4. 1
IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR
MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?
5. Masthead
Pugs
Main Cover Line
Date Line
and Price
Additional
Cover lines
Main Cover
Image with
Direct Address
Barcode
I used a number of conventions through
out my magazine cover. I understood what
these conventions where and how to use
them through tasks such as :
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09
/q-magazine-cover-analysis.html .
I also looked further into some of the
conventions in order to better under stand
how to use it affectively in my final
product.
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01
/mastheads.html
I also attempted to structure my
magazine around the left third so this
was were I included my
masthead, pug, beginning of the main
cover line and some of the additional
cover lines
6. My magazine subscribes to typical conventions of a magazine
cover as it includes a masthead, main cover line, additional cover
lines, as well as a date line, price and a barcode.
My biggest influence for my magazine was Q magazine but in the
end product one key difference was the style of photo used. Q
traditional used close ups of the artist featured on the cover but I
ended up using a wide shoot of my featured artist.
Another challenge to convention was the colour scheme for the
cover of my magazine which are typically very bright eye changing
colours but I went to other way in order to stand out by not being a
bright colour and so hope full noticeable in the sea of colour on a
shops shelf.
Another aspect of my magazine that is different is the style of
mast head as I have a continues banner at the top of the page
that incorporates my masthead instead of a masthead and a
banner along the bottom of the cover. Such as the one on the
Magazine in my conventions
analysis, http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/ 2013/09/q-magazine-cover-
analysis.html
7. For my contents page I did some research in to similar
products, http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/contents-page-
comparisons.html , I liked the style of the Vibe magazine but I also felt like it was not
suitable for by style of magazine as it would be closer to that of Q. Q use a list style
contents with a selection of images included with in it. This then lead to the style of
contents I have now with the text switching from side to side and images filling the
space opposite the text. This also allows for me space with which to place the
information for contacting the magazine.
I continued to use the same font style for the contents as used in the Masthead to
continue the running theme through out the magazine. This was also the reason for the
title of the section being This Months PLAY LIST as this goes with name of the magazine
and the masthead. Other uses of this can be found in the details on the contents page.
I included another image of the cover star in order to illustrate the area of the contents
page his article could be found.
8. I looked further into double page spreads in order to find a style which I thought may
suit my style of magazine.
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/double-page-comparison.html
I feel that the layout that included a large image of the artist on the one page and the
article on the other such as in Q and Rolling Stone magazine. I did alter this slightly
though as through my questionnaire, http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/research-
and-analysis-of-target-market.html, I discovered that those in my demographic wished to see
tour dates in the magazine and so a had an image that cover half of one page and
filled the rest of that page with tour dates. I also included the feature artists
logo, http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/east-of-west.html, as the
background for the article, similar to the one a used in a practice double page spread I
created, http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/pageplus.html.
9. 2
HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT REPRESENT
PARTICULAR SOCIAL
GROUPS?
10. My magazine will most likely represent of an age range of
between 16 and 25, similar to the age of the featured artist
In terms of race, class and gender there is no real distinction
of a particular representation.
There is a stereotypical representation of gender on the
magazine as the cover is dominated by a male feature artist.
REPRESENTATION
11. 3
WHAT KIND OF MEDIA
INSTITUTION MIGHT
DISTRIBUTE YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT AND WHY?
12. A media institution that may produce my magazine may be
Future plc.
Future plc already publishes music magazines such as
FutureMusic, Guitar Techniques, Guitarist, musicradar, Rhythm
and Total Guitar.
http://www.futureplc.com/
14. The audience for my magazine would similar to the audience of Q magazine and
potential some of the reader and audience of NME magazine. This audience is a
mixture of both genders as well as a variety of races and classes. The age of the
audience is typically from the older teenagers around age 16 and up and up to around
the mid twenties usually up until around 25. This was also similar to the age of people
that I used as a focus group.
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/research-and-analysis-of-target-
market.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/research-and-analysis-of-target-
market.html
16. I attempted to attract an audience by not going with the
typical brightly coloured covers but instead when for black
and white to create a contrasts with the other magazines on
the shelf.
