The document describes the evaluation of a student's magazine cover and contents page. It discusses how the products use conventions of real magazines, such as including a masthead on the cover with title and issue information. It also notes how new media technologies were used, including a digital SLR to take photos, Photoshop to edit images and create the cover, and Quark to layout the contents page. Both strengths and weaknesses are evaluated, with weaknesses including non-professional fonts and needing better edited images, and strengths being using a coherent color scheme and including different sized headings.

1. Evaluation

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media
products?
My magazine cover uses a masthead with the title starting from the top left. The masthead also contains the issue
information, such as the date, issue number and price. This is a common convention of professional magazine covers as
it is the most eye-catching element; it is the first thing the reader sees so it should have the information with it. I have
made the title bold and in big writing in order to conform to this convention.
I have included a puff on my front cover to
attract attention. This also makes the cover look
most interesting and attractive to look at. This
is a common convention of magazine covers as
it draws attention and usually contains
information to draw the reader in.
I have included a skyline that advertises the
magazine. This is a convention of magazine covers
as it promotes the magazine and makes it seem like
the best choice to read.
I have made the main coverline bigger than the others
and placed it along the bottom in a banner. It also
matches up to the main image. This is a common
convention of magazine covers as it is normally the
most exciting thing in the magazine.
I have used a barcode in the bottom
right of the front cover. This conforms to
magazine conventions as the barcode is
always on the front page because the
back page is normally an advert. It is in
the bottom right corner so it doesn’t
obstruct any of the cover.
I used coverlines that framed the
main image. I also used sublines to
give more information about the
magazine. This is a common
convention of magazine covers as it
gives an insight into what’s in the
magazine and encourages people to
buy it.

3. How did you use new media technologies in the construction of your media
product?
I used a digital SLR to take my main image. I used the
zoom and flash to make the photo look professional. I
also had to make sure it was in medium close up to
match the brief. I had to take several images so I could
choose the best one and I also had to connect the
camera to a computer to save the pictures.
I used photoshop to create my front cover. I had to use
the layer tool to add new layers if I wanted to insert
something. I used the font tab to choose my font
colour, size and style. I used the draw tool to draw a
puff and a banner. I also used the transform tool to
rotate my shapes. I saved a picture of a barcode and
inserted it into photoshop. I also used photoshop to
save my front cover as a jpeg and resize it so I could
use it in my contents page.

4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of both the product and your use of
new media technologies?
Weaknesses
My main image does not use direct address as the model
is not making eye contact, so it does not draw the reader
in well.
My main image is in medium close up so it meets the
brief, however if I were to take it again I would make sure
that there was less empty space above the head.
My coverlines and sublines don’t stand out from the
background very well so I’d need to change the font
colour.
The puff is too big and draws too much focus from the
main image. It also looks unprofessional so I would fix this
by spending more time on editing it.
The fonts on my cover do not look professional, so I
would take more time to select better fonts.
My banner is too big for the text inside so it leaves a lot
of empty space.
The issue information is not small enough and doesn’t fit
into the masthead well.
I also need to take more time to edit my main image.
Strengths
I have used a good colour scheme of blues that match up
to each other. I will use this technique again in my main
task.
My banner works well because it goes across the page
diagonally, and I will probably do this again however I
would make it smaller.
My skyline works well as it promotes the magazine and it
is in a different colour to the title so it stands out.
It also contains all of the generic conventions and features
of a typical magazine cover.

5. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real
media products?
I have used a white background for my contents. This
is a common convention of contents pages because
it makes the text clearer and isn’t distracting.
I have put the title of the magazine at the top of the page.
This is a common convention of contents pages as it promotes
the magazine and also makes it look professional.
I have used a big page number and caption on the
images. This draws attention and helps the reader to
navigate the magazine easily.
I have used images that link to the articles. This is a common
feature of contents pages because it makes the page look
more interesting and it adds colour.
I have used an image of the magazine front page as a form of
self-promotion.
I have categorized the articles into regulars and features.
Categorized articles is a common convention of contents
pages because it makes it easier to find certain articles. I
have written the headings in a different colour to make
them stand out from the rest of the text on the page.
I have used a three column structure that makes it
look organised and professional.
I have used a main image that is usually the article
that is the I have used a big title: ‘Contents’ at the most important or exclusive.
top of the page. This is a common
convention as it tells you what page
you are on and it is one of the most
important pages in the magazine.
I have also included a link to another
company (Twitter) as a main feature
of contents pages is to advertise.

6. How did you use new media technologies in the construction of
your media product?
I used Quark to create my contents page. I
used text box and picture tools. I also had to
resize my pictures in Quark. I used text tools
to change the font style, colour and size. I
also was able to change the angle of an
image by choosing the degree I wanted it to
be.
I used Photoshop to edit the brightness and
contrast of the images. I also used it to save my
front cover as a JPEG so I could insert it as an
image on my contents page.
I used a digital SLR to take my main image. I used
the zoom and flash to make the photo look
professional. I also had to make sure that each
image linked to my articles. I had to take several
images so I could choose the best one and I also
had to connect the camera to a computer to save
the pictures.

7. What are the strengths and weaknesses of both the product
and your use of new media technologies?
Weaknesses
I have left too much white space around the page, especially in the top
right corner. I would amend this by adding a border, another image or my
magazine logo there.
I have not got a page number on the page, which all contents pages should
have.
My page numbers are not in the right order. This makes it hard to follow
and find what you are looking for.
I think that I need to choose more exciting and interesting fonts to make my
magazine stand out.
The images that I used needed to have been planned and edited better, so
that they look more professional.
The caption box doesn’t look very good, so I would need to spend more
time on getting the shape and size just right.
I need more colour in the background, so next time I could add a border.
Strengths
I have used a colour scheme that works well, as I have used shades of blue
that tie in together.
I have used article headings and subheadings in different size fonts. This
works well as it adds texture to the page as well as giving more information
about the articles.
I have used a picture of my magazine cover on the page. This works well as
it shows professionalism, and also the fact that it is on an angle makes it
look more interesting.