Evaluation for A2 Media Studies

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

2. FrontCover

3. Mast Head
Large, serif font. Positioned at the top of
the page to draw the audience's eyes to
the title of the magazine. It is clear and
stands out from the bright blue
background by using the black font. It
also does not interrupt the photo I have
used for the front cover. It is similar to
those of other local regional magazines:

4. Main Image
Long, establishing shot of a location
that is popular within the towns I have
based my magazine on. It follows
typical codes and conventions by
having a main object within the middle
of the page (harbour and boats,
possibly the wind break at the bottom
left).The natural lighting is also
conventional, it gives a sense of bright,
sunny days at the beach. It also makes
the image a sense of relaxation as the
beach is sunny but quiet.This will help
it appeal to an audience as it looks like
an ideal place to go if you want a
peaceful day.This relates to Barthes
connotations of reading into the
image. It will allow readers to put
themselves in the image and help
them to relax and find tranquil, by
reading into the image.

5. Sell line
I chose to have alliteration within my sell line (Sun, Sea and Smiles) so the audience
would be more likely to remember it rather than a plain simple one. It links in with
Uses and Gratification theory by informing my audience about what is included
within this issue. I used a similar colour to the background to 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 also used a different font to the mast
head so it followed the codes and conventions and to distinguish it from the mast
head.This then follows hegemonic norms, and therefore will conform to my target
audience's beliefs – this will make it more relatable to them.

6. HouseStyle
I used subtle 'pastel' colours throughout my
magazine to match the colours that are
within my background image.The colours
will appeal to all genders as the colours are
not gender specific - which is my aim to
appeal to everyone within my target
audience.

7. Contents Page

8. Fonts and
Features
Short and simple insights into the
articles within the magazine.
Allows a variety of needs to be
met. It also informs the reader of
what page every article is on (uses
and gratification theory). Font is
serif, which carries the style of the
magazine through (serif font is
used on the front page).The
contents could be considered as
unconventional due to the
alteration between the blue and
white boxes but it continues the
house colours of the magazine
throughout.This can also be linked
to the pink/peach colour I have
used as I have used it on the front
page too, selecting it from the red
part of the wind break in the front
cover image.

9. Images
I followed with the conventions of
using images to break up the text
on the page.The images conform
to the conventions by using a shot
that is a long shot of the beach,
and a close up of a boat by the
harbour. Both pictures have hints
of different hues of blue which
conforms to the front cover also.
They are pictures of key features
of Broadstairs and that people
would recognise.The pictures do
not have any people within them
and shows a level of peace within
them.This relates to Barthes as it
could be seen as a relaxing place to
go, if you were to read into the
images. It allows the reader to
have an insight into relaxation
which is what they would get, if
they were to visit the place I am
showing.

10. Rows and
Columns
The organisation of the columns
clearly shows where everything is
within this magazine. It is easy to
read and will lead to the fulfilment
of individual needs while informing
the audience (uses and
gratification theory).The
different colours separate each
section separately and allows the
audience to distinguish each
article from each other.The 'Out
and About' column features things
to do withinThanet that are
included within the magazine.
Although there are no page
numbers for each event, they are
still included within the article and
will still be easy to find.

11. Numbering
Although the numbers lay on the
right side of the page, it could be
seen as unconventional. I did this
so it did not clutter up with the
image alongside it, so it gave the
image and text a clean and sharp
edge to go along it. Despite this, it
allows easy navigation and fulfil
individual needs while informing
the audience of the information
they need (uses and gratification
theory).

12. Feature Page

13. Image
The main image I have used is shot
in a conventional style, a wide
shot, which enables the audience
to have a sense of location.The
image continues onto both pages
and keeps a continuity in both
pages. I did decide to make the
blue within the photos more
vibrant and more eye-catching to
the audience. It allows the image
to have a preferred reading
(Stuart Hall). It follows the house
style of the magazine by an article
about the previous summer and
including shades of blue.

14. Layout
My layout could be considered as
unconventional in the sense that it
does not have multiple columns of
text and more images, including
within the text. I think it will still
appeal to my target audience as it
is still eye-catching by the use of
the bright blue, vibrant boat.

15. Text
Serif font to continue the house
style of the magazine and to
appeal to the reader (subtle,
delicate and sophisticated).The
sheer box allows the text to
contrast from the background
despite having different colours
and textures underneath it.The
title is in an unconventional
staggered layout, but I did this to
fill up the space that is at the top
of the image.

16. Website

17. Layout
I conformed to the typical
conventions by having the masthead
at the top of the page. It could be
seen as unconventional as it is at the
left hand side and not in the middle,
but I think it looks sophisticated
where it is.The tab section is also
next to it which makes it easy for the
audience to seek specific details
about each town (cognitive needs,
Uses and Gratification theory). I
have followed the conventions by
having a smaller subscribe box which
also has an offer with it too, which
will appeal to people as they are
saving money. I have the same
feature image as the image seen at
the top of the page, and this would
change monthly to match the feature
page.

18. Image
I have the same image as the
image as my feature page and I did
this to follow with the theme of
the magazine which is 'Summer
2017'. Monthly, my website would
have the same image as my
feature page would to match each
theme.The image is
conventionally in the middle of the
page but is also accompanied by
photos of attractions underneath
it.They will scroll through in a
slideshow, with a description, and I
did this as I thought it gave the
magazine website a sophisticated
and minimalistic look.

19. Billboard

20. Layout
Despite there not being many
billboards available to look at, I
decided to look at other types of
magazines that had billboards.
They featured a masthead, image,
social media handles, and a
website. I included all of this when
designing my billboard, so this
could appeal to as many people
within my target audience.

21. Image
My image that I chose for my
billboard is conventional as it
followed the theme of my
magazine which was the beach
and summer. I had to make the
colours more vibrant to enable the
text to contrast against it.The
image is also conventional in the
sense that it covers the whole of
the billboard and the information
is visible.