1. In what ways does
your media product
use, develop, or
challenge forms and
conventions of real
media products?
Evaluation Question 1~
2. Introduction
• During the production of my magazine, I have
made sure that I have referred to existing
magazines to guide me through the process. The
research that I have done previously, before I
began making my magazine, has really helped me
to understand the typical conventions of a teen
pop magazine and see what I needed to be
included on my magazine to attract the right
audience. In this first section of the evaluation, I
will highlight the areas where I have used or
challenged certain conventions of a music
magazine.
3. Previous Research
• Before making my magazine, I have looked at other
teen pop magazines such as ‘We Love Pop’ and ‘Top of
the Pop’. By doing this I have learnt what is used on
magazines that draws the attention of the audience
and attracts the right audience. It has also allowed me
to pick up on smaller features such as the fonts used
and mise-en-scene of the images.
Examples of other magazines previously referred to on my blog.
5. Header: I have decided that the header on the front of my magazine should be bright yellow as this colour
is not overly used on the cover and so therefore, stands out well. In previous research, I have seen
existing magazines use a brighter colour to add emphasis on certain features. I have used the font
‘WST_Fren’ for the slogan as it is very similar to the font used on computers and mobile phones. I have
done this purposely as a way of attracting my specific audience as they are stereotypically seen to be
always using there phone and social networking sites. I have written the date and issue number in a much
smaller font as I don’t want to take the attention off of the main features.
Main image:
The main image is a head and shoulder shot of the
artist that I have created for my magazine; Nicki. I
chose to use this shot as it is often used in other pop
magazines such as ‘Top of the Pops’ and ‘We Love
Pop’. I have chosen to use an image where Nicki is
looking directly at the camera, giving eye contact the
audience when it is seen on a shelf. This is something
that will draw the consumer into buying the
magazine as it is directed at them. I also made sure
that the image has been layered over the top of the
masthead , showing her importance and dominance
in the magazine. This is something that I have picked
up on in previous research and have realised that it is
a convention of all music magazines, not just within
the pop genre. The clothes and makeup that the
model is wearing reflects the typical pop genre as
they are bright and integrate well with the other
colours on the magazine front. Her lipstick is pink
which is a typical colour that would attract the target
audience (teenage girls) and goes well with the rest
of the cover. The model is young, fresh and modern
which appeals greatly to young pop fans.
Cover Lines and Pull Quotes: The
font that I have used for the main
cover line is very informal and
would appeal to a young person.
The fact that the font is informal
creates a more relaxed feel to the
magazine and would suggest to the
reader that the article is fun and
aimed towards them. The other
cover lines are written in capital
letters and a bold font, this
emphasises there importance as
they are fairly small compared to
the line advertising ‘Nicki’s’
interview. I have seen the font be
bold but also fairly informal in
many other pop magazines as it is
a way of expressing how easy-
going it is and how it suits
teenagers.
Language: Across the whole front
cover, words such as ‘The Sats’
instead of ‘The Saturdays’ and
‘Poster Mania’ have been used to
create a tone that suits the
audience, especially when they are
reading the magazine to relax
themselves. It shows how the
magazine is not something that
you have to concentrate on or take
seriously. This is the vibe that all
pop magazines have and has also
been picked up on in previous
research including my
questionnaires and my first focus
group.
Background: the background is a very pale blue which I used in the masthead and a couple of other
places across the cover. In many magazines I have previously looked at, I have seen a plain white
background used but I decided to add a pale colour so it blends with the rest of the cover (white might
stand out as to plain). I have added a brighter pink rectangular shape underneath the masthead as this
makes the title of the magazine stand out and show its importance. It also separates it from the rest of
the cover and the main image.
6. Colours and Theme: The same colours have been
used across the full cover and also across the other
pages I have created. The most dominant covers are:
pink, blue, black and yellow which would appeal to
young girls especially. The pink and blue has been
used the most with the yellow being used more
sparingly and showing the importance of certain
features. The colours also give the magazine a sense
of youth and innocence relating to the targeted age.
The black is mainly used for text so it does not clash
with the rest of the cover and is also often used to
border certain features such as the ‘flash’s’, this stops
them from merging with other things and blending
into the background. I have noticed that these colours
are similar to those used on other pop magazines,
especially ‘We Love Pop’. If I were to create other
magazines, I would use the same colours as a way of
creating a theme to the magazine and branding it.
The model is also wearing make-up that adheres to
the theme of the magazine to help her blend with the
cover and show her femininity, appealing to the
correct audience and creating a more girly style.
