1. By Annie
Davies
Q1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES
YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS
AND CONVENTIONS OF
REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
2. USING CONVENTIONS - COVER
Masthead: Normally at top centre
or top left hand side of page.
Largest piece of text usually,
although headline may be bigger.
Cover image: Normally fills the majority of the cover. Subject
makes eye contact with camera and normally top half of body
– head shown.
Headline: One of the largest lines of text on the
page – this is used to draw the reader in and
make them buy the magazine.
Cover lines: Used to draw the reader in and make
them buy the magazine. A rock magazine typically
has a lot to make the cover look busy.
3. USING CONVENTIONS - COVER
Dateline and Barcode: This is
conventionally really small
and placed in the corners of
the page, such as under the
masthead.
Quote: Used to draw the reader in
as it shows authenticity of
magazine and therefore persuades
the purchase of the magazine.
Insert image and Splash:
Adds colour and dynamic to
the cover.
Subheading: Adds more information
about the cover article, often talks
informally at the reader.
4. USING CONVENTIONS - CONTENTS
Photos – either lots or one main image, tell us the
genre
Contrasting colours –
writing on photos
Editor’s letter and photoSubscription details
Quotes
5. USING CONVENTIONS – CONTENTS
The Issue number,
name of
photographers, date,
brands worn on cover
and copy of cover are
usually small and kept
to a corner of the
contents page.
Title – ‘contents’ normally covers majority of top of page.
The bottom of the page has chronological information about each of the pages. This is
where the detail that makes the customer buy the magazine comes in. I have included
columns so that the contents page looks busy, in keeping with my theme. I have been
careful not to miss any page numbers so that the page makes sense and looks as
realistic as possible. I have also highlighted important information, such as band names,
so that the customer can quickly see if the product I what they want to buy.
6. USING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE
Background – normally either black or white
Graphic – create interest, give atmosphere
to page
7. USING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE
Pull quote – quote pulled out of the
article to draw reader in, used to break
up columns, create interest.
Colour of text – Black, contrasting to
background
Text – paragraphs. Aligned left, and not
hyphenated
Drop Cap – First letter of the first word,
which is larger (maybe 8 lines long) and
indents the rest of text.
Subheading – may be in one sentence with
headline (Searching for the ghost of [Kurt
Cobain])
Headline – includes name of band / artist
(Kurt Cobain)
Columns – break up text usually two –
four. Columns at angles create interest.
Questions and Answers – normally
different colours / boldness / italics
about angles.
Margins – Text has a margin, images
don’t have too.
Lead in bigger font
Footer – links to social media, expanded
content, web link. Page number.
Text cannot go through, images can but
not faces etc.
8. USING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE
Index tab – placed at top right hand side of
page, to allow easy flicking through.
Byline – who the article is written by, who
took the photos, credits. Placed on left hand
side page in margin.
Gutter – middle of the double page, the fold.
Images – multiple has connotations with a
scrapbook, single is usually used for an
artist instead of a band. Single does not
mean clean cut, think
10. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS – COVER
Cover image: I think my cover image goes with the conventions
as it fills the majority of the cover and Gabby has maintained
eye contact with the camera, which draws the reader towards
the magazine on a shop shelf. I have kept editing the photo to
a minimum as I found, by flicking through Kerrang! Magazine,
that they rarely airbrush skin tones. The top half of Gabby’s
body is shown, also keeping in line with conventions.
Masthead: I based my masthead on NME’s as it has a simple,
yet eye catching format. The font is in keeping with the genre
of music, and the colour relates to my target audience. It is a
similar size and shape to the NME masthead, and therefore
follows convention.
11. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - COVER
Dateline and Barcode: This is
conventionally really small and
placed in the corners of the page,
such as under the masthead. My
barcode and dateline therefore
follow convention.
Quote: My quote stands out as although the pink and
green contrast, it is in keeping with colour scheme of
the page, as well as clear and easy to read.
Insert image and Splash: Although I did not include an insert
image, I included two splashes. These create a 2D feel to the
page, but also help certain cover lines, or quotes, stand out.
This is because they overlap other images and text, therefore
keeping in line with conventions.
12. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - COVER
Strapline: These appear at the top and
bottom of the page – following
conventions. The footer goes across
the whole page, which is very
common.
Headline: This follows convention as it is one of
the largest pieces of wording on the page. It is
the name of an artist, which is also not
uncommon, and follows the colour scheme. The
font is also clear to read.
Subheading: It is
underneath the
headline, therefore
following
conventions.
13. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS – COVER
Cover lines: I think my cover lines are quite
conventional as they fill in the gaps left by the
image, and are to the edge of the page. They are
bright and contrasting, which draws the reader
in, and are of a topic that would interest a
potential buyer of the magazine. A rock
magazine typically has a lot to make the cover
look busy, and I think the colour scheme helps
with this. I have taken inspiration from NME’s
cover by highlighting words.
14. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - CONTENTS
I have taken
inspiration
from Rock
Sound
magazine
with my layout
as it is bright,
colourful and
busy looking. I
liked the idea
of putting the
page number
over the
image, along
with the name
of the band /
artist
pictured.
17. CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - COVER
I do not think that I have challenged any
conventions with my magazine cover as I
have tried to follow inspiration I took from
Kerrang! And NME very closely. This was to
ensure sales of my magazine – I did not
see any point in challenging conventions
when the ideas already work well for so
many popular and well-known magazines.
18. CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - CONTENTS
I do not think I have challenged conventions of a
contents page hugely, although I have not
included some of the usual aspects. This includes
the name of magazine, or website.
I have also not included an advert or a mixture of
cut out photos and non-cut out photos in the
conventional way. This is because the yellow star
in the middle of the page could be described as an
advertisement for the magazine subscription,
although it is not an advert for an external
company. The majority of the photos are in a very
regimental format, although the photo of the
editor is at a slant, therefore could be described as
cut out from the layout of the page.
