This is my first evaluation question answering: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? 

1. Q1.In what ways does your
media product use,
develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real
media products?

2. Masthead
Here is three examples of different
music magazines that all show the
conventions of a masthead. From
carrying out my researching by looking
at different magazines from the music
genre that I have chosen I have learnt
that the main image covers part of the
masthead, however you are still able to
see what the name of the magazine.
While designing my magazine front
cover I thought about the conventions
that I have learnt and decided to follow
them by putting the main image over
part of the masthead. This has been
done in a similar way to the other three
magazines shown on the left. This
shows that I have followed the
convention and audiences will recognise
this.
I have also used a masthead on my contents page. This has been done
in the same font as my masthead on my front cover, this shows
continuity throughout my magazine. Although it has been used a
another part of my magazine it is still unique and will stand out to my
audience.

3. Fonts
I have decided to use the three same examples of mastheads to show how
they all use similar style of font. For each example shown here you are able
to see that they all have used a bold font which stands out on the page. They
have done this so that the magazines target audience will see it and it will
grab there attention. A bold font will also contrast from the other fonts that
have been used on the rest of the front cover.
After experimenting using different masthead with my selected image I decided
on this design. While I was looking at different fonts I kept in mind the
conventions of a typical masthead on a magazine as well as thinking of the
genre of music that I am doing and how the mast head font will link to that
genre. Also I had to think about what my target audience would like and what
will grab there attention. The font is bold and stands out which is contributed
by using the colour black which is also conventional of the genre. The style of
the font will also grab the audiences attention as the B is shown differently, and
this will be something that the audience will look out for and recognise on the
magazine.
While producing my magazine I experimented by using different font
and seeing how they worked with the rest of the designed front
cover.
This was the original masthead that I had chosen to use. However
this was before I had taken the images and finished designing the
layout of my front cover. When I was using photo shop to create my
front cover I discover that this font was not bold enough to be a
masthead and did not stand out on the page. I was also wanting to
follow the conventions of a masthead as this is what my target
audience would be expecting to see on this magazine.

4. Style of photography
The examples that I have chosen show how the artist has
been placed in the centre of the page and the
photographer has used a medium close up. Both of these
images have been taken from different music magazines
but have been taken in very similar ways. This style of
photography is conventional for a music magazine, either
it being a single artist or a band the image will always be
centred in middle of the page. Although this may not be
a convention it is very common to see the image taken at
a medium shot rather then a full image of the artist.
The photography work for my magazine has
been done has been shown in similar way as
I feel that this convention will appeal to my
audience and will be noticed if not done. I
have used a medium close up with the artist
look straight into the camera and they have
been placed against a white background
which is very similar to the other two front
covers. The positioning of the image is also
the same with him being directly in the
centre of the page. This technique was also
useful as I was able to fit in the text around
it easily and it does not look to full.

5. Barcode
Another convention is using a barcode, I was able to find
this out after researching front covers. The positioning of
the barcode was always in a similar place, the image on the
top right shows how the barcode has been placed in the
bottom right corner not distracting the target audience
away from the main image. The barcode is also keep
minimal on the page and will not stand out to the audience
buying the magazine, as a result of this the target audience
will be looking at the magazine and its content before
looking at the price. This will encourage them to purchase
the magazine after being encouraged to by the content
first.
The barcode on my magazine has also been kept to a
minimum with it being in the bottom right corner like the
other magazine and is not distracting from the image.

6. Colour scheme
From the research that I carried out on magazines I have
been able to see a convention used throughout on the
colour scheme. The two different brands of magazine
shown above are examples of how they have used the
conventional colour schemes, these are red, black, white
and yellow. These four colours have been use because
they will appeal to there target audience as well as the
ideologies that support this genre of music. In order to
have my magazine appeal to my target audience I have
tried to include the conventional colours where they
have worked alongside the images.
I have not followed the convention with
all of the colours for the whole of the
magazine as not all of the colour went
with the colours in the images that I had
chosen to use. However I have been able
to continue the colour black throughout
as well as using both yellow and red on a
section of the contents page.

7. Fonts The magazines that I have analysed have used a variety of different
fonts for both their front cover and the inside of their magazine. I have
decided to follow this by using fonts that work with the genre as well as
appeal to my target audience.
I have been able to show an example is this on the word ‘Win’. This
has also been used in the Kerrang magazine shown at the side. I
decided to do this quote in a different font as it will stand out on the
page compared to the other text. I also did it in a red colour in a
yellow circle, the same as Kerrang, to draw the readers attention to
this section of the page.
I have also shown a use of interesting fonts
for the mast head on the front cover as
well as both the headings for both the
contents page and double page spread. By
doing this my magazine has become unique
and more interesting standing out from the
other magazine that are available.

8. Drop caps
Drop caps are a convention of a double page spread and are
shown in all three of the examples bellow. A drop cap
indicates where the text is beginning and it will guide the
readers attention to this point. It also starts to make the
text more visually intersecting for the reader to look at.
Although two of the magazine shown below have used a
colour on their drop caps that is related to the colours
used in the image, I decided it was best for mine just to be
kept black as when I experimented with using a colour it
no longer worked with the rest of the text.

9. Pull Quotes
A pull quote is a quote that has been taken from
something that the artist has said. The quote will make
the audience feel differently about the artist or create an
impact to the audience, it is something important or
powerful that the audience has said. In the three
magazines that I am using as examples they have all used
a pull quote on there double page spread. They have kept
to the conventions of a double page spread because they
know that the audience will be expecting to see one on
this page.
The pull quote is also normally used in a different font and
is put in speech marks. In my double page spread I have
used an italic font style which makes it stand out from the
rest of the text.

10. Page Numbers
In this example of a contents page
Kerrang magazine, have placed there
page numbers on some of the images.
Kerrang has done this so that the page
looks more interesting to look at as
well as making it easy for the readers
to find what page to go to for the
main stories.
Using the page numbers like this can
be a convention of a contents page
in a magazine. I have decided to
follow this idea on my contents
page. This will allow my readers to
find the pages easily on the sections
they want to read.