Inserts: Through the use of inserts I
have managed to advertise other
articles featuring other artists that
may appeal to the target audience. I
have written ‘Sammi’ and ‘Mollie
Rose’ in capital letters and used the
font ‘Impact’ to make it stand out
and draw the readers attention. I
have noticed on existing magazines
that smaller features often use
bolder fonts to show how it is still an
important part of the magazine. The
actions that the models are making
would appeal to the target audience
as they look confident and the
‘peace’ gesture is something that
they would be familiar with.
Rule of Thirds: the main image
takes up the middle and right third
of the cover and the name and pull
quote to ‘Nicki’s’ article is directly
in the middle. This makes it seem
important and is the main focal
point. On existing magazines it is
clear that the main image takes up
at least two thirds of the cover. The
left third is very busy and creates
the idea that the magazine is ‘jam
packed’ with celebrity gossip.
Barcode, Price, Publisher and Contact Details: The barcode and price is very small in the bottom left hand corner. This makes it a lot less
noticeable and takes there attention away from the fact that they have to purchase it. Once they have seen something on the cover that they
like, they may decide to buy the magazine, forgetting to take note how much it costs before hand. I have noticed in the work leading up to my
magazine that this idea is used on the majority of pop magazines as it is a way of making more sales. I have also added the publishers
;‘Egmont’s’ logo next to the barcode to advertise there company and inform the readers who has actually helped get the magazine into the
shops. Along with the price I have written the website to create a more accessible magazine and the social networking logos to show that the
readers can contact the magazine. Social networking appeals to young people so may create more popularity for the magazine.
Masthead: Other than the main image, the masthead is one of the biggest things on the whole cover and
draws the attention of the consumer straight away. On many magazines, the masthead is very large and
is very often either across the top or on the left hand side, where I have placed “POP GOSS”. The font
that I have used is very bold but the way it is curved rather than squared, similar to its
background/border makes it seem a lot less formal. There is also a glow around the edge of the lettering
draws the eye of the reader and emphasises its importance. This masthead would be the same on every
issue of the magazine, as it is on existing covers. The colours also blend it with the rest of the colour.
Flash’s: the use of the shortened words
within the flash such as ‘1D’ make it quick
and easy to read. It also gives the magazine a
fun feel and emphasises its fun side. The
black border around the flash makes it stand
out and shows its importance. Flashes are
used on almost all magazines and draw
attention to important features such as
competitions.
7. Where I have challenged the
conventions…
• On my cover, I have made sure that it is not as crowded as
the existing teen pop magazines. I have done this because I
didn’t want to take the attention off of the important
features like the interview with ‘Nicki’. This has also been
picked up on in my focus group as a good thing.
• Also, on existing covers, ‘We Love Pop’ especially, there are
a lot more fashion references than on the cover I have
created. Whereas they have used images of clothes and
accessories, I decided to make a small reference in the
bottom right hand corner and have still related it to the
artists that is featured. I did this on purpose to enable the
readers attention to completely fall on the music side of the
magazine and the artists that are featured inside.
9. Masthead: The masthead on the page is
clearly ‘GET THE GOSS’. The lexis ‘Goss’ can
automatically be related to the title of the
full magazine and could even be seen as a
pun. It also suggests that by reading the
contents page, the reader will know exactly
what pages they need to visit to find the
latest celebrity gossip. The font that I have
used for the masthead is ‘Agency FB’ and is
bold, drawing the eye of the reader. It is
also written in capitals which gives it a
sense of dominance on the page and the
underline separates it from the features
underneath. Many contents pages that I
have looked at have a title and is often used
as a way of welcoming the reader into
reading the page.
Stylistic Features: From this page onwards, I
certain things such as the website and page
number will be used on every page. This
will be the theme of the magazine and the
same font will be used in every issue for
theses features. The logo of the magazine
will also be seen in the corner of every
contents page to give the magazine a
branded look.
Editorial: Within the majority of magazines, an editorial is written as a way of introducing that
issue and in many pop magazines, it is signed by the editors in a handwritten type of font, in this
case I have used ‘Bradley Hand ICT’. Within the editorial I have touched upon the main features in
this issue and used language that would appeal to the reader and may even be used by the
reader. It is informal and suggests an fun, less serious tone. I have started it off with a drop-cap
that has been backed by a small pink square to draw attention to it and make the reader begin
reading it.
Images: The images help the reader to identify
what the magazine will contain and avoid
confusion after seeing the front cover. The
article advertised on the front involving ‘Nicki’ is
again shown here and the photo of her is the
biggest on the page. This continues the idea that
she is the main feature in the magazine and
creates the impression that it is something that
the reader definitely needs to read. The other
three images are a lot smaller but are supported
by sub-quotes from the articles attracting the
audience into reading. The page numbers are on
top of the images to guide the reader to the
right page. This is something I have seen used in
‘We Love Pop’ and I agree that it is the best way
to guide the reader in the right direction, baring
in mind that the images will be one of the things
they look at first.
