In what way does your media product use, develop and challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

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

2. Strap line
Header
Features
Cover lines
Sell lines
Anchor text
Main cover line
Front
cover
features

3. Header
The name i have chosen suits the style of my magazine as I have gone for a more music
gossip magazine, to speak about aritsts lives as well as music, this challenges codes and
conventions as most music magazines as they usually focus on the music. conventionally the
header is in the left hand corner of most magazines, i have gone against this as my header
goes straight across the top of my magazine just like bliss, the reason i have done this is
because i want it to catch the eye of my audience and will be memorable. The font i used for
my text is bold and large with deep colours to make my text stand out. The main reason i had
to make my text stand out is because my text is placed behind my main image which the text
could get lost from the readers view, as their main focus may be on the image this also
challenges the codes and conventions of other magazines.
Here is an example from other magazines:

4. Strap line
My skyline is a different coloured font to the rest on my text on the front page,
this is so that it can be noticed by my audience on the page. I have used a
variety of names of artists which the strap line usually uses buzzwords and
offers to attract an audience, but I have done this because the preferred reading
that i want from this is to attract people who like a number of musicians. Using
a variety of musicians from different genre’s allows me to gain a wider audience
for my magazine. This also shows that my magazine contains a large amount of
content as i have included more than one artists name.
This is an example from the magazine I focused on for my front cover

5. Cover lines
my cover line has the use of a deep coloured bold text so i catches the eye of
the reader. Underneath that i have used a buzz word 'Exclusive' this is the use of
a hypodermic needle as it is injecting thoughts to keep reading into the
audiences head and they are powerless to do so. My cover lines inform the
reader of what is inside, this will make them want to find out more thus buying
the magazine. I have also used two different colours for my colour line the top
line is a bold deep colour which will catch the eye of my reader and underneath
in a lighter colour is information that will inform the reader of what the article
may contain.
Other uses of this in magazines I have researched:

6. Barcode
I have placed my barcode in the bottom left hand corner of
my magazine which follows conventions of most magazines,
the reason I followed the codes and conventions was
because I wanted to draw less attention to the barcode and
the price of the magazine and more on the content. I felt that
having the barcode in the corner it was out of the way
doesn’t overlap any images or words.
These are the examples that I used from other
magazines(bliss and under the radar:

7. Main image
My main image goes against codes and conventions as, the image
doesn’t have a direct mode of address because I have wanted my artist to
look away from the audience to cut off the relationship between the
audience and artist, this will give my magazine a sense of mystery and
distance and it will make my audience wonder why the artist is facing
away from the camera and read on due to the effect of a hypodermic
needle.
The reason I wanted to create a distance between my audience and artist
was because the style of my magazine is a music magazine that finds out
about the personal lives of artists and to have the musician on the front
cover facing her left looks less personal and is quite the opposite of what
my magazine is about so my audience may want to know why I have
done this and what is different encouraging the reader to pick up and
read it ( uses and gratification theory).
The magazine front cover that I used as an example:

8. Main cover line
Uses hermeneutic questioning, audience will want to know why it is the best of
Kourtz. A common convention used in the main cover line is that it contrast’s against
the main image and the anchor text although my main cover line doesn’t contrast as
much against my main cover line, to make it stand out some more I used a shadow in
the background, this allows for the main cover line to still contrast against the anchor
text. It informs the audience (uses and gratification model) my main cover line is
above my anchor text this goes against conventions as it is usually below.
Examples of this are:

9. Anchor text
The name of the artist is used, this will attract fans of the artist to pick up the
magazine allowing for a wider audience as it is encouraging fans of the artist to
buy the magazine. It is also gives an insight into who the article is about. The
colour of the anchor text is the same as the house style I have used and because
it is on the image I have used a white glow in the background this will make it
stand out more from the image and it strikes the reader more.
Other magazines that do this are:

10. features
My features allowed for insight into the content of my magazine
which gives information to my reader and it was also for
entertainment purposes (uses and gratification). I used the same
colours as my house style, to make it stand out more I am using a
glow in the background to attract attention from an audience.
Some words are in a smaller font than others, some are capitals
and some are lower case, there is no selling point to this it just
made it look nicer and I wanted my features to go in an angle.
An example of this would be from under the radar magazine:

11. Sell lines
Sell lines are conventionally positioned around the main image as mine
are, sell lines are used for a hypodermic needle effect as the reader will
see the buzz word I use; in this case its ‘FREE’, and will entice the reader
to want to explore the magazine to find these songs that are included
inside. My sell line keeps with the house style which is a bold deep
purple, it uses ‘30 FREE’ in a large bold font and these are trigger words
that can catch the eye of the reader and underneath in a smaller font is
‘songs inside’ the reason it is smaller underneath is so that the reader
would have to pick up the magazine to see what is free and therefore are
more likely to buy it due to them becoming powerless to the media
source.
Other magazine examples are:

12. Contents page
masthead
features
Main image
Page number
Other image
Small article
subscription
Date
Social media
Call outs

13. Title-Contents
Page numbers
The title tells the audience that it is the contents page, it is
informative (uses and gratification) this informs the audience
of what they are reading. The text is bold enough to stand out
but keeps with the house style. It is also in the right hand
corner of the magazine.
This can be seen in magazines such as bliss and NME;
My page numbers keep to the house
style of my magazine reinforcing the
magazines brand, they are informing
the reader which page they will find
certain articles (uses and gratifications)
it allows for an easier navigation
around the magazine. They have quite
a bit of spacing between the writing
this is so that the numbers are
noticeable by the reader.
Example from bliss magazine:

