The document discusses various conventions used in real media products and how the author's media products did or did not follow these conventions. Some conventions that were followed include using a bold masthead in red font to attract audiences, taking professional photos in a studio, using familiar fonts seen in other magazines, and maintaining a clear layout. Some conventions that were challenged include using a female cover model instead of male, incorporating regional colloquial language, and using character spacing uniquely on the front page. The genre of entertainment magazine was used due to the growth of entertainment and lack of competition regionally.

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR
MEDIA PRODUCT USE,
DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS
OF REAL MEDIA
PRODUCTS?
Question 1

2. MEDIA PRODUCTS

3. MASTHEAD
 The immediate response that my masthead provides is that it is typically
conventional for a magazine. This is due to the factors that it is very bold and
striking. I ensured to follow this convention, as the audience will immediately be
drawn to it. The font style ‘American Captain’ was used in the colour red as I also
felt that this was following a conventional magazine that aimed to appeal to an
audience who are typically more youthful and vibrant in their personality. As my
magazine featured a strong entertainment theme, I felt that the masthead must
resemble that of something similar to a film billboard to provide that taste of
excitement and attraction. By opting to use a third party website for my masthead, I
developed my original idea that I would have used solely from a font in Photoshop
which can be typically found in real media products. I challenged a convention that
a lot of regional magazines offer usually. For instance, the crack often uses a thin,
clinical white or black masthead against the contrasting background, whereas I used
my red background against a blue patterned background.

4. MISE-EN-SCENE
 The use of mise-en-scene throughout my magazine could be interoperated as very conventional as I
followed several rules that are familiar with existing magazine publications. In regards to setting, I used
a professional studio to take the photos that I would use across my front cover and contents page. I felt
this convention represents my magazine in a way that I want it to appear as professional as possible. I
also used professional, studio lighting to support my photos to avoid any unwanted shadows and to
provide the correction exposure needed. I developed my idea of what is a professional photo by using
photo’s from a real life setting, which in my case was a music venue. I still used a professional camera
for my photos but they were taken not in a professional studio, with experimental lighting created for
effect. The costume used were appropriate to whatever the model was, for instance the young female
model is portraying a college student, so she wore typical clothes that her character would be seen it.
The facial expressions for the female model was positioned looking directly at the lenses, this was to
initiate a response from the audience member. Whereas the photos of the band in my double page
spread are looking away from the camera this was to challenge the convention of an explicit
connection, rather to show the realism of what the musician was doing in that moment. I also used
real-world props in the form of a playing guitar to show the realism behind what the photo actually was
as opposed to just a still of a guitar against a wall which I felt would lack effect and depth.

5. MODELS
 From the offset, the importance of direct address is made from my cover
star posing directly into the camera with a sultry facial expression. I felt this
was highly important to do so, as the audience member is most likely to
connect with the cover star over any of the other features as found by my
initial research when finding what my target audience want. I felt by doing
this, this shows the importance of the model, her character and the identity
she is portraying which would intrigue my audience into finding out more
and being interested in purchasing my magazine. I felt I challenged a social
convention in the entertainment industry as there is still an uneasy balance
of more successful males compared to females. This female cover star
could be a role model and influence to younger females who aspire to be
like her in an industry that has been misrepresented for decades.

6. Both Empire and NME are high respected magazines in their own rights however, from a google search,
the top line shows only 1 female in a list of six and seven. This shows that females are still at an uneven
balance in the entertainment category. This is why I chose to challenge a typical convention in displaying
a female as my cover as opposed to a male.

7. FONT STYLE
 American Captain was the main font that I used for larger parts of my main product this was because it
was bold and sharp which is a traditional convention I chose to follow in order to attract my target
audience. I specifically used this font for my masthead and some of my headings that I wanted to
highlight. Boasted by the colour red, I felt this added to the bright effect that I aimed in attracting
customers. I also used this font as it had to be able to show itself well against the dark background in
order to contrast. This was something I had to make sure I did well throughout my magazine. For
instance, another popular font I used, specifically on my double page spread was Bebas Neue. This
bold font is similar to existing magazines so I felt that it would be familiar enough to magazine readers
of any genre and they wouldn’t have to adjust to a wild or alternative style of font. I also used a
technique in where I used character spacing, most notably across my front page in whereby I made
certain portions of texts all in one width to show collectiveness. This was something I felt challenged
regional conventions as I hadn’t seen anything like that I researched prior. I also incorporated the
bands logo that is commonly used creating it on Photoshop and implementing it into my work. This
was something I felt gave readers a connection by noticing an established trademark.

8. WRITTEN CONTENT
 During the creation of my media products, I wanted to make it clear that I
would follow conventions as seen in existing magazines such as tone. I felt
this was very important as a friendly voice was important so that the reader
could connect immediately but also not be put off by anything that felt
awkward of vague. As my magazine is regional, I felt that it was important
that this would be clearly made apparent. So in some cases such as my
editors note, I tried to go for a colloquial tone as opposed to a formal one
and this was too make it feel like the editor and the reader were actually
friends and nothing felt awkward. I used language such as ‘lasses’ in
reference to women to show this. As much as my magazine is an
entertainment magazine that I hope to give off a professional feel, I also
wanted the regionalism to shine through with informal phrasing in small
doses.

9. GENRE
 The genre of my main products and ancillary tasks is entertainment. I felt in 2016,
the media and entertainment industry is at an all time peak with music, television
and film being socially relevant in so many peoples live especially with the
integration of social media. I felt my culture relevant topic was more appropriate to
use as opposed to a traditional ‘culture’ magazine as there are already so many in
existing that obtain a large following. Other than your major entertainment magazine
players such as Empire and NME, there is little competition for my genre and this is
another reason I chose to use it. Taking into account my magazine is also regional, I
felt my region could prosper from an entertainment magazine as there are so many
unknown and known actors, musicians, celebrities from the area that aren’t spoke
about enough and the public should be able to hear about it. I made sure to speak
to my younger, target audience by constantly integrating social media links, which is
something a traditional magazine misses out on doing.

10. LAYOUT
 It is very important that the layout of my magazine and ancillary tasks was to appear clear
and neat. This is because an uncluttered look to a magazine automatically suggests
unprofessionalism which is something I didn’t want to promote. I have taken inspiration
from a range of publications. NME was an inspiration for my contents page as I felt they
utilise the correct balance of images to texts with appropriate sections and borders to
divide their page up. I have also taken inspiration from the crack, which is a regional
magazine for my contents page where they use half a page to show off the main image
whilst smaller photos support it. I also used my masthead across the width of all my
pages and billboard to show the connection and a link, which is a convention which I
thought would show familiarity to an audience member. For my website, I wanted to make
sure it felt professional and current by issuing tabs across the bottom of the screen that
moved with the user as they worked through the different pages. I opted to go for a
minimal design as this was to avoid too much clutter which would be off putting. It would
also take longer for the page to load for the user if I incorporated too many elements into
my design.