The document discusses the process of analyzing existing magazine products to identify common codes and conventions. This included bold headlines, mastheads, and pugs. The author conducted research and questionnaires with their target audiences to understand what makes a good magazine. They created layouts applying typical codes and conventions, while challenging some conventions based on their research. For example, not including a barcode because students cannot afford magazines. Across both preliminary and main tasks, the author considered codes and conventions as well as target audience feedback to create magazines appealing to the intended readers.

2. 
For part of my research section I looked at existing media
products which I analysed for my STA’s. From this I was able to
pick out similarities each one had and figure out codes and
conventions that are stereotypically found in magazines.
Big and
bold
headlines/
straplines
Bold masthead
at the top
Pug

3. 
I then continued to research these
codes and conventions further and put
them into the ‘codes and conventions’
part of my coursework. With this in mind,
I carried out questionnaires and some
interviews with my target audience for
each the preliminary and main task to
find out what they think a good
magazine looked like. Using all of the
information gathered I then went on to
create flat plans of possible layouts for
my magazines where I developed the
typical codes and conventions found
to also fit with what my target audience
wanted.

4. 
For the preliminary task, I used tight framing for my main image because this is a
common convention found in student magazines. I also instructed my model to
look happy and as if she was enjoying herself in order to make the magazine
seem enjoyable to read. Furthermore, I used the school library as the
background to show that it is a student magazine and to make the magazine
seem educational. The model is holding an open text book to signify to the
reader that they can find out information about revision and studying inside the
magazine. However, the model is wearing casual clothes (a hoodie), which tells
the reader that even though it is a student magazine, you can read about other
social events and it isn’t all serious and primarily about studying. Whilst I was
editing I included a few more common conventions such as the masthead at the
top of the page, a pug on the front cover and a head teacher’s note in the
contents page. I challenged a convention by not including a barcode on the
front cover of my magazine. I did this because students typically do not have
enough money to spend on magazines and I found out from my target audience
research that students are much more likely to read the magazine if it was free.

5. 
For the main task, I created a Teen Pop genre of music magazine whose target audience is young girls aged 11-15. I
decided to use teenage girls as the models in the main image on the front cover in order to relate to my target
audience. I also used a mid-shot because this is a common convention in all music magazines. In addition, I
instructed my models to wear girly and feminine dresses because it is common in Teen Pop magazines for the models
to be wearing fun and flirty clothing. I also used bright lighting to make the magazine come across fun and lighthearted to read as this is also a convention used in teen pop magazines. For the double page spread, I took long
shots and used loose framing to convey to the reader that the article is fun and not strict or serious. Long shots are
also convention in music magazines for double page spreads. I then went on to edit my magazine and added more
conventions to all the pages. In the front cover, I put the masthead on the top left hand corner, included a barcode,
social networking references, the date and price as well as bold headlines on either side of the page. I used a bold,
girly and bubbly font to appeal to my target audience and I also used girly colours such as pink and purple
throughout the magazine. I also included a pug with a freebie as I found out from my target audience that this is
what they wanted. Moreover, on the contents page, I laid out the page numbers and straplines in columns at the
bottom of the page and a few pugs referencing the main interview featured on the double page spread. I also
added in an editor’s note because this is a typical convention in magazines. On the double page spread, I included
pull quotes to draw the reader into reading the interview and I continued the pink and purple colour scheme in order
to appeal to my target audience. The article is laid out in columns in order to follow a common convention of
magazines and the images were taken with a bright lighting to give across a fun and light-hearted feel to the page.
This would also make the reader feel as if the article is easy to read because the page isn’t cluttered. I found out from
my target audience research that a cluttered page is something that would put them off reading a magazine so I
took this in mind when editing my double page spread.

6. 
Whilst producing and editing my magazines I thought about the
uses and gratifications theory as by conforming to the typical Teen
Pop genre/Student magazine throughout using typical codes and
conventions it appeals to the right genre of audience and
therefore, they will use the mag to gratify their needs.