The document discusses the conventions used in magazine design and how the author's media product both conforms to and challenges conventions. On the front cover, conventions such as the masthead, sell line, features, main image, anchor text, and cover line are used, but the font of the masthead challenges conventions. On the contents page, columns, numbering, page numbers, and images are used to organize content and aid navigation, conforming to conventions, while the inclusion of social media links challenges conventions. Across pages, layout, columns, images, text, quotes, names and page numbers are employed following standard conventions.

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

2. • Masthead
• Sell Line
• Features
• Cover
Lines
• Main
Image
• Anchor
Text
• Main Cover
Line
• House
style
FRONT
COVER
Masthead
Features Main
Image
Sell Line
Anchor
Text
Main
Cover line

3. MASTHEAD
 My Masthead conforms to many
conventions as it is large and bold, with
both of its colours contrasting with the
background. It is all in capital letters and
is in front of the main image.
 However it challenges one convention of a
simple sans serif font, mainly used for
magazines masthead.
Magazines that conform to Sans serif font
convention:
Magazines that challenge that convention:

4. SELL LINE
 I used the convention of a sell line on
my front cover, placed just under the
masthead. It is used as a introductory
headline to the magazine
Magazines that conform to this
convention:
NME
Q magazine
CLASH

5. FEATURES
 I used 2 features as it is common to have
multiple ones on a front covers as they
give an insight into all the different
articles, being a informative source which
conforms to uses and gratifications.
 They tie in with the house style making it
prominent.
 Still bold and in capitals along with the
white shadow behind, to make them stand
out but smaller than the masthead and
anchor text as its not the main article.
Magazine that conform to this
convention: Rolling Stones
NMEBillboard

6. MAIN IMAGE
 I used a medium-close-up shot, which is a
common conventions of magazines of
similar genre.
 There is a single model whom is the face to
the main article, she also has direct mode of
address, which connects the audience to the
magazine and artist, it creates a personal
connection which conforms to uses and
gratifications theory. Natural facial
expression challenges sexualised images of
female models/artists. This then leads on to
challenge the male gaze.
 Background is black to
contrast with light
image of model
this challenges the
convention of
white backgrounds.
Magazines that conform to
this convention

7. ANCHOR TEXT
 Large bold text, still complying to the
house style. It’s of the artists name which
not only anchors it to the main image but
also entices fans, as it is the main story.
 I follow the convention of shadowing the
text to make it stand out from the image
and it also follows with the house style. I
challenge conventions however with the
font again not clear sans serif but it
complies with my house style.
Magazines that Conform to this
convention:
Q magazine
NME
CLASHRolling Stones

8. MAIN COVER LINE
 I used the very common convention of a main
cover line to give a snippet of the main article,
its informing and enticing the audience,
conforming to uses and gratifications.
 Its commonly placed under the anchor text. It is
still bold and in capitals to stand out but
smaller than anchor text, shadowed with bright
red to stand out from the background. Also fits
in with the house style.
 Quote from the MAGAZINES THAT USE
artist herself THIS CONVENTION
makes it personal
and creates
connection between
them and reader
also complying to
Uses and
gratifications.
Q magazine
Billboard
Rolling Stones
NME

9. HOUSE STYLE
 I stuck very close to the popular and
commonly used white, red and black house
style as it is a very established house style
and popular within many audiences. Shows
professional consistency.
MAGAZINES THAT CONFORM TO THE RED,
WHITE AND BLACK HOUSE STYLE:
MAGAZINES THAT CHALLENGE THE RED,
WHITE AND BLACK HOUSE STYLE:

10. • Magazine
Logo
• Masthead
• Features
• Columns
• Numbering
• Page
Number
• Competition
• Main Images
• Secondary
Images
• Social
Media
CONTENTS
PAGE
Masthead
Features
Columns
Numbering
Page Number Competition
Secondary
Images
Social
Media
Main
Image
Magazine
Logo

11. MAGAZINE LOGO
 I decided to include my magazines
name/logo in my contents page. It is a
common convention because it shows brand
awareness and professional consistency.
 It is smaller than ‘CONTENTS’ as it is the
masthead but still at the top of the page
and bold so it stands out. Keeps within the
house style.
Magazines that conform to this convention:

