The document discusses how the student's media magazine product uses and develops conventions of real music magazines. It includes a masthead in the top left corner, images of artists in street clothing and poses relating to the grime genre, interviews and biographies of artists, and uses fonts, layouts, and color schemes similar to other magazines in the genre. The magazine challenges some conventions by including an editor's note not normally seen and using different fonts to make sections stand out, but overall follows conventions for clarity, visual appeal, and to help readers relate the magazine to the genre.

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

2. Title of the magazine
The masthead of the magazine has been placed in
the top left hand corner of the magazine. This is a
typical convention of music magazines especially in
a “hip hop” genre. By positioning it at the top, it
allows the magazine to be easily spotted and
recognised. It also allows the reader to focus on
other aspects of the cover. My masthead has been
slightly positioned behind the main image which is
also a technique used by XXL magazine. I had
decided that using similar colours to the masthead
of XXL would appeal to my audience but I wanted to
make the letters stand out a little more so the black
outline was used. I think this makes a great
combination since red, white and black are used in
many magazines and contrasts well. I also believe
the name of my magazine is quite interesting but
also short and easy to remember.

3. Mise-en-scene of images
Here we have three very different images being used in my magazine. They all seem to have a similar theme in
terms of clothing which would appeal to my audience. The “gangsta” type of clothing is what helps the reader to
easily understand and make reference to their own lives along with the poses. Two of the images are looking
directly at the reader whereas the last one is used for my double page spread and is an attempt to get the reader
more interested in the article. Since grime is mainly about making music with just a beat and a microphone, I
thought it would be ideal for my main artist to be holding a microphone and I was looking for this to be the selling
point of the magazine. I had chosen to go for medium shots rather than close up since this meets conventions of
other magazines in a similar genre where the artist can be seen along with his clothing as many artists wish to
show off their wealth. The lighting of the second picture appears to be quite light in the centre but further back it
appears to darken and this is because it was taken in an underground car park to give an more interesting look.
Also my article photo was taken in an alleyway which is widely known for the scenery/location of many grime
videos. This gives the photograph a clear link to the genre in which the reader can relate to. Often used in other
music magazines are photographs that symbolise the genre very clearly and I feel I have done this quite
effectively. These photographs were also very easy to blend in and contrasted well on every page of the magazine
following conventions of real magazines. It would be odd to place images that do not go well with the magazines,
the black and white photograph still manages to go with the colour scheme of the magazine used on the front and
contents page.

4. Fonts and styles
Clear conventions of music magazines are easily seen when looking through my
magazine. Along with the font, the colour of text has also been blended in with
backgrounds to make it contrast well and easy to read. Keeping the colour scheme
throughout the magazine makes it look far more professional as a lot of real media
products do so. Bold capital letters have been used throughout to show the
importance of the text that is being read. The editors note has challenged
conventions of a magazine of this genre since it doesn’t normally get featured
however I wanted to make my magazine a little different. The font also used is
completely different from the rest of the magazine making that piece of text
“funky” . Sans serif font has been used throughout the magazine as this is a
common convention to other magazines of this genre. Variety of fonts such as
Steiner and myriad pro have been used to make it look more appealing. Some
words have been highlighted on the front cover which is seen on XXL magazine and
some other words have been given different colour outlines. This adds more colour
to the pages along with keeping to the colour scheme which is another convention
of magazines.

5. Written content
The written content for my magazine is based on one whole page of my double page spread. I had decided I
would like to feature an interview of the main artist from the cover as interviews are a common convention of
other real products. The language used in this interview will be interpreted in many different way due to
difference in social class and peoples lifestyles. The language used is quite informal with a lot of slang being used
by the artist since this is supposed to show how him and many others talk on the streets. The street talk will be
easily understood by those who enjoy this specific genre of music. The content is literally question and answer
and has been put in the conventional 3 column that’s seen in many different magazines. This makes it very clear
and easy to read. Frequently seen in interviews in other magazines, there will be a short biography placed at the
top and some quotes being placed around the page. My magazine has also followed this convention. The
interview looks to give the readers a better understanding of the artist, also it gives them the chance to learn
more and see what future plans the artist has allowing fans to keep up to date.

6. Music genre and how your magazine suggests it
The music genre of my magazine can be clearly identified by anybody since there are a lot of
stereotypes visible. Many different elements go together that can make it very easy to see
what type of genre the magazine is. First thing that can be easily identified the clothing used in
the photographs. Certain clothing are associated with different social class and because of the
way the characters in the photographs are dressed, it can be easily seen as to which genre they
belong to. The use of hoods, caps, hats, baggy dark clothing are all stereotypes linked strongly
to this genre. Also readers can easily assume from the poses of the characters that the
magazine is about hip hop/grime since this type of body language is widely seen in many music
videos of this genre. If the magazine was to be placed around magazines from other genres,
the urban/street look will make it clear as to how the magazine will be about grime. The front
cover also features many other artists which are known in the grime scene. Another way of
identifying the genre of the magazine is by looking at the language used in the interview. The
artist clearly uses language which is mainly considered to be street talk. This is used by many
grime artists and those of social class linked directly to this genre.

7. Barcode, website,
Layout and other conventions issue number and
price
Tag line
Main masthead,
slightly covered
Cover photo
of artist
looking at
reader
Highlighted text
Cover line
Simplistic
background
Subtext
Other artists

8. Masthead
Editors note
Colour scheme of
Header white, red and
black
Footer
Caption of main
image
Simple
background Main image of
contents page
Sans serif font
Advert
Page number
Catchphrase for
advert

9. Question and Header
answer format
Main title of the Red, black and
page clearly white colour
visible and placed scheme
at top
Sans serif font
Interview placed
into columns
Quotes Photograph on one page,
interview on the other
Simple
background
Short biography
Both people in the Page number
photographs
“caught in the
action”
Footer