A-Level Media Studies Evaluation for Print - Question 1

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

3. Mast Head
Large, serif font. Positionedat the top of
the page to draw the audience'seyes to
the title of the magazine.It is clear and
stands out from the bright blue
backgroundby using the blackfont. It
also does not interrupt the photo I have
used for the front cover. It is similarto
those of other localregionalmagazines:

4. Main Image
Long, establishingshotof a location
that is popular within the towns I have
based my magazineon. It follows
typicalcodesand conventionsby
havinga main object within the middle
of the page (harbour and boats,
possiblythe wind break at the bottom
left).The natural lightingisalso
conventional,it gives a sense of bright,
sunny daysat the beach. It alsomakes
the image a sense of relaxation as the
beach is sunny but quiet. This willhelp
it appealto an audience as it lookslike
an ideal placeto go if you want a
peacefulday.This relates to Barthes
connotationsof readinginto the
image.

5. Sell line
I choseto have alliterationwithinmy sellline (Sun, Sea and Smiles)so the audience
would be more likelyto remember it rather than a plainsimpleone. It linksinwith
Uses and Gratification theory by informingmy audienceabout what is included
within this issue. I used a similar colourto the backgroundto keep the theme of the
beach. It also does not interrupt the flow of the dark colours of the harbour and the
mast head, so it gives it a more relaxed feel. I alsoused a differentfont to the mast
head so it followedthe codes and conventions and to distinguishit from the mast
head.This then follows hegemonic norms, and therefore will conformto my target
audience'sbeliefs – this willmake it more relatable to them.

6. HouseStyle
I used subtle 'pastel'colours throughout my
magazineto match the colours that are
within my backgroundimage.The colours
willappeal to allgenders as the colours are
not gender specific -which is my aim to
appealto everyone within my target
audience.

7. Contents Page

8. Fonts and
Features
Short and simpleinsightsinto the
articleswithin the magazine.
Allows a variety of needs to be
met. It also informsthe reader of
what page every article is on (uses
and gratification theory). Font is
serif, which carriesthe style of the
magazinethrough (seriffont is
used on the front page).The
contents could be consideredas
unconventionaldue to the
alteration between the blue and
white boxes but it continuesthe
house coloursof the magazine
throughout. This can also be linked
to the pink/peach colourI have
used as I have used it on the front
page too, selectingit from the red
part of the wind break in the front
cover image.

9. Images
I followedwith the conventionsof
using imagesto break up the text
on the page.The imagesconform
to the conventionsby using a shot
that is a longshot of the beach,
and a closeup of a boat by the
harbour. Both pictures have hints
of different hues of blue which
conformsto the front cover also.
They are pictures of key features
of Broadstairs and that people
would recognise.The pictures do
not have any people withinthem
and shows a level of peace within
them. This relates to Barthes as it
could be seen as a relaxingplaceto
go, if youwere to read into the
images.

10. Rows and
Columns
The organisation ofthe columns
clearlyshows where everything is
within this magazine.It is easy to
read and willlead to the fulfilment
of individualneeds while informing
the audience (uses and
gratification theory). The
differentcolours separate each
sectionseparatelyand allowsthe
audience to distinguisheach
articlefrom each other.The 'Out
andAbout' column features things
to do withinThanet that are
includedwithin the magazine.
Although there are no page
numbers for each event, they are
stillincludedwithin the article and
willstill be easy to find.

11. Numbering
Although the numbers layon the
right side of the page, it could be
seen as unconventional.I did this
so it did not clutter up with the
image alongsideit, so it gave the
image and text a cleanand sharp
edge to go alongit. Despite this, it
allowseasy navigationand fulfil
individualneeds whileinforming
the audience of the information
they need (uses and gratification
theory).

12. Feature Page

13. Image
The main imageI have used is shot
in a conventionalstyle,a wide
shot, whichenables the audience
to have a sense of location.The
image continuesonto both pages
and keeps a continuityin both
pages. I did decideto make the
blue withinthe photos more
vibrant and more eye-catchingto
the audience. It allowsthe image
to have a preferred reading
(Stuart Hall). It followsthe house
style of the magazineby an article
about the previous summer and
includingshadesof blue.

14. Layout
My layout could be consideredas
unconventionalinthe sense that it
does not have multiple columnsof
text and more images, including
within the text. I think it willstill
appealto my target audience as it
is stilleye-catchingby the use of
the bright blue, vibrant boat.

15. Text
Serif font to continue the house
style of the magazineand to
appealto the reader (subtle,
delicateand sophisticated).The
sheer box allowsthe text to
contrast from the background
despite havingdifferent colours
and textures underneath it. The
title is in an unconventional
staggered layout, but I did this to
fillup the spacethat is at the top
of the image.

16. Website

17. Layout
I conformedto the typical
conventionsby havingthe masthead
at the top of the page. It could be
seen as unconventionalas it is at the
left hand side and not in the middle,
but I think it lookssophisticated
where it is.The tab sectionis also
next to it which makes it easy for the
audience to seek specificdetails
about each town (cognitive needs,
Uses and Gratification theory). I
have followedthe conventionsby
havinga smallersubscribe box which
also has an offer with it too, which
willappeal to peopleas they are
savingmoney. I have the same
feature image as the image seen at
the top of the page, and this would
changemonthly to match the feature
page.

18. Image
I have the same image as the
image as my feature page and I did
this to followwith the theme of
the magazinewhichis 'Summer
2017'. Monthly,my website would
have the same imageas my
feature page would to match each
theme. The imageis
conventionallyinthe middle of the
page but is also accompaniedby
photos of attractions underneath
it.They willscrollthrough in a
slideshow,with a description,and I
did this as I thought it gave the
magazinewebsite a sophisticated
and minimalisticlook.

19. Billboard

20. Layout
Despite there not beingmany
billboardsavailableto look at, I
decidedto look at other types of
magazinesthat had billboards.
They featured a masthead, image,
socialmediahandles, and a
website. I includedall of this when
designingmybillboard,so this
could appealto as manypeople
within my target audience.

21. Image
My image that I chose for my
billboardisconventionalas it
followedthe theme of my
magazinewhichwas the beach
and summer. I had to make the
colours more vibrant to enable the
text to contrast against it.The
image is alsoconventionalin the
sense that it covers the whole of
the billboardand the information
is visible.