12. MASTHEAD
 Here my masthead conforms to many
conventions as it is large and bold, with the
white contrasting with the black. It is all in
capital letters and clearly shows the reader
they are on the contents page, helps with
navigation.
Magazines that conform to this convention:
Q magazineBillboard
CLASH
NME

13. FEATURES
 I used a features column as it was a very popular
convention for the genre of music magazine I
studied, as it breaks up the page into sections as
it helps the reader with navigation, informing the
reader about info within the magazine, following
uses and gratifications.
 The ‘FEATURES’ articles has short descriptions of
what the article is about. The text is not too
heavy but informative (uses and gratifications).
The ‘FEATURES’ title is bold and contrasting to
the rest of the text to stand out. The articles are
separated and paired with page numbers. All text
keeping to the house style.
Magazine that conform to this convention:
NME
Q magazine
Billboard

14. COLUMNS
 I used columns in my contents page as they
help organise the magazine and make it
look professional. Columns were also a very
common convention that I found in the
magazines that I researched.
 There is easy navigation, with no
overlapping of any text and/or images. I
split it into 2 columns a main one containing
the pictures and the other containing the
majority of the text and the ‘FEATURES’
column.
Magazines that conform to this convention:
Q magazine
NME
Billboard

15. NUMBERING
 I used numbering as it is a very commonly
used convention in the magazines I
researched.
 They are big and shadowed to stand out/eye
catching. The colours also keep with the
house style. It helps with the navigation and
creates shortcuts. It also links the image or
text to the feature/article.
Magazines that conform to this convention:
Billboard
Q magazine

16. PAGE NUMBER
 I used a page number in my magazine as it
is a common convention used in every
magazine I researched.
 The page number is conventionally placed in
the bottom corner of the page. Its colours
and font keep with the house style and the
name of the magazine is placed with it, also
another common convention to show brand
awareness. Page numbers will be the same
on every page showing professional
consistency.
Magazines that conform to this convention:
Billboard Rolling Stones

17. COMPETITON
 Competitions aren’t something that I found
regularly in my research, however I did find
that there are often give-aways, therefore I
decided to adapt this. Also considering this
is the first issue of the magazine it would be
logical to have a motive for the audience to
buy the next issue and a competition is a
good way to attract potential regular
readers. I conferred with my focus group
about the competition and the majority
thought it was a good idea.
 It keeps within the house style but stands
out a lot as it is on a black background,
whereas the majority of the text is on white
and is bold, with the sub-heading
‘COMPETITION’ in capitals. I also decided to
put the bands name in capitals and bold to
make it stand out as that would be the main
attraction to this feature.

18. MAIN IMAGE
 I used a slightly larger image of the model
who the main article is about. This is a
common convention with the magazines I
researched, this is to draw the readers
attention by using visual pictures of a well
recognised person.
 I challenged the convention of having the
page number above the image rather than
on it as I wanted to pair it with the artist’s
name, and then have a short snippet of the
article on the image working around the
models body, which is a common convention
of main images on contents pages.
 I decided to use a close up of the model on
the contents page to show her facial
expressions clearly. However I challenged
the convention of having the model show
direct mode of address, I did this to give the
artist and article a more natural/indie feel.

19. SECONDARY IMAGES
 I decided to use 2 secondary images on my
contents page, which are smaller than the
main one to show they are not the main
article. This is a common convention in the
magazines I researched.
 I decided to present them in a way like a
thumbnail, with no overlapping. I also
decide these images needed no text with
them but did couple them with little
snippets in the features column. I did this by
linking them with the same page number on
both images and snippet of articles.
 I used 2 different types of shots for these
images to show diversity as this is a indie
music magazine. I used one medium close
up and medium long shot to show both
models body language more than facial
expressions.

20. SOCAIL MEDIA LINKS
 In my research I have not come across a
contents page with social media links on,
however I decided to use it as my target
audience are teenagers and young adults
and social media is very popular especially
with teenagers/young adults therefore it
seems like a sensible way to get the
audience involved, hence the sub-heading
‘GET INVOVED’. It also means that they can
keep updated in between issues and will
help form a customer base, it means that I
am reaching my readers and marketing the
magazine effectively. With additional ways
for the audience to access the magazine it
widens the audience. Social media can also
be a way of advertising the magazine.
 The sub-heading, to stand out and the
different social media accounts are paired
with the social media’s logos to link it to the
text.

