This document discusses how the student's media product uses and challenges conventions of real magazines. The front cover includes elements like a sell line, masthead, main image, anchor text, main cover line, and date that follow magazine conventions. However, the masthead placement is nonconforming. The contents page includes columns, numbered features, and images to look professional while keeping a calm style. The double-page spread features an unusual split image, bold text for names, columns, and a tagline that poses a question. Social media icons are also included in an unconventional place. Overall, the layout balances conventions with unique design choices.

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

2. FRONT COVER

3. SELL LINE
MASTHEAD
MAIN IMAGE
ANCHOR TEXT
MAIN COVER LINE
DATE

4. SELL LINE
I decided that one of the
ways in which my
magazine would look
realistic, would be if I were
to carry out the
convention of having a sell
line. When researching my
chosen magazines, I
noticed that they both
position their sell lines at
the top of the magazine,
above the masthead
which is a nonconformity
to the usual magazine
conventions.

5. MASTHEAD
I chose to have a big,
bold, white masthead that
really fits in with the colour
scheme of my magazine. I
decided against having
the masthead behind the
artist as I wanted the
magazine’s title to be more
prominent than the
features within the
magazine. Although the
white font is very similar
and runs the risk of slipping
into the background, I feel
that it is quite an assertive
and bold choice of
colouring for my calming
magazine.

6. DATE
I felt that this was vital in the making of my product.
Not only does it create a sense of realism but it also
allows the fans and readers to keep up-to-date with
the issues of the magazine which will hopefully entice
readers into further purchases and subscriptions.

7. MAIN IMAGE
In my main image I used a medium
close up shot to achieve the aim of
creating a personal relationship (uses
and grat) with the audience. in
addition to this, I have used a mirror
effect on the image and created a
strange, almost ethereal feeling for
the audience. There is a definite,
direct address to the audience and
the model is attractive yet idealistic
which challenges The Male Gaze
(Mulvey). I have created an
impression of my artist, not as a sex
object, but as an attractive woman
appealing to men and an
aspirational image for women. I feel
that the light used captures an
intensity in her eyes and creates an
immediate focal point.

8. TAG LINE
I decided not to
include a tag line as I
wanted to avoid
cluttering my front
cover. Researching
some other inspirational
magazines, they didn’t
crowd their front covers
and kept them as
simplistic as possible.
However they do have
a few tag lines on
some, which I thought
about including, but
decided against.

9. ANCHOR TEXT
The artist’s name entices the
fans and anchors the image. It
introduces the main image and
artist for the magazine and sets
the scene and links with the
house style. Bold text and font
encourages the fans to buy the
magazine with their favorite
celebrity on the front cover.

10. MAIN COVER LINE
This is a commonly used
convention that I thought
really dressed my magazine
well. I used a quote from
inside the magazine, instead
of one or more singular
words. I felt that, due to the
fact that I didn’t have any
tag lines, I should have a
more unique main cover
line. I positioned this beneath
the anchor line in order to
entice the audience with a
snippet of the artist’s double
page spread. This would
encourage the audience to
buy the magazine.

11. CONTENTS PAGE

12. FEATURES
NUMBERING
COLUMNS
IMAGES

13. COLUMNS
I have included the simple common convention of
columns into my contents page and double page spread.
My contents page is comprised of three different columns
aligned with three different photographs. They are framed
and structured like a professional article.

14. FEATURES
For my features, the layout is very
simple and I haven’t added any eye
catching colours or tables; I have
created a very calm and subtle
contents page that doesn’t look
overly busy. I have listed the
important artists and put them in a
bolded, larger font to the other text,
making a clear contrast. I aimed to
achieve a final layout that wasn’t
too text heavy, but the appropriate
amount for a contents page. I
wanted to create a look that
wasn’t based entirely on imagery
but was more about the information
inside.

15. NUMBERING
By adding numbers in bold, it designates a clear page
number for the reader, creating a simple and clear
structure for my target audience. This was essential for
my target audience who wouldn’t want to waste time
searching the magazine for the feature that interested
them most.
All of the numbers are the same size for accuracy and
to create a realistic neat format.

16. IMAGES
I have altered the contrast on all of my images and
kept them resembling my inspirational design from
Clash Magazine (see slide 14). I have altered the size
and slant of them to create the unique feeling that
my magazine has. I have added three images as I
didn’t want my contents page to seem too text
heavy, but equally distribute it as it is first and formally
a ‘contents’ page.

17. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

18. IMAGE
COLUMNS
SOCIAL
NETWORKING
ANCHOR TEXT
TEXT
TAGLINE LAYOUT

19. TEXT
I have included common conventions, such as
columns and bold text, to signify the names in the
interview and to make them stand out.
I separated paragraphs to create a professional,
ordered, layout and used a calm colour palette.
TAG LINE
I included the tag line of “from arts to song” which creates quite a
hermenuetic question: Why has she moved from arts to song? Will she
still do arts? Etc.

20. ANCHOR TEXT
This anchors the name to the image. The introductory title
entices fans as it is informative (uses and grat). It is
bold, yet subtle and calm like the vibe of my magazine.

21. IMAGE
This uses a direct mode of address. This
connects with the audience creating a
personal relationship (uses and grat).
Ann extreme close up of half of the face
was used to connect with front cover
image. This creates a connection with the
audience and is a contrast from the
regular double page spreads and make
my magazine much more unique. I have
changed the contrast in the image so
that she has a very ghostly feel. This is in
comparison to the front cover, where I
have darkened the image. This gives fans
two completely different looks for the
artist.

22. SOCIAL NETWORKING
This isn’t a convention that I found in my research but I
felt that it should be mentioned. My target audience is
16-20 and frequent users of these sites; I felt that they
should be able to access them easily with icons
showing the different kind of social media. Although
usually found on the contents page, I thought that it
would be quite unique and different to be found on
the double page spread, also encouraging readers to
read the article about the artist.

23. LAYOUT
I have conformed to the convention of the artist
being on the left and the text on the right because I
recognize that the natural reading process is left to
right. Having a simplistic, yet effective double page
spread, therefore creates a calmer, easier experience
for the readers. However, I did add a quirky image for
them to keep them engaged. The fact that the image
is sliced in half and on a slant creates quite an austere
feeling for the audience. My text has been positioned
carefully and I have designated a clean, central fold
in the middle of the page.

24. WEBSITE AND PAGE
NUMBERING
I have included a website (alongside the social media
section) which I think will really involve an audience. It
is placed at the side of the page and I feel that this
adds to my magazine’s quirky and cool approach. I
have lined it up with the last paragraph of the article
so that the appearance remains neat.
With regards to the page number, I have placed it
running up the side of the page which creates an
unusual effect. I have seen this done in my research
work.