Media Coursework

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

2. Front Cover
My magazine front cover is based on all of the codes and conventions I have
learned throughout my journey of AS media., by using these techniques it
makes the magazine look more sophisticated. The main image on the
magazine took up most of the front cover space, it is important for the
audience to be able to notice from the main image who is being featured in
the magazine. The masthead is displayed in a larger text than any of the other
on the front cover, this is because when buying a magazine the audience need
to know what magazine they are looking for. My masthead name is behind
the main image making half of the text get cut off, this is because when a
magazine is well known the audience get to know what the name of the
masthead is without having to see each letter of the text properly. Instead of
me copying the usual strapline underneath the masthead I positioned mine
at the top of my masthead, this is because I wanted to change where the
strapline is usually placed to make my magazine unique and interesting. The
barcode used on my front cover makes it look more realistic to the audience
each magazine needs to be scanned to know that someone has purchased it
and it is in the codes and conventions of a magazine that this is included.
The competition and the bottom of the magazine is a pug the idea of this is to
attract readers into buying the magazine due to what they will be able to gain
from this, the competition will allow the reader to win some makeup which is
again targeting the audience because it is focusing on what my target
audience would want to win from a magazine.
My magazine challenged the codes and conventions by not including any
other cover/ sell lines on the front page other than the main article. I think
that this works because the readers will want to see what else is inside,
influences them to buy the magazine because what other articles/ stories that
are inside are unknown on the front cover whereas it is usually revealed.

3. Contents PageI made sure that when I made my contents page that it uses most of the
codes and conventions. The colour pink from the front cover is carried
on through to the contents page making it the house style and colour of
the magazine being Pink, Black and White. The codes and conventions
that I followed for a contents page was also the way that page numbers
are seen on the left with a description next to it explaining to the reader
what is going to be included on this page. My contents page is split into
sections of where the page numbers are going to be found, depending
on what the article is depends on what section the page number will be
under it makes it easier for the reader to find pages and is much more
efficient. I chose my style to be in boxes because it will allow the reader
to view the contents page clearly and looks more organised to view.
Relationships can be made through my contents page because at the top
of the right hand corner a section written by the staff writer is presented
this makes the magazine more personal and allows the reader to
understand why the articles have been put in each issue. I have used
stars around the image of my front cover which reinforces the amazing
star potential articles that are included in the magazine.
I was able to challenge the codes and conventions of a normal contents
page because I included a separate section for my main article about
the band which was featured on the front cover. This allows the reader
to see that this is what was included. It is shown that it is “The Hype!”
through text . It is challenging the codes and conventions because the
number is seen on the right hand side and the image is seen as an oval
shape. I was also able to challenge the codes and conventions by
including a picture of the front cover on the contents page and
including what was on it in stars around the page. It makes my contents
page different to any of the other contents pages that are able to be
purchased.
Using the word “Your” is a personal
pronoun targeting my audience and
making them feel personally involved.
I used colloquial language to
address the readers as if they
are friends.
I made this
section from
the staff
writer to be
in italics
style to
mimic
handwriting
to give it a
personal
touch.
The “X” is to
suggest there
is a
friendship
with the
writer and
reader.
“Celeb Goss” represents the way
in which my target audience
uses there language and makes
the magazine contents more
aimed at them.
Referring to the audience
that I am trying to aim
with this contents page.

4. Double page spread
My double page spread uses codes and conventions through
using an image of the band that was seen on the front cover
through to the double page spread which being is the main
article. The image that is seen on the right hand page of the
double page spread can also be a poster. Polaroid images of
the band separately are seen above the exclusive interview that
is displayed on the left side of the page. The house colour is
used again through to the double page spread being pink
because it represents the house colour. The colour of the hat
from the band member is the same pink that is used for the
questions on the interview. The text that is seen on the double
page spread is two different colours the questions from the
interview is pink and the answers from the questions are black
this is also referring to the house colour because Pink, Black
and white is seen. I have included a star at the top of the page
which is continuing from the contents page. The stars are
representing the star material and celebrity stars that the
target audience would admire to be. In the middle of the
double page spread I have included a dotted line going down
the page separating one page from another. I have done this
because the image of the band on the right hand side can be
cut out and used as a poster. The target audience would find
this intriguing because it is allowing them to have a poster
plus an exclusive article on a new upcoming band and will feel
at advantage to other people by being able to have this poster.
They are able to gain something from the magazine and will
persuade them to continue buying this brand of magazine.
I have challenged the codes and conventions of other double
page spreads by making the image of the band take over one
page and not including any other text on the right hand side
which is what usually is seen on magazines.