The document discusses how the media product uses conventions from existing media products and how it develops and challenges some conventions. Specifically: - It uses conventions like bold cover lines and stick-on notes from NME magazine covers. - For the contents page it uses banners and categories like NME but features a non-traditional portrait photo that stands out against the background. - The double page spread follows conventions by separating photo and text but develops them by using different colored text for the interviewer and artist. - Some conventions are challenged, like using fewer colors in the design and including a non-eye contact portrait on the contents page rather than a close-up. This creates interest while still drawing attention

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

2. Existing media products using the
conventions:
NME’S front cover of Alex Turner and Miles Kane has a
variety of the conventions of a music magazine which I have
consequently used through my magazine. The Masthead is
underlined behind the main image of the magazine which
allows the readers' attention to begin concentrated on the
image. NME cover also uses a stick on effect symbol with
text on, to give the effect of a sticker and adds texture to
the cover. NME also tend to use banners at the top of the
magazines, such portrayed on the NME cover on the left; this
neatens the magazine and helps it to appear together and
complete. This also allows room for bold text to be
included which can help attract the reader into continuing
with the magazine.
The ‘Florence and the machine’ cover additionally uses the
conventions of a music magazine to relate to the target
audience and portray the magazine with the correct ‘look.’
The main cover line is the width of the magazine and stands
out in a completely different colour to the rest of the
magazine, ‘FLORENCE.’ Adding this allows the reader to realise
the main cover story and what they can expect. At the bottom
of the magazine, NME have also used ‘plus’ which includes
short information of other bands included in this magazine.
This results in the target audience becoming more diverse and

3. Using the conventions in my
magazine:
In my magazine I used a variety of conventions that appear in media products.
Specifically, my cover lines which were inspired by the ‘Florence’ NME cover. For example I
included a ‘Vs.’ story between two artists which create discussion and aims to attract the
audience, as they would be intrigued to read about others views on the artists.
I also included a cover line story making tribute to Amy Winehouse which many different
magazines do as a sign of respect and thanks for the music contributed. I have also included
a stick on note shape, inspired from the ‘Alex Turner and Miles Kane’ cover to give the
magazine more texture and creates interest for the audience. It breaks up all the constant
text.
The artists I advertised on the front cover were intended for the target audience, they vary
in genre, similar to NME. Adele covers the pop genre, while the Wombats genre covers indie
rock. I want my audience to feel connected to a genre but not cut from all other genres
and styles. Therefore MSC covers music for different styles of people. I included the
conventional barcode discretely at the bottom of the magazine, as eventually the aim is to
sell the magazine in retailers.
I have additionally changed the text of artists names to bold similar to the convention on
the ‘Florence’ cover, this attracts the eye of the audience straight away.

4. Publisher version of my mag with
analysis:

5. Current contents page and double
page spread conventions:
The three images below present the conventions of a contents page and double page
spread. The three pages below cover NME and Q. For the NME contents page it uses a
coloured banner across the top which helps to define the bold text layered over. One of
NME’s conventions is including the band index down the left hand side, this helps to the
audience to relate and understand the genres of music in the magazine. This contents page
also has a coloured text box with subscripting details for the reader, this allows the
reader to feel a part of the magazine and keep up to date with it. It results in more profit
for the company.
The Q contents page additionally uses the conventions of the media product through the
text across the top; it’s bold and clear, there is also a line underneath the text to neaten
the whole page and create divisions and interest.
The Q double page spread uses the conventions of the photograph on one page of the
spread, and all the text is neatly inserted on the right side. Q uses a convention of extra
details and information about the artist before the interview and using an over sized
letter to introduce the interview. However Q develops one of the conventions, by
including a coloured letter across the entire interview, creating questions and presenting
the Artist as unique and different.

6. Using conventions in my magazine:
For my double page spread I used the conventional technique putting a
contrasted photo of the artist onto one side of the spread, and having the
interview on the opposite page. I also added a quote from the interview above
the artist to attract the reader’s attention, therefore allowing them to
understand the topic of the interview and what the artist is like. I additionally
added another quote in the same font and style in the middle of the interview to
break up the constant text. I had the interview started with the oversized letter
and introduced the artist’s past and achievements to allow the reader to begin
to know Bryony. For the double page spread I also used a convention having the
interviewer and Artist’s conversation in different colours, to show the visual
changes and lengths of conversation.
For the contents page, I used a banner across the top and a banner down the left
hand side to keep the page neat and using the conventions. I included a different
colour box at the bottom with subscribing details. The contents page was broke
up into different categories, using a convention of the media product which NME
uses frequently in their designs.

7. Developed and challenged ideas
of the conventions:
I have used various conventions of the media product in my own magazine, however I have additionally
developed and challenged several conventions. For example, The picture I used for the contents page wasn’t a
close up photograph and didn’t create eye contact with the reader. This was a risk because the contents page
shows the reader the rest of the magazine. The picture creates interest, because the model stands out against
the bland background. The model also appears to be looking at the pages and details, this helps to draw
attention to the left hand side. I have also kept the colour scheme to a minimum of blue, red, black and white.
This is a developed convention because magazines tend to include more colours, especially on the front cover
image. I decided to put the image in black and white and contrasted it because it helps the cover to look
intense but professional at the same time.