The document discusses how the media product follows conventions of real music magazines. It uses a unique front cover style with an indie model and white backdrop. The masthead follows conventions with an altered spelling and enlarged letter. Cover lines promote articles using fonts and colors. The contents page includes the masthead, band index, and advert. The double-page spread features street art and connects through color scheme and masthead. Comparisons show similarities to magazines like NME in layout and elements. While largely conventional, it also challenges conventions through some creative design choices.

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

2. FRONT
COVER

3. MASTHEAD
WEBSITE
ANCHORAGE
MAIN IMAGE
COVER LINES
IMAGES
BARCODE INCLUDING
WEBSITE DATE AND
PRICE
BUZZ WORD
COVER LINES
SELL LINE
QUOTE

4. REFLEKTOR VS NME

5. MAIN IMAGE
The mise en scene my image gives, is one of individuality. The front image connotes a contemporary
unique style. The model I have used posses a unique style, and is face on to the camera. The eye contact
with the camera suggest that the main focus of the front cover is on the artist, whilst also drawing the
audience to the magazine. My model is wearing clothing that is inspired by the indie music culture, whilst
is also the style used by lots of other indie artists. As you can see here, the artist featured on the front
page of NME is shown wearing a denim jacket. There are similar attributes between my magazine front
image and NME’s front image. I have also used a white back drop as my back ground for the front page,
as this is also very popular for indie magazines to do. I found that my model stands out against the white
background, making her the main focus of my magazine. This use of a white back ground is often used in
in magazines such as NME. I feel that I have followed the conventions of a magazine also, as I have
taken pictures of my model from the waist up.

6. The title of my magazine follows the conventions of a typical music magazine. I have altered the spelling of “reflector” and changed
it to “reflektor”, I did this so that the title appears more edgy and interesting. When altering the spelling I found that I could play
with the typography of the title. The ‘K’, in the title was enlarged. I think that the enlarged letter fits the convention of a music
magazine, as my title can be easily recognized by my regular audience. I feel that the enlarged ‘K’, gives a significant look to the
magazine. This means that my title is clearly following the conventions of a music magazine, as I have created my masthead so
that it posses a certain style and look. Most other magazines have an individual style and look so their logo is easily recognized
with in the media. The name ‘Reflektor”, connotes that the magazines purpose is to “reflect” on the music that has been popular
over the month. Reflektor, reflects on new music and artists that are current during the last month. I feel that my font relates to the
indie genre, as compared to other indie mastheads my title is fairly similar, thus proving that my magazine follows the conventions
of a music magazine. The colour scheme followed in regards to the title is also similar to other indie magazines. I have used red
and black because they contrast well together, and appeal to both male and females. Before creating my title I researched into
legitimate logos of famous indie magazines such as “NME”, and “Q”. Both logos used the colours red and white, therefore proving
that the colour red, is very appropriate for an indie magazine. The distribution of the mast head also follows the conventions, as it
follows the Z rule that most magazines may go by.
MAST HEAD // TITLE

7. “REFLEKTOR” LOGO COMPARED TO OTHER
LOGOS. My masthead/logo.
Legitimate music magazine
logos.
Here I have shown how I have been inspired by
current indie magazine logos. I have followed the
conventions of a magazine as I have used the
colour red which is fairly popular when creating a
logo. The colour red demands the attention of the
reader, meaning that my magazine will appeal to
my audience. I have also used a bold text which is
easy to read, as you can see compared to Q
magazine and NME, I have used a similar font, to
ensure that my magazine is easy to identify, and
read. I have challenged the conventions by,
changing the colour and size of ‘K’. This shows
that actually I have challenged the conventions.
However I feel that changing the style of my text
makes my masthead appeal to my audience as it is
unique and different.

8. It is very professional if a magazine uses a barcode. For my magazine I have made my own
barcode which includes some information to do with the magazine. I have included the price,
date and website of the magazine, whilst also including the actual barcode its self. I have
used photo shop to create my own logo. Most magazine information like web addresses,
price, and date are distributed near the barcode. This is because the barcode is usually the
last thing the audience will want to look at. As it is not the most appealing to the reader. My
magazine is about music and my main focus is not on the bar code of my magazine.
Therefore all my insignificant information is located on the barcode as shown.

9. Like all magazines I have included cover lines to promote articles with in my magazine. I have
used different font styles and colours to make my magazine appear more interesting, and
appealing to the audience. Using band names on the front cover of my magazine draws the
attention of my audience. By using a red font this will demand the attention of the reader. The
use of vocabulary such as ‘exclusive’, and ‘top indie artists’, demands the attention of the
audience. I have placed the cover lines in the first third and third third of the magazine. Whilst
also anchoring the main image with relevant cover lines. I have enlarged some cover lines to
connote the sense of importance they conduct. By using different font this follows that
conventions of a front cover, as most legitimate magazines use different font styles and
colours so the front page appeals to a wide range of audience. I have compared my cover
lines to other cover lines of magazines such as NME.

10. CHALLENGING THE CONVENTIONS
Despite following most of the conventions and regulations of a typical music magazine, I have
not followed some conventions and rules. I have not included a sky line on my front cover,
instead I have included a banner at the top corner of the page, promoting posters that are
included in the magazine. I feel that the absence of a skyline does not make an impact on my
magazine, as I feel that if a sky line was to be included my magazine would appear crowded
and unappealing, as the logo covers most of the top o the magazine there would be no room
for me to place the skyline. Still I have used a replacement by advertising posters, on the right
hand corner of the page.