Cover Lines: There are several cover lines
across the contents page, the biggest being
a quotation taken from ‘Nicki’s’ interview.
This will draw the reader into wanting to
read more and they will then turn to the
double page spread. As done in many pop
magazines, I have given a cover line for
every image to help the reader identify
what the artist will be talking about.
Colours: The colours I have used are the
same as what is seen on the contents page.
As in other magazines, this creates a theme
and helps the reader automatically see what
magazine they are reading.
Layout: The layout of the page is very similar to
what I have seen in other pop magazines. I have
chosen to do this as in my previous research and
questionnaires, I have found that people find it
easy to follow and quick to read through, with
the images helping them understand who is
featured. I have used a background to give it
more colour and the squares used around
certain section including the images give it more
organisation.
10. Where I have challenged the
conventions…
• I have only used 4 pictures on my contents page but on the pages I
have researched, I have seen 5 or 6. Again, I have done this to stop
the page looking too full and over-crowded. I wanted to give more
space to the box with the actual guide to the pages so it was even
easier to follow.
• There are also three columns in the contents box but in ‘We Love
Pop’ there are only 2. I did this to make it clearer where all the
pages were as in my original focus group, one of the interviewee’s
found the layout harder to follow.
• The main image is also not as big, along with the editorial and cover
lines. I did this to give me room to add in other things like the flash
and another column in the contents guide ‘box’. I did not want my
contents page to be too similar to that of existing magazines and
wanted to do a couple of things that had not previously been done.
12. House Style: The house style of my double page spread is clearly very simple and easy to follow. Everything on the page follows the
conventions of a typical pop magazine, with the artists name being at the top along with a small introduction to the interview. The
columns are in a suitable order, allow the interview to follow on and be easily read by the reader. The footer is in a different colour to
separate the website address and the page numbers from the rest of the interview. I have began the article with a drop cap to show the
reader where it clearly begins . It also makes the interview seem important and as though it should be read.
By-line: I have added a by-line
down the centre of the article
to show who has written it
and who has provided the
photographs. This follows the
typical conventions of a music
magazine and even though it
is small, it can be seen.
Pull Quote: I have used a pull quote in the centre of the first page as a way of drawing the reader into
the interview without them having to actually read it before hand. If they see ‘1D’ mentioned they may
have even more interest as they are a typical pop boy band. I have used text that is bigger than the rest
of the article and have backed it with a pink box to make it stand out from the article. The quotation
marks show that it is something that Nicki has said. This is often used in all magazines, not just pop.
Artists Name: other than the
main image, the artists name
is the biggest thing on the
page. This emphasises who is
featured on the page and tells
the reader that this is the
main page that is advertised
on the contents page. I have
used the same font and text
colour for this name as I have
on the front cover to almost
give her a logo. I did this a way
of linking the page with the
front cover.
Images: Both images have been
brightened so they appear the
same. Her actions would appeal
to the target audience as in the
smaller image she is revealing
gossip and in the larger image she
is playing the guitar, relating to
the music side of the magazine.
Mise-En-Scene: The model is wearing the colours that blend with
the rest of the page and the brightness of the image means it
does not clash with the rest of the page. Her actions show her
confidence which is something noticed in many pop magazines.
The guitar keeps the theme about music running across the page
and emphasises the main topic of the article. The plain
background is something seen in most pop magazines as a setting
might make it look too busy.
Language: The language in the
article suggests a conversation
rather than a formal interview
which would appeal to the
targeted audience. Shortened
words like ‘1D’ would attract the
audience as it suggests a less
serious article. Most pop
magazines are informal and
casual.
Font: most music magazines
vary the font used to suit what
they have written. The font in
the article is easy to read and
wouldn’t put the reader off
wanting to read it. The font used
to write her name could be
described as hand written which
makes it more personal and as if
it has been written by ‘Nicki’
herself. It is obvious that most
magazines change the fonts to
add more interest for the reader
and make the page look more
interesting.
13. Where I have challenged the
conventions…
• In the teen pop magazines that I have previously
looked at, I have noticed that they don’t usually
contain double page spreads featuring an
interview. The double page spreads in existing
pop magazines are often used to show pictures
with small amounts of text and single pages are
usually used for interviews.
• I have also used 6 columns whereas many
magazines I have looked at have had 3-4 columns
on interview pages.
