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

2. Front cover

3. Splash image
Fig 1. Fig 3.Fig 2.
For my splash image, I have used a medium shot (Fig 1.) which is what is most commonly used in other magazines (Fig
2. and Fig 3.). By doing this, my image is one of the first things that the audience will see.
I have used a female on the front cover to break the conventions that magazines in this genre will generally have a
male on the cover. As I have done this, it will catch peoples attention as it is something different and it also helps to
bring females towards my magazine rather than it being completely focused on the male side. Laura Mulvey also came
up with the theory of the Male Gaze so it will help to include the male audience as well so my magazine has a more
balanced audience.
When I took the pictures for my splash image, I made sure that my model had fashionable clothing, had some slight
make up and her hair was slightly styled. I did this so that she would still fit in with the other images from other
magazines (Fig 2. and Fig 3.) as they have not been very styled for their images.
In Fig 1. the model is making eye contact with the camera so, when people look at the magazine, they will feel
connected to her and it will help to catch the audiences eye. The same has been done in Fig 3. where he is looking
directly at the camera to connect with the audience, and in Fig 2., though his face is turned slightly from the camera,
his eyes are still looking directly at it which keeps to the conventions of the splash image for the magazine.

4. Fig 1. Fig 3.
Fig 2.
Cover lines
My cover lines (Fig 1.) are similar to the way that Kerrang (Fig 3.) have laid out their cover lines as there
are only a couple and they are spaced out on the page. However, it is slightly different to the NME (Fig
2.) layout as they are all lined up down one side of the page.
I have challenged the conventions used in Fig 2. as there are only two cover lines and they are spread
out over the page. It also challenges the conventions used in Fig 3. as I have tried to not cover up much
of the splash image where as they have placed theirs on top of the image without trying to avoid it. I did
this as I found it was much easier to read than when it is surrounded by the image as it can distract the
readers vision.
I also tried to use words which would attract the audience, like “Exclusive” and “Comeback”, which will
encourage the reader to pick up the magazine as they will get new information by reading the magazine.
This is similar to both Fig 2. and Fig 3. as they have also used words like this to attract the audience
towards their magazine. However, I have challenged the conventions by not including different colours
to show each separate cover line on the page which the other two magazines have done.

5. Masthead
For my masthead (Fig 1.), I wanted it to look different to how they normally look in a magazine. I have
used a red colour scheme (like in Fig 2.) and I have tried to make it stretch out over the whole of the
page (like in Fig 3.). I chose to use red for the colour for my masthead as it commonly used in my genre
of magazine and it is clear and easy to read on the lighter coloured background for this cover but would
also work on a darker background as well.
My masthead is positioned slightly off to the left so that the date, issue and logo/app symbol can be
positioned at the top as well. I have included the logo at the top of the page so that the audience will
automatically relate that symbol with the magazine and make it more recognisable to the audience as
well.
I have gone against the usual conventions of the magazine as my masthead is not in bold like the other
two examples. This will help to make it different from the other magazines and also helps to create to
the pop side of the rock pop genre as it look more similar to that type of genre.
I have kept to the conventions of the magazine though by having the main image covering up part of the
title which has been done in both Fig 1. and Fig 2. By doing this, the audience can still see the title
clearly but it also helps to draw the eye down to the main image.
Fig 1. Fig 3.Fig 2.

6. Colour scheme
For my colour scheme, I have got one staple colour (red) and then used black, white and grey for nearly
all of the cover, I have used yellow once to highlight the chance to win in the sticker style. This is very
similar to Fig 2. as they have got the two staple colours of red and blue with all of the other items on
the page being in neutral colours. Where as, Fig 3. has four main colours being used consistently
throughout the page. I have also chosen red as my staple colour so that it ties in with my masthead and
looks much more professional than if the I had used completely different colours throughout the cover.
For the background of my image, I have used a plain white background (which is the same as Fig 3. and
similar to how Fig 2. has been done with a plain background) as this sticks to the conventions normally
seen in a magazine and helps to make it look much more professional.
Fig 1. Fig 3.Fig 2.

