This document contains an evaluation of a media studies coursework assignment to create a magazine cover, contents page, and double page spread. The student summarizes how their magazine product uses and develops conventions from real magazines like Kerrang. For the cover, contents page, and double page spread, conventions like consistent color schemes, prominent mastheads, column layouts, and use of images are developed. Some conventions are also challenged, like an informal tone and unusual color choices. Overall, the goal was to make the magazine look professional while putting their own spin on conventions.

1. AS Media studies – Coursework
evaluation
Matthew Flanagan

2. Q1. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products ?
Cover page
• I Have used a main centre image in which the head
covers part of the masthead. Main imagine has the
typical ‘punk’ look which can relate to people
reading the magazine.
•The masthead in the largest use of text on the
page. The font stands out as being different and out
of shape, relating to what is inside the magazine.
The colour black had been used to fit in with the
main colour scheme of the magazine which is
blue, grey, blue and white. This is very similar to the
Kerrang masthead.
•All of the colours from my original colour scheme
are used in the front of this magazine to give the
reader a taste and feel of what the magazine will
consist of. Similar to the Kerrang magazine which
has kept a consistent colour scheme of
red, black, white and yellow.
•Like in Kerrang, the cover lines I have used are
simple in their language but stand out, meaning it
grabs the readers attention and they are more likely
to read it as it is quick and simple. They contain a
main word or band and then a subtitle with a
minute explanation of the phrase.
•I have also used a sub picture along with the main
centre image to

3. Contents page
•Similar to the kerrang contents page I have used one
larger image which grabs the main attention of the
reader and then used a smaller image which relates to
the text. This fills the page giving the message that the
magazine will also be full and also gives an insight into a
story within the magazine.
•In the Kerrang magazine the designer has used 3
columns where as I have only used 2. This is because in
Kerrang more ‘smaller’ images have been used and
instead of that I have given more information in the
writing form.
• In many music magazines such as this Kerrang one, I
saw that the word ‘contents’ was the biggest on the page
and that ‘the features’ heading was large to draw
attention but not too big so that it takes up a lot of the
page. I have taken ideas from these magazines and used
them to make mine look professional.
•All music magazines have a consistent colour scheme. I
have kept a colour scheme of black, blue, white and grey
not only on my contents page but throughout my entire
magazine.
•The language I have used in my magazine challenges real
media products and magazines in the way it is much
more informal however still professional, something
which my target audience can relate to.
•I have also put the url of the ‘magazine website’ out of
the way of most of the main text.

4. Double page spread
•I have used a main centre image which is also
used as the background with text over it. Many
professional magazine double page spreads use
this style and I feel I have used it in a way that
makes mine look professional. Because my
double page spread goes onto a third page I have
also used another image of the band I am
interviewing on that page.
•At first I had the idea of using 4 columns but
then after reviewing many ‘real’ magazine
double page spreads and seeing they had used 3
columns I decided to opt for the same as it
looked a lot cleaner and less cramped.
•I have challenged convention of many magazine
by making my main heading spread across both
pages. I did this because I feel if I kept it on just
one page, the page opposite would look empty.
•I have also challenged conventions of real media
products by my use of colour. I have used a black
and white background because this fits if with my
colour scheme. This would be rare to see in a
professional cover out these days however I feel
it works well with my other colour of blue for the
heading.
•The language used it similar to that of my
contents page, very laid back and informal which
teens of the target audience can relate to. This
same motive is used in the Kerrang magazine
shown here.
•I have challenged conventions of real magazines
by using a third page. This page is used so the
viewer gets a detailed version of the interview
which I conducted with the band.