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

2. The first of the main conventions I have used in my media product would be the masthead. To
start with I challenged this convention slightly as I placed the masthead at the bottom of my music
magazine but later it became clear that this would not make a successful adaption as the
masthead would not be seen when on sale. I slightly covered the masthead a little which gave the
impression that I am confident with my brand and know that readers will still recognize it. I also
used an odd font, “Stroke Dimension” to create a clear house style along with the brand identity
as I used this same font through out my media product.

3. I also have a central image on the front cover of my media product. The mise-en-scene of this
image follows the conventions of magazines. In my photo shoot I tried a mixture of poses and pick
the one that fitted the front cover the best and which reflect my chosen genre the best. As the
model is looking down, this could be seen as moody which is stereo-typical although as fact he is
not looking at the camera makes him appear laid back. I tried to add a few connotations with this
image but I wanted to keep at a lot out the guitar so the mode of address it not directed to the
reader. I also have a large image on the double page spread, this fits well with the contentions of
real magazine on sale as this is commonly seen along with the article of the opposite page. I also
put a small version of the masthead in the bottom corner of the page.

4. Another contention I used in my magazine product would be the puff I placed on my magazine
front cover, “Win a MAC”. This added an extra into the magazine and would entice a potential
reader. It also fitted well as almost ever magazine will at least have a freebee or a puff, if not both.
I tried to pick cover lines which were appropriate to the genre of the magazine and popular as well
as being high in the media at the moment in time to attract readers attention over other
magazines on sale.

5. I stuck to the colours blue, purple and orange, as well as the masthead font, throughout my
magazine; this kept the house style and made a clear brand identity for my magazine. I felt these
colours challenged the codes and conventions slightly as they were not the normal music
magazine style colours, red and black. Making my magazine just slightly unique made my magazine
memorable although I felt I still fitted with most of the codes and conventions of magazines on
sale today.

6. I felt that the costume I picked in my photo-shoot fitted well with my genre as well as being
conventional. Jeans and a shirt are something seen in many music magazines as this could appear
stereo-typical to bands. A cap also adds to this as they are commonly found in music magazines
and are popular with my target audience. Even the model I used was conventional. The long hair is
popular with anyone in music or anyone at all. Using a teenager himself would appeal to the target
audience as they can relate to him which it something magazines on sale use to attract their
audience. Magazine also use good looking people and I feel that my magazine contained this
convention as well.

7. The general layout of each page I created was conventional. I looked at real magazines before I
created my own to research the layout. The placing of many of my features for fill the code and
conventions of music magazines as well as being the most practical for this type of magazine.
Although there are odd features which are slightly unconventional such as “T-Shirts sold here!” on
my double page spread.