7. Banner
My banner (Fig 1.) stretches along the bottom of my magazine which is different to how
they are laid out in (Fig 2.). I have only used three images for my poster which is the same as
Fig 2. but I have spread mine out along the page where as they have all been bundled
together on the other magazine. I have done this so that the are easy to spot for the
audience and gives them a bigger reason to buy the magazine as they will get free posters
when they buy it.
I have stuck to the conventions of a magazine buy including posters on the front of the page
and advertising them to the audience. I have also made them much larger to show off some
of the ones which the audience will be most interested in so that they buy the magazine to
see all of the other posters inside.
Fig 1.
Fig 2.

8. Contents

9. Headline
Fig 1.
Fig 2. Fig 3.
The headline of my magazine (Fig 1.) still uses the staple colour of red to help keep the magazine tied in
together and keeps it looking professional and neat throughout the magazine. This is the same as Fig 2.
and Fig 3. as they have kept to using the main colours which were used on their front covers.
For the font, I have used a basic, easy to read font like the other two magazines so that the audience can
see clearly what the page is. By having a gradient behind it though, it makes it more interesting to look
at and it helps to draw the eye downwards to look at the articles being mentioned.
Both Fig 2. and Fig 3. have the phrase “This week” instead of just saying contents which is something
that I took on board when designing my contents page. Instead of saying “This week” though I put
“What’s new” to help catch the readers attention. It also suggests that there will be something new
included in the magazine this week instead of it being the same articles each week.
They have also both included their magazine name where as I have not. I have done this as I have
included the logo further down on the page and I have also mentioned the name throughout the
magazine.

10. Images
Fig 1.
Fig 3.
Fig 2.
I only used a couple of images on my contents page like Fig 3. which related to the small
article included on the contents page. I made the images relatively large so that they catch
the readers attention and make the want to read the article on the contents page and look
at the other articles featured in the magazine.
Each of my images were taken on location at concerts (like Fig 3.) which makes them much
more interesting to look at than just being studio shots. This helps to make the audience feel
involved in what is going on and gives them a taster on what the small article be about
(which is how the images in Fig 3. have been used).

11. Layout
The layout of my magazine (Fig 1.) is very similar to both Fig 2. and Fig 3. which shows how I am sticking
to the conventions of the magazine. I have kept my contents page neat and tidy by making everything
line up and having all of the colours work together well.
My contents page is very similar in layout to Fig 2. as I have the main contents down the right side of the
page with the article on the left, headline at the top and adverts and extras at the bottom so I have kept
with the conventions for how the layout of the magazine should be. The colours used are also very
similar to Fig 3. as these are very common colours to use in this genre of magazine and are the colours
which I chose to use for my magazine.
I have set out my contents into different sections (like Fig 2. and Fig 3.) so that it is easy for the audience
to see what will be included in the magazine and can see what there is in different areas of the
magazine.
Fig 1. Fig 2. Fig 3.

12. Double page spread

13. Headline
My headline (Fig 1.) is at the very top of the left page which is the same as Fig 3. where as Fig 2. has the
headline on the right page instead. This shows how I have stuck to the conventions of the magazine as it
is the same as the other magazines out there. By having it on the left page at the top, it is the first thing
that the reader will see and it is what will catch their eye and encourage them to read the article.
For the headline, I have used a pull quote which stood out in the article (like in Fig 3.) as this will
encourage the audience to read the article to see why that has been said. It also does not give too much
away so the audience will want to read it so that they can find out what it is about.
I have used the same red that I have used throughout the magazine so that it still links together and
stands out clearly on the lighter background. I also included a gradient so that it makes it more
interesting to look at and draws the readers eye down and encourages them to read the article.
Fig 1.
Fig 3.
Fig 2.

