is relatively easy to read and understand as the sub-
headings are placed big and bold before the writing.
This makes the reader understand it further; also there is further information of what the
article is about beneath the page number. This is another common convention in many
magazines however this normally just one but I decided to have more than one line which
gives a bit more detail which challenges existing magazines. An editor’s note is included
which is generally used in many existing magazines as this shows direct gratification from
the person that created the magazine.

9. Layout: Double Page Spread
The layout of the double page spread is very
organised and neat as this is the main article
where readers are expected to read. The name
of the artist visibly shown at the top of the
page as this informs the readers who this
particular page is about. This is a common
convention in existing magazines as many
always have the title placed at the top of the
magazine. There is also an introduction that
written of the artists which tells the reader of
who the artist is, what they are expected to
in the following interview. The article is of the interview between the artist and the
interviewee. This is in an organised method whereby the question that was asked to the artist
is written then her response. The questions are in a different colour then that to the answers
so readers can clearly read the answer they want to read- this is a common convention to have
the question and answer however since I decided to have it in a different colour it challenges
their method. Additionally the images of the artist is placed on a separate page however since
it is from the same article it completes the purpose of a double page spread. There is a pull out
quote positioned in the centre of the page which gives the readers an idea of what the article
will be about. This is a common convention of existing magazines.