21. • Layout
• Image
• Artists
Name
• Anchor Text
• Columns
• Pull Quotes
• Text
• Editor
• Page
Numbers
• Drop Cap
DOUBLE
PAGE
SPREAD
Pull Quote
Editor
Image
Artist Name
Drop Cap
Text
Columns
Page
Numbers
Anchor Text

22. LAYOUT
For layout I used the regular convention of having a whole page for the
image however I challenged the convention of having the image on the right
instead of the left. I did this as I wanted the image to be the most important
part of the page, I wanted it to be eye catching so it immediately catches the
reader’s attention and draws them in to the article. I decided to have the
artist name bold at the top as it is the main subject.
Magazines that have similar
layouts:
NME
Q magazine CLASH
Billboard

23. IMAGE
 For the double page spread I used a medium close up shot as I thought this would be
the most eye catching and in my research I found medium close up’s a common
convention on the double page spread. I used direct mode of address as it connects the
reader and artist creating personal relationships conforming to uses and gratifications,
which therefor entices the reader.
 However I used a very calm and natural pose for my model as I did not find it important
or fitting to sexualise my female model as this does not fit the feel of the rest of the
magazine. Challenging the
convention of the male gaze.
Magazines that conform to this
convention:
Q magazine Rolling Stones

24. ARTIST’S NAME
 I chose to have the artists name as the title as it links the article to the
picture on the opposite page.
 Its large, bold and in capitals, keeping within the house style and biggest bit
of all the text as it is the most important bit, informing who the article is
about because even though the artist is well know because they are the main
article, not everyone would recognise the artist from the image.
Magazines that conform to this
convention:
NME
Billboard
Rolling Stones

25. ANCHOR TEXT
I placed it underneath the artists name/title it is a snippet of the article below
and entices the reader to read the whole article.
Is it not as large as the title but larger than the ordinary text standing out more
so the reader will see and read. It’s in capitals and black to contrast with the
white background. Keeps within the house style. The use of the word ‘SECRET’
tells the reader this is new ‘gossip’ revealed just now only in this magazine.
Magazines that conform to
this convention:
NME
Billboard
Rolling Stones

26. COLUMNS
I used the convention of splitting the page up into three equal sized
columns, this was common in the magazines I researched, therefore I
used it in my double page spread as it gives an organised, professional
look to the page, easy for the reader to follow.
Magazines that conform to
this convention:
Q magazine
NME

27. PULL QUOTE
 I used a pull quote as it was a common convention of the magazines I
studied. It is an insight to the rest of the story and creates engagement
and questions. It creates a personal experience for those reading, which is
uses and gratifications. I used a different font and colour and made it
slightly bigger to make it stand out from the rest of the text.
Magazines that conform to
this convention:
NME
Billboard

28. TEXT
I used a large letter behind the text of the double page spread which
links with the artist and it’s in colours that continue with my house style,
it is also very faint so that you can easily read the text in front of it.
However, in Q magazine they only used one initial, whereas I used both
as it looks like it is more linked to the artist than just the one initial.
Magazines that use this:
Q magazine

29. EDITOR
 Instead of including the editor in the anchor text like most of the
magazines I researched, have done. I have decided to give a very small
section of the page to the editor/writer, even including a small image
of the writer this not only connects the article to the one who wrote it
but also puts a face to the name.
 I chose to keep the text
small, but capitals and
red to stand out a little
more and to differentiate
from the regular text but
keeping with the house
style. The image is a
simple medium close up
of the editor in black and
white to again keep with
the house style.

30. PAGE NUMBERS
 I used page numbers because they were also on every double page spread
I researched. Page numbers are used to inform the reader.
 I decided to put the VINYL CODE logo along side the page numbers as it
creates brand awareness.
 The number itself is in the same font all the other numbers are on the
contents page, this shows professional consistency and red to keep
v with they house style.
Magazines that conform to
this convention:
Billboard
Q magazine NME

31. DROP CAP
 I decide to include drop caps to start my text, as it was a convention in
every double page spread I researched. It acts as a introduction to the
text.
 I decide to have them bold and red to keep with the house style so they
grab the attention of the reader and entices them to read on.
Magazines that conform to
this convention:
Billboard
Q magazine
NME