14. Layout
Fig 1.
Fig 2.
Fig 3.
The layout of my double page spread (Fig 1.) is very similar to
how Fig 2. and Fig 3. are laid out. I have the image taking up
the whole of the right side of the page with all of the text on
the left. This is the same as how Fig 3. has been laid out. I
have done this so that the image can be used as a poster and
so that it keeps with the conventions of the magazine.
My text has been separated into three columns to represent
the three members of the band where as Fig 2. and Fig 3. are
only split into two columns. This means that I have
challenged the conventions of the magazine as I have done
something which makes it different to the others.
I have stuck to the conventions of the magazine as I have
used a similar amount of images to the other two magazines
on my double page. By only using two images, it does not
draw the audiences attention away from what the article is
about but it does help to separate the text up and make it
much more interesting to look at.

15. Images
I have used two different images (Fig 1.) on my double page spread which is keeping with the conventions of the
magazine as most other magazines have a range between 1 - 3 images which is the same as I have done.
Both of my images were taken out in York so that they relate more to my target audience and seem more approachable
to the audience. I have kept to the conventions by doing this as most other magazines have images taken on location and
do not have a plain background. I found it also makes the image more interesting to look at as you can see where they
are and relate to the band more. I used one long shot of the whole band and then a medium long shot of the lead singer
as the poster image on the other page. This has challenged the conventions as Fig 2. and Fig 3. both use medium shots of
the singular artists so that the focus is on the artists face and the instrument that they are playing (Fig 3.).
I also edited the larger, poster image so that the background is in black and white with the artist still in colour. I did this
to reinforce the focus on the artist and to show that he is the lead in the band. It also makes the image stand out from
the rest of the page and will catch the audiences interest when they are looking through the magazine. This is similar to
Fig 3. as they have taken most of the colour out of the image so I have conformed to their views on a magazine however,
it is different to Fig 2. so I have challenged their views on what the magazine should look like.
Fig 3.
Fig 2.
Fig 1.

16. Colour scheme
Fig 1.
Fig 2.
The colour scheme on my double page spread (Fig 1.) is the same as the rest of
my magazine. I have used red as the staple colour and with black, white and
grey as the neutral, background colours for the rest of the page. I have kept to
using the red so that the magazine will look more professional and it will seem
more continuous as the colours are the same throughout and do not suddenly
change on each page.
The background is white with a grey gradient at the top where the title is to
encourage the reader to follow the gradient down to read the rest of the
article. This is very similar to Fig 2. as they have used a plain white background
for the double page which makes it easy to read and creates a much cleaner
look throughout the magazine. However, it is very different to Fig 3. as that has
a completely coloured background to tie the image in over both pages. I took
this into account when designing mine so I kept the same grey as there is in
the image as the gradient at the top of the page to help tie the two pages
together.
By doing this, I have stuck to the conventions of both magazines as I have used
the white background from Fig 2. but incorporated the colour element from
Fig 3. for my double page spread.
I have used red as my staple colour as it stands out against the white
background and black text so catches the audiences attention well and is still
easy to read. I have stuck to the conventions as the other two magazines as
they have both used a staple colour in their double page spreads to help it
stand out on the page. The questions in the interview have been put in red so
that the reader can easily see where each of the questions are and can skip to
another question easily if they want to or re read one without having to search Fig 3.

17. Fig 1.
Writing style
Fig 2.
Fig 3.
I tried to write my article (Fig 1.) in an easy to read way which is relatively informal. I id this to relate to my
audience more as they are likely to be younger so will not want to read an in depth article and would
rather it seem like they are talking to them themselves. The younger generation do not speak formally to
one another and in general day to day conversation so it is more relatable to them by using informal
language in the article. This is similar to both Fig 2. and Fig 3. as they both use informal language
throughout the article to relate more to the target audience.
The questions that are in the article are about the band, their music and concerts and festivals that they
are either playing soon are have played recently. I have done this as this is what the audience will want to
read about and is what most other interviews with other artists are like so I have kept with the
conventions of the writing style involved in magazines.
My text is also split up into three separate columns to help represent the three people playing in the band
in the picture just above the text.