evaluation question 1

1. Question 1:
In what waysdoes your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
PUFF
MASTHEAD
SKYLINE
STRAPLINEFRONT
COVER
CONTENTS PAGE
DOUBLE
PAGE
SPREAD
MAIN
IMAGE
COVER
LINES

2. My media product; music magazine follows many common conventions of a real music magazine. Along with
research and inspiring real-life magazines I was able to recreate many features I wished to use within my
own magazine.
Throughout the process of annotating music magazine I learned how each feature can have an impact on the
audience and so I was very aware of how to layout certain features of the magazine. Firstly, this Q
magazine front cover is one of the magazines I analysed as part of my research task.
When comparing the two front covers it is clear I have challenged the use of text background to make the
coverlines more attractive and readable for the audience. This feature is very common on magazines as it
prevents the background or main image blocking the text. I did use different colours for these however;
this was in order to follow the house style of my magazine.
My contents page and double page spread are very different from the contents and dps of this Q magazine. I
used NME’s magazine to inspire me with these pages as I felt they were more attractive and I felt I could
recreate them much better.
This is the contents page I challenged to recreate – as you can see I used the form of columns and ‘the
moment that’ as a feature in my music magazine. I believe my contents page has reflected this one well
and so through the use of real forms of this media product I have been able to recreate it.

3. COMMONCONVENTIONS
Masthead is at
the top of the
page – this
masthead is
positioned in the
corner not in the
centre however.
Main article heading
positioned in front of main
image at the bottom of page.
Coverlines
displayed in a
coloured
background.
Skyline claiming to be the
biggest music magazine.
Similar skyline across the top
of page.
Masthead
following the
common code of
the positioning of
the masthead:
top of page.
Similar use of text
background to
ensure text is
read-able.
Main article in front over the
main image giving the front
cover a professional look.

4. Masthead tests the usual
conventional text of a contents
page heading; usually it would
read ‘contents’ yet this one reads
‘this week’.
Columns down right side of page.
Clear dividing of page giving
structure to page.
Screen grab of front cover image
as part of a competition.
Page numbers
acting as a
guide for the
audience to
what is inside
the magazine.
Two main
images on this
page – they are
of the same
type of concert
/ gig feel.
COMMONCONVENTIONS
Issue number
printed below
masthead.
Like the example the
columns are down the
right side of page
following the structure
of NME.
Masthead follows the
convention of the NME one
not a usual text heading –
however is at the top of page.
Issue number and date
included as it gives the
contents page its
individual look against
the other issues of the
same magazine.
Two main landscape
images inspired by the
example ones –
different vibes from the
images however.
Page numbers are
displayed before the
article text in a bright
attractive colour which
attracts the reader to
the article headings.
A type of contents page
covermount to entice reader
to buy magazine and enter
competition. Follows the
convention of including front
cover screen grab.

5. COMMONCONVENTIONS
Drop caps at the beginning of the
article shows the professionalism of the
author and looks appealing on the
page.
Pulled quote from the article.
I have followed the common code of using
a drop caps on the dps.
One main image like the example of NME. I
have photoshoped my image to be black
and white.
Image on one of the pages of the dps.
I have used a pulled quote to attract the
reader into an interesting fact of the
article.

6. One convention I have challenged to
use on my front cover is the use of
social media icons which have not
been featured on Q’s front cover of
Cheryl Cole. I included these icons
as social media is a massive
contributor to the lifestyles of my
audience and so I believe it is a
good way to address the target
audience.
CHALLENGED CONVENTIONS
I challenged a number of conventions when producing my dps. Firstly, I
included a twitter q+a column which allowed me to interact with my
target audience and was also a new and fun way to ask questions in
media text. This convention meets the new demands of media
audiences in today’s society whereby social networking is very popular.
Also, I included a small blurb introducing my article which many
magazines, such as NME, do not do. I believe this to be important to
help the reader understand what the article will include.