How does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

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

2. Conventions of a front cover
• A convention of a pop magazine is a main image which does not cover the masthead this is
done because pop magazines are usually aimed at early teenagers and magazine producers
want to make sure it is clear simple and easy for their target audience to read. Therefore I
have not covered the masthead with my main image.
• The main image in a pop magazine is usually a medium long shot so that we are able to see
what the celebrity is wearing and therefore in my magazine I also decided to use a medium
long shot. Also through my research I noticed that a lot of pop magazines have their main
image towards the right of the magazine and so I also made sure my main image was towards
the right of the cover.
• Another convention of a magazine cover is the rule of three I have made sure that my
magazine also fits to the this convention by keeping my magazine in a rule of three as I feel
this makes the magazine look more clear and makes the layout more simple.
• The masthead of all we love pop magazines are on the left and I have also fit to this
convention by keeping my masthead pop girl towards the left of the magazine.
• Most main image used in a pop magazine are usually seemed as though they are natural
images they are photographs which are made out to look less treated and edited even though
they usually are edited quite a lot readers wouldn’t notice this. Therefore I have edited my
image to look as though it is a natural photograph by using less filters and lower brightness.
• Most main images are cut out in pop magazine covers so I also decided to cut out Lucy to fit
to the conventions but also because I wanted to use a baby pink colour for the background
for my cover.
• I have also gone against the conventions of a pop magazine by having the strapline on my
magazine at the top if the magazine whereas most magazines would have it at the bottom of
the magazine. I decided to do this because if it is at the top of the magazine people are more
likely to read and it ‘s more likely to catch their attention because it’s at the top.
• I have also kept all my cover lines to the left of my magazine instead of having them on both
like most magazines would. I decided to go against this convention because I wanted my
magazine to have a simple and neat look so that it would be clear and easy to read for my
target audience because during my research I found out that my target audience prefer a
simple and clear look.
My magazine cover
An existing cover

3. Conventions of a contents page
• Most pop magazines have an introduction on their contents page so that the reader
feels more included, comfortable and it is like a warm welcome into the magazine for
the reader. It also helps them get to know a little more about the magazine. Therefore I
have also added a introduction so that the reader gets to know the magazine better.
• All magazines have a list of their cover lines within their contents pages therefore I
have also included a list of the cover lines telling the reader exactly what is featured in
the magazine.
• Most magazines also include page numbers next to the cover lines so readers know
exactly what is featured on which page of the magazine also the page numbers help
readers find a certain page they are looking for.
• Another convention of a contents page are images of people/artists featuring in the
magazine so I have included images of the people I have featured in my magazine so
that people become familiar with them but also so that they know who is in the
magazine.
• Most magazine contents pages will have a main cover line which would usually be the
most special and exclusive article featuring in their magazine, this is usually different,
bolder and stands out more than the rest of the articles. I have also kept my main
article separate in a different font and colour so that it stands out more and people
know that is the main article in my magazine.
• Most magazines have quotes from articles featuring within their magazines however I
have not done this on my contents page because I wanted my contents to be simple
and easy to read for my audience and adding too much writing on my contents may
put them off reading the magazine as teenagers don’t like reading much.
• Most magazines would also have more images on their contents however I decided not
to include too many images in my contents and only have 2 images because I didn’t
want my magazine to have a messy and unclear look I wanted it to stay simple and
clear instead.

4. Conventions of a double page spread• A convention of a double page spread is having the artist/celebrity featuring in
the articles name in big bold writing at the top and so I have also kept my
artists name at the top of the article so that readers know who this article is
about.
• There is also usually an introduction on most double page spread article so
readers know more about the article and the setting of the interview I have
also kept an introduction at the start of my article so that readers feel more
included and know more about the interview.
• A lot of double page spread articles have interviews which are in a question and
answer form therefore for my interview I also decided to use a question and
answer form because I felt that this would be the most appropriate for my
teenage audience as they would find this form much more easier and clearer to
understand.
• Most magazines will have their articles in a columned form therefore I have
also kept my article in this form as its much clearer.
• Most double page spreads would also have a image of the artist the article is
about which would cover one whole side of the article I have also done the
same because i want people to know who the article is about and exactly what
they look like.
• Another convention of a double page spread interview is having a quote which
has been pulled out from the article and shown in bolder writing compared to
the rest of the writing, I have also used quotes which have been pulled out of
my article this is so that people know what has been said in the article before
reading it I think teenagers would like this as they don’t like reading much and
so this is a good way for them to know what has been said in the article
without having to read it.
• However I have gone against the conventions by having more than one pull
quote but I think this is a good idea as it gives across more to the reader
without having to read the whole article.
• Most magazines would not have their pull quotes on their main image on the
article however I decided to try this out as I thought it will make my magazine
standout and look different t o others.

5. Overall throughout my magazine I think I have
managed to stick to the main codes and
conventions of a magazine with the genre of pop
however I have at the same time challenged and
changed a few elements of conventions of
magazines just so that my magazine is slightly
different to most magazines but also so that it is
appropriate and matches to my target audience of
teenagers correctly. These changes are appropriate
because kept my research in mind at the same time.