Media Studies A level, Foundation Portfolio 3035

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE,
DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
QUESTION 1:

2. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
MASTHEAD
Front Cover
The masthead is black text in a font that is
very rustic looking. The masthead is
positioned across the top third of the
magazine which helps the target audience
read it and recognise the brand first. The
conventional rustic type text used for the
masthead creates a house style and
therefore creates a brand identity giving the
target audience a known factor of the
different magazines to give a distinct look to
each magazine.
The masthead is in front of the main image.
This is different to the conventions of which a
magazine normally has, in the sense that the
masthead is normally covered slightly by the
image. Q magazine has put the masthead
over the main image. This is challenging the
conventions of a normal magazine and so in
which I decided to follow to give an original
and uncommon look.
Own Product
Q Magazine
Kerrang! Magazine
RockSound Magazine

3. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
MAIN IMAGE
Front Cover
The main image is a medium close up of the featured artist’s head and
shoulders. This fits with most of the conventions of the magazines in which I
have analysed. Q magazine normally has a medium close up. of the featured
artist and this is a generic convention of their brand identity in which is
showcased throughout their whole brand.
The close up creates a sense of direct mode of address with the artist and
the reader which will entice the reader to pick up the magazine. It will also
create a type of intimacy with reader and can imply that their interview will
offer exclusive information and create an exclusive feel for the fans and
audience.
The main image for my product is very striking and a strong image through
the direct mode of address in which the artist is making by staring straight
into the camera lens. The slight downwards tilt of the featured artists head
makes it much stronger and engages the audience more with an almost
seductive look.
The bright lighting accentuates the brightness, high contrast and tones of
colour in the image and this follows the conventions of a brighter magazine
with the colour scheme being brighter on the establishment of music
magazines. This also makes the image look professional and striking.
Own Product
Q Magazine
RockSound Magazine

4. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
COVER LINES
Front Cover I have used similar typography to conventional music magazines on my
own product. Colour schemes of black and white with one added colour
is the normal convention of a music magazine, especially the added
colour red. I decided to go with the added colour of blue to challenge
the conventions of an alternative music magazine as well as fit with the
house style and link to the main image. This shows the link of the
typography to the colour palette of the main image so the cover looks
more professional and structured.
Similarly to the Q magazine in which I had analysed, between cover lines
there are small black bars to separate the different cover lines. This also
gives a professional and stylish look to the whole image of the magazine.
The majority of the more established bands are in a larger font rather
than the size 11 font of the rest of the cover line, e.g. Coldplay is larger
than Concert Tickets. This could be so the cover line appeals to the mass
market as well as niche audiences for the less well known bands. I have
also confirmed to the style in which has the artist/bands name in a
different colour to the rest of the cover line, which engages the audience
and makes the band names stand out more.
The cover lines in which are on my own product conform to the music
magazine conventions of listing the buzz words attracting the audience
and engaging them more into the magazine, rather than having really
wordy cover lines which can look unprofessional.
Own Product
Own Product
Q Magazine
Q Magazine

5. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
COVER LINES
Front Cover
The main image links to the main cover line, which is a
generic convention of a magazine acting as anchorage text
for the main image.
The main cover line fits with the generic codes and
conventions of music magazines in the sense that the name
of the artist is increasingly larger than the other text found
on the front cover.
The buzz words used “exclusive” gives the audience a
sense of a restricted viewing into something that may be
secret.
The main cover line uses the typography that is seen
throughout the rest of the front cover as well as the font
type that is used for the masthead for the name of the band
used.
Q magazine has a noticeable personal quote - e.g. “It’s
been boring without me, hasn't it?” - from the main artist, in
which was challenged in my magazine as there is no
personal quote, which in some way can make the article
more intriguing as there is no indication of what the
emotions of the artist are like.
A generic convention of
a magazine is the puffs
that promote reviews,
contests or something
exclusive within the
magazine. This is
recreated within my
magazine cover by
enticing the audience in
to winning a rise. These
are supposed to entice
the audience and
engage them into
wanting the magazine.
Own Product
Own Product
Q Magazine
Q Magazine
Kerrang! Magazine
RockSound Magazine

6. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
LAYOUT
Contents Page
The layout of my contents page follows
the same conventions in which Q
Magazine uses.My contents page is a
double page spread, which is seen as a
regular convention of music magazines,
found in almost every magazine - even
RockSound magazine incorporates a
double page contents, yet over two
pages rather than a spread. The featured
artist’s image takes up the largest part of
the contents page, with the image
maintaining direct mode of address.
The layout of the text is conventionally to
the left of the pages with page numbers
being enlarged and in a different colour
as the headlines of the articles to be
bolder and larger than the anchorage
text.
The enlarged page numbers are also
found on the images, which gives an
anchorage feel to show which relates to
which article.
The colour scheme is kept the same house style
throughout the magazine, and thus remain gin a
conventional code within a magazine keeping up with the
continuous colour scheme.
Own Product
Q Magazine
RockSound Magazine

7. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
CROSS MEDIA
CONVERGENCE
Contents Page The amount of cross media convergence has been easily achieved by
adding different platforms in which I can I can branch out on.
A generic convention of music magazines is a subscription
advertisement in which is on all magazines that can include a range of
platforms, whether it be online or print magazines or updates. My
product has incorporated the subscription aspect and gives free access
to competitions as an extra.
Another convention in which magazines now advertise, is their social
media presence. All of the social media accounts are situated on the
contents page which gives the reader a way to interact with the brand
even without buying the magazine and when they are waiting for the
next issue. The social media accounts also make it easy for updates to
be broadcasted and gives the audience a sense of exclusivity.
Finally, my product has ranged onto another media platform in the
sense of radio, buy introducing a radio station in which is focussed on
playing music aimed towards the audience in which read the magazine.
This also makes the brand portable and can open up the brand into a
range of things. This is not a common convention of music magazines,
as not many magazines have a radio station, so I have challenged these
conventions in order to branch out to a wider audience.
Own Product

8. FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO 3035
LAYOUT
Double Page Spread
The colour scheme of the double page spread fits with the
house style in which I have create that runs throughout the
magazine. As seen in Q Magazine, interviews are normally
topped on top of a white background, in which is a
convention that I have followed along with the lines that
separate the columns, this is another feature in which I have
focused on following to make it look neat and professional as
well as splitting up the columns.
There is one large image which is a generic convention of
music magazines double page spreads and this shows the
focus of the article. It is also a convention that has smaller
images surrounding the article. This is a convention I have
followed.
Another convention, found in all magazines are pull
quotes in which are found within the article that I have
created as well as social media links.
In some aspects, the layout of TUNE IN’s double page
spread fits the conventions of a normal magazine sit
incorporates a lot of the aspects found in the different
music magazines.
Own Product
RockSound Magazine
Q Magazine