11. CONTENTS
PAGE

12. MY CONTENTS PAGE VS NME

13. MAST HEAD
BAND
INDEX
MAIN
IMAGE
PAGE NUMBERS
FOR NAVIATION
SUBLINES
ADVERT
DATE
WEBSITE
SOCIAL AND
WEBSITE
ADRESS
QUOTE FROM
ARTICLE
SUMMMARY
OF MAIN
ARTICLE
ISSUE NUMBER

14. All contents page’s must require to mastheads//titles. One title must present the magazine,
and the other must note the reader that the page is in fact the contents page. I have including
both mastheads. By using a smaller version of my masthead, this creates fluency from the
front cover to the contents page, like in other magazines, such as NME. I have also included
the title ‘contents’, on the top right hand corner. Again the structure of the mastheads follows
the Z rule, that most magazines follow, as it is easier to follow and read for the audience, so
that the first thing the audience reads is the name of my magazine. I have also used the same
font and colour, from the front cover masthead to create fluency. Fluency is a major part of a
magazine’s conventions, so that the audience is familiar with the magazine they are reading.
Underneath my masthead I have included details of the magazine including, the issue number
and magazine website.
MASTHEAD

15. As you can see, I have placed my date in the K
of my mast head “Reflektor.” I feel that this is a
unique idea and will appeal to my audience,
because of its abstract placement. The contrast
of white against the red of the font, is eye
catching to my audience, and easy to read. This
placement of the text shows my creativity when
producing my masthead. I have seen no other
magazine use this technique, this gives my
magazine a sense of individuality and unique
style.

16. INSPIRATION AND COMPARISONS

17. I have created an advert for my contents page, as I have noticed that it is a very popular
convention used. The advert relates to my magazine genre, and is eye catching for the reader. As
you can see, magazines like NME, use adverts to put on the contents page as it appeals and
attracts their audience.

18. Overall I feel that, I have successfully met the conventions of a contents page, as I feel that
my contents page is fairly similar to market place magazines such as NME. I have used NME
magazine as my inspiration as I liked the layout and structure of the page, and found that it
was easy to navigate around the page and find certain articles that I wanted to. I have copied
certain aspects and conventions of NME’s content page, like the band index. The band index
presents all the bands featured in the magazine, in alphabetical order. The page number is
also presented next to the bands name so the audience is able to find a certain article that
they want to read. I feel that I have used a fluent colour scheme form the front cover to the
contents page, and used the same typography so that my magazine appears professional
through out.
However it can be argued that I have not met the conventions successfully as, the
measurements of my contents page are slightly out of line. When professionals produce
magazines they will ensure that all measurements including text boxes and images are in line,
I believe that my contents page may be slightly out of line and appear unprofessional.

19. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

20. MAIN IMAGE/ BACKGROUND
PULL
QUOTES
IMAGES
PAGE
NUMBERS
HEAD LINE
PHOTOGRAPHER
CREDIT
DROP
CAPTITAL
ARTICLE/INTERVEIW
INTRODUCTION
OF ARTICLE
LOGO/MASTHE
AD OF
MAGAZINE

21. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
When I was creating my double page spread, I was not inspired by one particular magazine.
However I was inspired by a wide range of double page spread examples. The main image used for
my double page spread, was taken in Shoreditch. I think that street art really relates to the genre of
my magazine, I also liked the colours and art of the background of my double page spread. I have
used a specific colour scheme, that connects with the background of my double page spread. I have
followed the conventions of a magazine as have presented fluency on my double page spread, by
including my logo on the top left hand corner of my double page spread. As you can see, I have
compared my logo/feature sign to an NME example. I have used the word, ‘feature’ as this relates to
my contents page.

22. NME
REFLEKTOR
I have chosen this magazine for inspiration as it
presents a female rock star as the center topic of the
article. I also believe that the style the model portrays
in this article is the same as my model on my double
page spread. The article also shows an interview,
which is the same as my magazine.
I have noticed a few similarities between my
magazine and NME magazine. The use of two
colours for the headline is similar between NME
and Reflektor, I have also included a drop cap
which also follows a certain colour scheme. Like
NME I have included an introduction underneath
my headline introducing the interveiw.

23. SIMILARITIES AND COMPARISONS
Here are I have shown how my magazine compares to
other magazines in the market place. My magazine is
fairly similar to the legitimate magazine. This shows how I
have followed the conventions of a double page spread
as I have included all the conventions and regulations of
a double page spread.

24. CONCLUSION
Over all I feel that I have successfully
reached the conventions of a music
magazine. I feel that my magazine portrays
fluency and a sustainable theme through out.
Most magazines have to portray fluency, and
a unique theme. This makes magazines
appear professional and pleasing to read for
the audience. As you can see I have used a
fluent colour scheme, and presented my logo,
on each the front cover, contents page and
double page spread. I have used a certain
type of house style for my magazine, so it
appeals to my reader and comes across as
professional, again creating fluency.
However it can be suggested that my
magazine does not fully reach the
conventions, as NME usually presents males
on the cover of their magazines, I have
subverted the regulations and used a female
model, as my main topic of my magazine.