This document evaluates how the media product uses, develops, or challenges conventions of real media forms. It describes several design elements of the fake magazine including the masthead, cover image, color scheme, anchor text, pull quotes, and sell line. For each element, it provides examples of real magazines that use similar conventions such as large mastheads (NME, Kerrang, Q Magazine) and cover images creating a personal relationship with the audience (Clash, Q Magazine). It also notes unconventional elements like the color scheme and pull quote placement, and explains how they are meant to appeal to a niche audience.

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

2. Front Cover
Masthead
Main Image
Barcode
AnchorText
Sell line
Pull Quote

3. Masthead
Large bold white (contrasts with the black background)
masthead - in san serif font. Simple and at the top of the
page - behind the artists image - eye catching creates
brand awareness. Existing media that use this:
NME
Kerrang
CLASH
Q magazine

4. Main Image
Long shot image - direct mode of address (creates personal
relationship with the audience) - mise-en-scene agrees with the
colour scheme (black white and navy)- chiaroscuro lighting
(unconventional as I wanted to create binary oppositions which
reflected my genre pop and hip-hop) - woman (unconventional but
my target audience is 16-24 years old - both genders and all
ethnicities), powerful facial expression. Existing media that use this:
CLASH Q magazine

5. House Style
Black, white and navy – goes against conventions as the usual house
style is white red and black - but I wanted to create an unconventional
yet still powerful house style to reach niche audiences - gender neutral
colours (conveys my target audience). Existing media that contrasts
with conventional house style:

6. AnchorText
Artists name – bold, eye-catching (stands out against the background) -
just the name fulfils social integrative needs (uses and gratification
theory) - overlaps the image. Existing media that use this:
Kerrang
Q magazine CLASH

7. Pull Quote
Pull quote – powerful statement (unconventional however I wanted
the pull quote to match the image) - creates narrative tension -
entices the readers - contrasts with the background. Existing media
that use this:
NME
Q magazine
Kerrang

8. Sell Line
I used the conventional sell line – introduces/informs the reader to
the magazine (uses and gratification theory) - stands out against the
background - unconventionally above the masthead as in Kerrang
(below) to appeal to a younger audience in contrast to Q magazine.
Unconventional sell line like mine:
Conventional sell line:

9. Contents PageMasthead
Images
Features
Rows and
columns
Extra features

10. Masthead
Q magazine:
NME:
Kerrang:
Large bold title, attracts the readers eye, colour agrees with the
colour scheme - lies at the top of the page – conventional. Lower
case title is unconventional is most magazines except Q magazine - I
used this to give a professional appearance.
Existing media that uses this:

11. Numbering
Kerrang:
NME:
Q
magazine:
Organises the contents for the reader - makes it
easier to find specific pages - numbers lay on the left
side of the text and it is organised into columns.
Informs the readers (uses and gratification theory)
Existing media that uses this:

12. Rows and Columns
Q magazine:
The contents has been sorted into columns and
rows -
simplistic layout - easier to read and locate
specific pages - bars are unconventionally bigger
as I wanted to use different coloured font
consisting with the colour scheme.
Existing media that uses this:

13. Images
Long shot that takes up half the page – conventional in
Kerrang –Chiaroscuro lighting is unconventional as I
wanted to create a dramatic image which agrees the
front cover. Close-up shots also are in chiaroscuro lighting
- close-up is conventional in NME contents pages.
Existing media that uses this:
Kerrang:
NME:
Q magazine:

14. Font and Features
Kerrang:
NME:
Q magazine:
Short description of the information in the magazine -
informing the reader (uses and gratification theory) - breaks
down the magazine, altercation in colours – sans serif font –
for eye-catching and separating needs. Unconventional
social media links - consists with my target audiences
preferences - competitions are also unconventional however
this is a good way to attract regular readers and to sell more
issues (my focus group thought this was a good idea)
Existing media that uses this:

15. Double Page
Spread
AnchorText
Columns of
text
Pull out quote
Main Image
Layout
Page
Numbers

16. Layout
Q magazine uses a similar layout:
I used the convention of having the
image take up a page on its own -
with the text being on the right.
The image is very powerful -
therefore I wanted it to be large
enough to be eye-catching.The
name of the artist is bold also -
therefore a lot attention is given to
the article just through the image
and title - attracting readers. I used
a large letter behind the text which
conforms with my colour scheme -
looks very eye-catching but faint
enough to read the text.

17. Image
Q
magazine:
Spin:
NME:
I used the convention of a monochrome medium close-
up of a female artist - the facial expression is very
powerful and the direct mode of address creates
personal relationships with the reader (uses and
gratification theory).
Existing media that uses this:

18. AnchorText andText
Kerrang:
NME:
Q magazine:
Sans serif font – conventional with target
audiences preferences, easier to read, large
bold anchor text of the artist’s name, lies at
the top of the page, conforms with colour
scheme.
Existing media that uses this:

19. Pull out quote and Page numbers
Q magazine:
NME:
Kerrang:
Large font – eye-catching to the reader –
informs them of the contents of the article
(uses and gratification theory) – conforms with
the colour scheme – lies outside the columns
of text – conventional
Existing media that uses this: