1. Evaluation Task
Question 1: In what ways does your
media product use, develop or
challenge forms and convention of real
media?
2. Conventions of real media
During my research leading to the production of
my music magazine it became evident that in
the world of media all products have forms and
conventions for recognition and familiarity.
To prove this I will look at examples of music
magazines and comment on the typical features
found on them.
3. Front Covers
Using a quick internet search it is evident that there are certain features of
magazine front covers that will universally appear in a form which is generally
classed as the industry standard.
All typical magazine front covers generally contain:
A masthead
Banner
Strap-Line
Cover-Lines
Puffs
Pugs
Main Image
Secondary Image
Anchorage
Grid system
4. A typical front cover A typical contents page A typical double page
contains: contains: spread contains:
A masthead Columns Title
Banner Headings Stand-First
Strap-Line Sell Lines Pull Quote
Cover-Lines Images Columns
Puffs Editorial Captions
Pugs Contact / Details
Main Image Motif
Secondary Image Page Numbers
Anchorage
Grid system
5. As well as having different conventions for the
individual types of pages for a magazine there
are also conventions that are used. One for
images and one for general layout.
General conventions in a magazine Image conventions in a magazine are:
are:
Shot Size and type e.g close up, mid shot
Set house style of colours and text Use of lightning / filers
Balance between text and image In studio or on location shooting
Use of whitespace Posed or natural photos
Mode of Adress Mise-en-sence
Set typefaces Choices e.g props, make up
Editing and Enchancement #
11. Here is my designed magazine front
cover. As you can see from looking at
the previous example of music
magazine conventions it contains
many of the expected features of and
looks like a typical music magazine
front cover. I will take the conventions
one by one and apply the evaluation
of them to my own front cover.
1. Masthead
As is typical in a music magazine I have
used a large masthead in a stand out
colour to draw the readers attention to
my magazine. I have used a bold, eye
catching serif font and position it at
the top of the page which is typical to
most music magazine. I have also used
a large font size of 135pt to emphasise
the title.
12. 2. Banner
I have included a banner at the top
and bottom of my magazine. This is to
draw the readers attention to the
content included in them. The top
banner contains the strap-line and the
bottom one contains sell line.
3. Strap-Line
I have included a strap line at the top of
my magazine. A strap-line instructs the
reader what to expect from the magazine
and helps build a product identity.
4. Sell Lines
There are many sell lines on the front
of my magazine. These are used to
advertise the content of the magazine
are entice the reader to buy the
magazine.
13. 5. Cover Image
I have used a large cover image on the
front of my magazine to draw the
attention to the main article of the
magazine. Intentionally through
following conventions the cover image
is the main feature of the front cover.
6. Secondary Image
I have also used a secondary
image to advertise another
article in the magazine.
7. Puffs
I have included a puff in
my work to advertise a
feature in the magazine. I
have made it a stand out
colour and uniquely used
the colour yellow to
emphasise the box.
14. 8. Anchorage
Anchorage is used in
magazines to link images
and pictures so you
instantly can recognise that
they belong to the same
article in the magazine. I
have used this to great
effect with my cover story
and secondary article.
9. Grid System
My magazine front cover has a
system that uses three
columns with the left side
containing the sell lines, puff
and barcode and the other two
containing the main cover
article. The right hand columns
also contains the magazine
logo, issue no, price and date.
16. 1. Columns
One of the main features of a
contents page in a magazine is the
layout being mainly focused around
columns. As you can see there is a
clear three columns layout with the
first columns containing the bulk of
the text and the other two
containing the editorial and the
images.
2. Heading
The heading of my contents page
follows the house style conveyed by
the front cover. It uses the title and
the motif of the magazine as well as
the issue number and date. The
actual heading of the contents page
is bold and clear whilst not taking
away from the main content of the
page.
17. 3. Sell Lines
All the main sell lines of my
contents page are included in
the left hand column in a list
format. The more important
images are in the box labelled
“features” and have anchorage
to images.
4. Images
The images on my contents page
all relate to the articles on the
front cover and are used to
emphasise the sell-lines. This is
common for the main magazine
features to have multiple images
There is also an image included
in the editorial of the editor
which is common place in
magazines.
18. 5. Editorial
My magazine also has a clear
editorial featured on the contents
page. This is a well used convention
as it allows the reader to see the
editors views on the magazines. I
have included this in the bottom
right side of my contents page to
avoid conflict with the sell lines.
6. Contact Details
The contact details of my magazine
have been included within my
editorial which is also a popular
convention in magazines
7. Motif • Motif
• Page Numbers
My magazines motif (a vinyl record) has • Grid Systems
been included with the magazine title
so its instantly recognisable. Also the
motif can be seen at the bottom.
19. 8 . Page Numbers
I have used page numbers on the
contents page which is a must have
contention due to the page being
designed to show you which page
number each feature or “sell line”
can be located on. My content's
page contains very clear page
numbers.
• Motif
• Page Numbers
• Grid Systems
20. How I have followed
conventions
Double Page Spread
21. 1. Title 2. Stand First
Following typical conventions the title of The stand first is the text than can be
my double page spread is large and draws seen before the main article. This can
attention. It is also fits within the house clearly be seen due to the use of italics
style and uses two colour. The motif is and coloured in the articles style.
also incorporated above the title.
22. 3. Pull Quote 4. Columns
Pull quotes are usually posited within the There is a clear use of columns in this
main article text to draw the readers article with the left hand page consisting
attention to a certain part of the article of three. Title, middle of image, text and
and to entice them into reading the rest the right hand page having three clear
of the articles. columns of text.
23. Examples showing how I have
used conventions in relation to
actual media products.
24. My magazine front cover is quite similar to Q due to the placement of sell lines and the
location of the main cover story. It also has a similar colour scheme with red featuring in the
house style and yellow used for a kicker. Also the appeal of both my magazine and Q
magazine appeal to a similar audience.
25. To ensure I followed conventions for my contents page I took two different designs of
Q magazine and incorporated them together as well as using the addition of an
editorial to create my magazine contents. As you can see the layout of the first
magazine has been used for the column and box system whilst the layout of the images
has been done in a way which is very similar to the second page. As mentioned before
this is due to the similarities between the magazine audiences.
26. Double Page Spread
Here is the double page spread template I used to design mine from. As
you can see I have mirrored the majority of the connotations for this
magazine to ensure mine looks professional.
27. House Style
My magazine had a clear house style which is
emphasised by certain features.
Colour Scheme – The colours Red is used through
my front cover and contents page with my double
page spread using Blue for contrast.
Banner- At the bottom of my contents and double
page spread there is a clear banned labelling the
page number, issue and it contains the magazines
logo.
28. Analysis of Work
Overall I feel like through the process of designing my music magazine I have followed
conventions in a successful way which fit in with the genre of music my magazine focus’ on and
the type of target audience it is aimed at. An example of this is how my front cover and contents
page relate heavily to Q magazine as well as my double page spread closely mirroring the design
of an article from rhythm magazine.
The reason that I followed these example of magazine and why I used certain connotations was
so that my magazine would look professional and be able to relate to professional magazine that
are already on the market. The reason it was vital to use connotation is because due to their
repetitive use within the industry they have became the standard for magazines meaning
anything that doesn’t use them looks alien in comparison.
I feel I have personally used connotations very effectively to produce my magazine to a standard
which looks professional. The only regret I have is the lack of image captions I used as I feel it is
quite a vital feature I have missed.