I also used a different font for the featured artist in order to
attract an audience.
The attitude of the cover artist will also attract my targeted
audience as they may see him as a recognisable figure as well
as having similar passions and attitude towards life.
The cover image may also attract my audience due to the
cover start wearing very recognisable clothing that fits a
certain style which may be a similar style to that of my target
audience.
17. 6
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT
ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES
FROM THE PROCESS OF
CONSTRUCTING THE
PRODUCT?
18. Through the process of creating my final products I have used a variety of programmes
that can be used in the production of magazines such as PagePlus, Paint.net and
Microsoft Publisher. In order to use these programmes I need to learn how to effectively
use them, this has included how to uses layers, the ability to manipulate images and
also how to use it to construct the magazine itself.
Publisher: http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/m-2.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/sound.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pitch.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/possible-front-cover-
layout-drafting.html
Paint.net: http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/reznor-rocks-nme.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/paintnet-practise.html
PagePlus: http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/pageplus.html
19. I have also learn how to take a higher quality photograph in order to have a better
quality of images that can then be used with in my final product.
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/drafting-photography_2894.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/drafting-photography_8927.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/drafting-photography_25.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/drafting-photography.html
I also had to have a better understanding of how typography should be used in
magazines and then also decide which is the most suitable fonts to be used with in my
final product.
http://issuu.com/pint.size/docs/type_rules/1?e=5736675/6401086
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/potential-band-names-research-
and.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/mastheads.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/mastheads.html
http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/potential-mastheads.html
20. Through out this process I have presented all of my work using Blogger
and my blog - http://kylethorntonasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/. I feel that
blogger is a very simple and effective method of displaying work as it
allows for me to track my progress and see what I should focus on next. To
add the work to blogger was all so an easy process as it allows for you to
quickly and simply upload images, web links and either write or paste in
text meaning that you could plan posts out first on word and then copy it
to the post, it also allows for the posts to be easily be edited.
21. Publisher Paint.net PagePlus
A familiar software that I
was already comfortable
with
The ability edit images in a
variety of ways
Specifically designed for
the creation of similar
publications
The ability to easily create
font as well as edit style,
size and colour.
The feature to add different
filters to an image to
change the colour or style
of the image
The ability to export the
projects as variety of file
types.
The ability to save
documents as JPEGs and
PNGs
Basic tools and effect make
it easy to pick up.
STRENGTHS OF PROGRAMMES USED
22. Publisher Paint.net PagePlus
Publisher has a very limited
number of tools that can
not be added to
All features have to be
downloaded separately
The image editing can be
very complicated.
Very difficult to freely
structure the project due to
certain restrictions.
Can be difficult to edit text
once deselected.
WEAKNESS OF PROGRAMMES USED
23. 7
LOOKING BACK TO YOUR
PRELIMINARY TASK, WHAT
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU
HAVE LEARNT IN THE
PROGRESSION FROM IT TO
THE FULL PRODUCT?
24. My preliminary task saw me attempt to create a cover and contents page for a school
magazine. My preliminary cover is very blank and nothing on it links with anything else
on the cover. It also does not include some key conventions.
Preliminary Final Product
25. Preliminary Final Product
My Preliminary tasks contents page looks more like a menu than a contents page, it
has no real structure and no images or other information, that show that it is a
magazine. Also the pages are very bunched and stop at a very low number.
26. 8
HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU
FEEL YOUR END PRODUCT IS
IN FULFILLING THE TASK?
HOW WELL DOES IT FIT THE
BRIEF?
27. I feel that I have been fairly successful in completing the
project laid out in the brief, I have successfully created a front
cover for a music magazine that features an original artist as
well as taking original photography that feature on my cover. I
have also created a feature article with in the magazine on
the double page spread I have also created. I also used
research in to other magazines of a similar style as well as
with my target audience to create a contents page that is
consistent with other magazines and also factors that were
wanted by my target market.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
