1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?
Magazine Double page spread.
By Sam Clark

2. We have also included the Nearly half the page is
programme information to taken up by the
Again, the rest of the add to the realistic effect. dominating
page is filled with the image, which relates
main article, included strongly to our
sections of the interview topic, this is done to
from the documentary. create a huge visual
The article begins with impact. This also also
the first letter of a backed up by
different colour and surrounding image to
larger font, this is to add to the effect.
indent the first paragraph
and allow the reader to
know where it starts.
The main
reason for the
use of a lot of
images is not
The interview and only to create a
article are created in visual
a simple column impact, but
format to allow the also to provide
readers to navigate an insight as to
the page what the
easily, rather than documentary
causing confusion, we will
believe this is an involve, this is
important element used on real
for a successful life TV listing
We believe that we have created a double page spread that symbolises one magazine.
magazine. from real TV listing magazines. We have done this by including real features
as used in official magazine, for example, pull quotes, dominating
images, straplines, programme information etc.

3. Programme information
located in the top
Smaller, surrounding images used, not
corner of the page, not
only to provide a visual impact but to give
taking up to much room
the readers an insight into the programme
Main image dominates but providing vital
itself. We used this technique in our
half of the double paged information.
magazine double page spread.
spread, as does our
magazine. I feel this
puts across a good first
As done in our
impression for the
magazine double
reader and this was the
page spread, the
reason for our group
main article takes up
implementing this
the other half of the
technique into our
page, this allows the
double page spread.
reader to have
enough information
to read, without
giving away to much
information about the
programme.
Another similar technique
used in this magazine which
After looking and analysing this real life double we used, was using a larger
page spread, I feel that we used a lot of the font and text for the first letter
techniques in order to enhance our magazine. of the article in order to alert
This allowed us to really emulated a real life TV the readers as to where the
listings magazine. actual article begins.

4. In what ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Radio Trailer

5. Purpose of a radio trailer
• The main purpose of a radio trailer is to provide an insight to the listener
of what a future programme will be about and give key information about
this, in our case, a documentary. It gives the listener information such as,
the channel the documentary/programme will be shown and what times.
It also uses cuts form the actual documentary itself, for example important
quotes which will attract the listener to watch the documentary, yet
without giving away to much information. The average radio trailer will
last around 40-45 seconds, this is a sufficient amount of time to include all
the elements you wish, and enough time before the listener gets bored.
Examples of radio stations where these trailers may get shown are ; Radio
1, Capital, Smooth radio etc.

6. Our Radio Trailer
• One of the key elements included in our radio trailer was the backing
track. This is a key element as it sets the tone for the trailer, after trying
out several sounds, we found the right one, this was created through
garageband, and allowed us to have a soft, mellow backing track for the
voice over to run along side. After reviewing other real life radio
trailers, we found that the sound levels are very low, this is to enable the
voice over to be heard clearly and not overpower it. It is vital that the right
selection of music is made, as it would be un-realistic to have loud
rockmusic as a backing track over a trailer that is based around fitness and
health.

7. Our Radio Trailer
• Another key element of our radio trailer was to have a consistent
voiceover which matched the one off the actual documentary. This is to
give the professional and realistic approach. Also, having a consistent
voice over allows the information to be passed along correctly without any
mistakes. This is why we recorded each of the narration section at
separate stages. This allowed us to limit the amount of mistakes
made, and the narrator running out of breath. To record the narration we
simply used a camera, microphone and an apple mac to transfer the file
onto garage band.

8. Our Radio Trailer
• A third key element which was used in our radio trailer, was audio clips
taken from the documentary. We did this to give the listeners an insight
into the documentary itself and what might be involved. We also feel that
the clips we used did not give away to much, yet gave the right
information and still made it enjoyable for the listeners. We mainly used
short clips from the vox pops and also some of the interviews with the
personal trainers. This is a common technique used amongst nearly all
radio trailers we have researched into. Once again, the software used to
create this, was garageband, as it is a simple and easy to use tool to create
an effective radio trailer.

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

10. Our Documentary
• Before starting our documentary, as a group we decided that we really
wanted to emulate the real life product and make it as realistic as possible.
We sat down in a group and discussed this whilst be recorded by a camera
(for evaluation purposes). During the discussion we spoke about things
such as what the documentary shall be about, and how we can use real
codes and conventions to make it as good as possible. Some of the codes
and conventions we used was interviews for example, and shots of where
the interviews where taken. This allowed the documentary to be as
professional as possible. Whilst conducting research, I decided to watch
real life existing fitness documentaries to give us an idea of what to
include in our documentary, this helped us in gaining an idea of how to
obtain a professional approach.

11. Our Documentary-Use of text
• After conducting research on real life documentary’s we gathered that it is
a key convention to use text throughout. We used this mainly when we
used the clips of the interviews, this adds to the realism of the
documentary whilst keeping that professional approach. Below is an
example of text used in a real life documentary. In our documentary we
used this to introduce our two interviewees. This allows the viewer to
know who the person is, and what there profession is, in our case, two
gym instructors.

12. Our Documentary- Camera shots used
• Throughout the documentary, we used many different varieties of shots to
keep the documentary professional and also interesting for the viewers,
below are a list of the different shots used:
Mid Shot
Panning Shot
Zoom
Blur Shot
Still Shots
Establishing Shots
We feel as though using shots such as the establishing shot for example, gives
the viewer information as to where the documentary is being filmed and also
gives them a break from all of the information and dialogue given.

13. Our Documentary-Images used
• After researching into the real life documentaries, as a group we though it
would be essential to include a variety of different images, not only does it
give the viewer a break from constant filming and dialogue but it gives
them a different look upon the documentary topic. Also, as the saying
goes, a picture says 1000 words, therefore using an image of an obese
person eating a McDonalds for example, the message could be put across
to the viewer faster and a lot clearer. Below are examples of images used
within real life documentaries. To obtain images for the documentary, we
simply used a still shot by using a camera and also a tripod.
Here is an example from the supersize me
documentary, displaying a map and figures
about obesity trends, this picture shall put
across a clear message to the viewer.