14. Images and feature article
The images used for the contents page are an insight into who the main article is going to
be about and who it is about. The images are generally framed by text which is a
convention I used when creating my contents page. I have used two images in my contents
page that are quite natural, which will create a relationship with the audience as they may
be able to relate to the group and see that they are similar in ways. To keep this effect I
didn't really edit any of my photograph, I made this choice as I wanted the images to be as
natural as possible for a relatable effect on my audience making them more likely to read
the article, not editing my images on my contents page as I am going against convention of
most mainstream magazines as they tend to edit the colour and contrast on all images.
Examples of this are from bliss, NME and under the radar;
My article about the band is underneath, this is only a small section of what will be in the
main interview, it is using uses and gratification as it is informing the reader on what the
main article is going to be about.
An example of this is from NME;

15. features
Makes it easy to navigate, gives the reader information on what type of stuff the
magazine contains. Bold titles which is eye catching for the reader.
The features have a title that is a large font size and the call outs underneath are a
smaller font size, so this catches the eye of the reader and to read the information
underneath they would have to pick up the magazine.
They contain information (uses and gratification) this is so that the reader knows what
is inside the magazine and what sort content to expect.
By using slightly larger font to catch the readers
eye this is the use of a hypodermic needle as
they will see the small amount of information
about what is inside and will want to read on to
discover more.
Examples of this is in bliss and NME.

16. subscription
To follow convention I have used a promotional offer
to entice my readers to subscribe to my magazine for
a monthly fee and in future purchase other
magazines. I have placed contrasting text on a black
background to make it easier to see and a lot more
noticeable, it does not go with my house style as I
wanted it to catch the eye of my reader and stand
out, although I have still used a dark colour like the
colours I have used for my house style so I haven’t
strayed from the theme to far.
An example from this is in NME magazine:

17. Social media
DateShows recent information and this will be informative to the reader (uses and gratification)
because they will know when the issue has been released and is able to keep up to date with
each magazine. It is positioned at the top of the page, this is so that it is the first read on the
page, my date uses the same house style, which breaks convention as it is usually a contrasting
colour to stand out, but I don't want it to be that noticed as I want my articles and content to
have more of a focus; this is another reason as to why my date is in a small font. I have gone
against convention as most magazines have their dates all in capitals but I have decided to use
all lower case, the reason being I didn't want to much attention paid to the date of my
magazine, it should be informative but it shouldn't draw to much attention.
Social media isn't a convention used in any magazines that I
have researched, but I have found that it would be quite
useful as it would be a different way to advertise my
magazine. This will allow me to gain a wider audience for a
new magazine. I thought this was a good idea as I am
targeting teens who use their phones tablets ect. to log on
to a social networking site.

18. Double page spread
Anchor text
Callouts
Drop capital
Columns
Main image
Fact file
GutterPull quote

19. Anchor text
It is informative of what the article is about (uses
and gratification). IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING BELLA is
used to anchor the text to the left of the page to
who the group is. I have used the anchor text as
the group name Bella means beautiful in Spanish
so I used the text as I would if the word was
beautiful instead and I have changed the colour of
the group name to fit the house style to put
emphasis on the fact that its the groups name and
these contrasting colours make them stand out to
the audience to entice them into reading it
(hypodermic needle).
Other magazines that have used this anchorage is
bliss magazine:

20. Call out
I have used pink to highlight the important words to make it more striking and stand
out a lot more, I have used a buzz word also this will attract the readers as they will
want to know why they broke through with a bang so they will want to read the rest
of the article (hypodermic needle). This section is giving additional information about
the background of the band (uses and gratification) this sticks with the theme of the
house style of the double page spread as it is pink and dark grey.
Other magazines that have done this are Under the radar and Bliss magazine:

21. Drop capitals
Drop capitals introduce the article, it is bold and stands out from the text, it entices the
readers to read the article by grabbing the readers attention to the text.
Other magazines that have done this are under the radar, bliss and NME:
Pull quote
The pull quote is an insight into the rest of the comment, most
pull quotes are inside the body of text but I have gone against
conventions and placed it on the image, I have used it as a
personal statement from a band member, it creates a personal
relationship between the band and audience. It creates
engagement for the audience
Other magazines that have featured this are under the radar
magazine:

22. columns
Fact file
Columns are arranged into 2 neatly placed columns and a fact file
down the side this goes against the codes and conventions of other
magazines as they usually have 3 columns of writing. This informs
the reader of the artists (uses and gratification) My text is arranged
in an interview form of questions and answers, the questions are a
contrasting colour to the response informing the reader what are
the interviewers questions and answers.
Other uses of this are Bliss and under the radar:
My fact file informs the readers of the background of the artists
(uses and gratification). it is placed in a pink box to make it stand out
as a fact file and doesn't clash with the rest of the text. I used bright
vibrant colours to attract my audience.
Other uses of this:

23. Main image
My main image uses direct mode of address as they are
looking straight at the camera, this created a relationship
between the audience and the artists(uses and
gratification). It is a mid shot for a more overall view, they
are positioned close together to show a close relationship
of the group. They are expressionless, it shows a more
serious view and they take their music seriously and this
is a contrast view of the girls in the contents page, this
indicates there is more sides to the girls. There is shading
on one half of their faces to emphasise that they have
good and bad sides which the audience may be able to
relate to as this is the same as everyone.
Other magazines that use these kind of shots under the
radar and NME:

24. Gutter
The gutter is placed at the bottom of the article, in my gutter it is the web address of my
magazine, this will attract an audience that uses the internet, and they are able to find the
magazine and articles online, this is a good use of synergy as phones can be used to read the
magazine as well as the paper based type.
Other magazines that have used this are bliss magazine: