The document discusses the development and challenges of media conventions in a music magazine created by Elliott Brown. It outlines specific design elements and features, including the distinctive masthead, model positioning, and anchorage text, which aim to engage a targeted audience. The analysis reflects on the effectiveness of these choices and suggests improvements for future iterations of the publication.

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

2. Screen Grabs
These are the nine screen grabs I have
decided to use which I believe make my
magazine typical (sometimes not) of media
products like music magazines.

3. One
This “K” has all things any music magazine would have, it is
distinctive and not be confused with any other brand from
any brand let alone another magazine, for me and my brand
the K is the stand out part of mast head and brand. It is
unusual and peculiar which I believe will attract my
alternative market audience as it is new, different and not
what they would expect which in my eyes is completely what
they would want. The colour is very bright making it stand out
and become very clear to see and notice on a shop shelf. It is
part of the masthead so is displayed in the top third of the
page and unlike most magazines I have used no effects against
the white background as I believe it does not need it, my aim
is the make it basic and not over complicate the mast head,
personally I feel the affect has been achieved mainly by
overlapping my models head to still make it appear as though
it is slightly 3D. I think the “K” has worked well, however if I
was to do this again I would add a small black stroke, like
“NME” ensuring I still have the sharpness of text.

4. Two
This screen grabs show the facial area of my model. It is
positioned in front of the masthead, like most magazines I
followed the basic convention that is to not cover of the face
as that is what attracts the consumer to buy the magazine. It is
a casual pose which by the shoulder you can tell is very
relaxed. The artist is comfortable and “chilled out” showing he
knows he is call, this is another feature which attracts my
particular audience. He is wearing a casual white and blue tie-
dyed t-shirt showing he keeps up with fashion… this gives him
the iconic image of someone my audience would want to be
like. The facial expression is a stare with the head slightly tilted
and has engaged eye contact with the camera thus audience.
On the cover it is very typical to have eye contact and a stare
but the tilted head is unusual and unlike most magazines
making him different and unlike most of magazines. I like this
and if I was doing it again I would do the same again but
possibly try and adjust the lighting conditions that I took the
photo in. In the photography room I would make the lights
brighter as the artist looks slightly yellow.

5. Three
This is the anchorage text and is located on the front cover, this links the central image
and the magazine telling you what the artist is doing on the page. The line below the main
text links to the double page spread and tells us what the point of the interview will be.
“MAN OF MYSTERY” leaves the subject widely open and will entice the audience as they
will want to find out what the big mystery is. It is in the same font as the anchorage
showing the link, the font is supposed to be distinctive to the artist and would be a way of
recognising his name if you see the font again, it is different style font which I think works
well on the page and if I had the chance I would use it again in the same size and location,
however I would try and provide more of a link to the double page spread other than just
via the central image.

6. Four
This is another commonly used feature on the contents page… the gridline system. I have
used three gridlines so the contents does not appear to be squashed and instead I have
chosen to have extra space and make it look tidy. Three gridlines is the choice I would
make gain, however I feel I have left too much dead space, and around the contents it
could be argued there is too much plain white space. I have tried to stop this by clearly
defining the gridlines, stretched a article across the entire gridline and used drop shadow
under the numbers so they don’t appear isolated, alone and flat on the page. This screen
grab is also a good example of how I have used my colour scheme as it contains all four
colours that I planed to use. The colour scheme is always the same in every issue which
makes it identifiable to the audience week after week whilst reminding them of the point
of the magazine, to be British and individual.

7. Five
This is a section inside my contents page on the bottom right
part of the page, space has been used well as social network
icons have been used… all the same size to show we have no
priority with the social networks. Drop shadow has been used
on our brand’s name. This gives the audience another way to
find us further which makes it a buzz section as it will make
them feel as though they are getting more for their money and part of the Kingdom club.
From feedback I have received off actual readers this part is very successful and should be
kept in the same area every issue making a basic feature for the Kingdom magazine. The
website is also in the section but not as large or as bold as it is not a priority as it would be
easier to find once a consumer is on the social network giving consumers direct links to
subscribe to the mag. The font is clear and easy to read, ensuring that it does not challenge
the reader too much and it is also not very hard to find on the page. This convention is
appropriate as my magazine is for the people aged below thirty, meaning they are likely to
be very common with the social sites and is highly likely that this will be a successful way to
develop the audience- brand relationship and familiarity.

8. Six
This is a badge used on the contents page, it is used to attract the
consumer to a specific stand out area and is used similarly to a
buzz word in the way that it makes a reader think they are getting
more for their money. I have used this over the central image on
the contents page mainly because without it in this position the
image would look bare and use up a lot more space than it would
need too. It is black with drop shadow to contrast the white and
has red text with a white outer glow. I chose to use these colours
once again because of how unfamiliar they are to the pop genre
and clearly represent the indie/alternative reader. Badges are
enticing to the reader but had I have had another chance I would
change the font to something slightly simpler and more mature as
it seems quite uneven and jumbled.

9. Seven
I have chosen to evaluate this pull quote from my
double page spread as it is taken out of the text and
used in a larger font to the rest of the text, mainly
for the reason that it is interesting and if a reader
were to read it, it may entice they to read the article
instead of skipping over it. I choose this particular
quote as it is about the fans, shows a cool exterior
yet the appreciation he has for being a star. For a fan
of the artist it is likely to make the star more iconic
and idealised. I think that it has achieved its aim, to
grab attention and make the audience stop to read
it. It shows quite a rebellious exterior mainly through
the attitude that it is said.

10. Eight
Also on my double page spread I have chosen The large S at
the start of my article. Traditionally most written media texts
that are being published to the public will have a large first
letter at the start of the article to try and convince the reader
that the read is not as heavy as they might think, it contrasts
the text and starting the first letter convinces the audience to
carry on reading as they have done the hardest part: start the
article. I have used it to try and convince the consumer to
read my article and it is defiantly a good and proven feature
to use at the start, so much so that for the rest article I would
plan on varying size and font to use it consistently
throughout the magazine.

11. Nine
This is the sub head I used on the double page spread which is supposed to provide
information on what the article is about. I believe that it has done this well, however
given the chance I would try to provide more link between the front cover and the
double page spread. I have used the bold for key words, my name- as the interviewee
some reader regard it important to know the name as they specifically look for articles
by a certain author. Although the name of the artist being interviewed is clear it is
important to highlight it to show how important it really is.