The document summarizes how the media product of a music magazine cover, contents page, and double page article uses and develops conventions of the genre. It sticks closely to many conventions seen in similar magazines like using a large masthead, barcode, cover lines, headlines, multiple columns, and consistent fonts. However, it challenges some conventions by not including smaller cover images or a quote in the double page article to reduce clutter. Sticking to most conventions helps the magazine look professional and appeal to the target audience.

1. AS – Evaluation- Question 1 In what
way does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions?
Robbie Dale

2. • My media product is a front cover, contents page and
double page spread of a music magazine. The genre of
music my magazine covers is alternative rock. My magazine
is called Revelations.
Before I started making my product, I researched a variety
of, similar existing magazines. These magazines were
NME, Q and Kerrang. I looked at these to understand the
codes and conventions of these music magazines. Zero
Tolerance is a very unconventional magazine, so I did not
take inspiration from this magazine as much as the others.

3. • I have stuck to many of the codes and
conventions. The front cover uses a large
masthead at the top of the page, this is a
convention followed by both the magazines I
looked at, as it allowed a viewer to see the
magazine title when it’s on the shelf. I placed
a barcode in the left hand corner of the page
with the issue number, date and price above
it - this is another common convention, and I
recognised in NME, Q and Kerrang. I also
placed several cover lines upon the cover,
which is a common trait, along with a large
headline and strapline, advertising the main
story in the magazine. This is a convention
used by both the magazines I looked into.
•
Using one large image to promote the main
article for the magazine I stuck to convention,
however while the use of smaller pictures is
also utilised on the two magazines, I
challenged the conventions by not having
them as I thought they would draw attention
away from the main story. I didn't want to
overwhelm the reader so therefore kept the
cover clear of any other images.

4. My contents page sticks closely to conventions as
well. I had the articles numbered which is a
common convention. I chose to put two columns
on my contents page as this was common
practice. There are two images , that of a gig and
that of a subscription advert. The images filled
the space on the page well and looked
professional. Finally, I included a headline, a
convention seen in the vast majority of
magazines. I did not add in an editorial column
even though they are common on contents
pages, I did not add one as I found it drew
attention away from the main articles.
I stuck to using the same few fonts throughout
the magazine to stick to convention and style.
This meant that the magazine looked consistent
and each page is recognisable as being from the
same magazine.

5. • My double page spread also sticks closely to
codes and conventions. My double page
spread has a large headline, keeping in line
with the conventions of the magazines I
looked at while revealing the band the
article is about. I separated the article into
multiple columns, as was the same in all of
the magazines I researched. I used one large
image on my double page spread, which
took up on of the pages – this is a
convention I followed as many magazines
only use one page for text while the other is
a image about the article. I thought that
that article looked effective as it wasn’t
overloaded with multiple images. I think
sticking to the convention of not using too
many pictures worked well here. Like on the
contents page I also numbered the pages.

6. • The only major convention I broke in my
double page spread was by not adding a
quote from the article anywhere. I found that
it did not merge with my article well and
therefore left it out. I thought that my
opening paragraph, image and headline drew
the readers in without the need of the quote.
It’s relatively common to see and a moderate
convention to break, but I found that it suited
my magazine perfectly without one.
The reason I chose to stick to majority of the
conventions was that, stylistically, it gave me a
magazine that looked professional. The font
and pictures were stylised to appeal to my
target audience, they would recognise the
magazine as being relevant to their age group
and preferred music tastes.
•