This document analyzes how the media product uses, develops, and challenges conventions of real music magazines. It discusses the use of various design elements on the front cover, contents page, and double-page spread including the masthead, sell line, images, headers, features, pull quotes, anchor text, cover lines, and house style. It provides examples of how magazines like Q, NME, and Rolling Stone employ similar conventions in their layout and design. The document also notes some unconventional elements used in the media product like social media links and unique color schemes.

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

2. Front Cover
Header
Masthead
Sell line
Features
Main image
Cover line
Anchor Text
Main cover line

3. Masthead
Is in a large, simple and bold text in san serif font at the top of the page in front of the
main image, It is in a colour that contrasts the back ground so that it stands out ,this
makes it eye catching and gives brand awareness too.
Other magazines that use this convention

4. Sell line
I used the convention of a sell line on the front cover this works as
An insight into the magazine , it is usually placed under the masthead
As I have done and stands out and is informative (uses and gratifications)
Other magazines that use this convention
Q magazine – Discover great music
NME – New musical express

5. Main Image
Medium close up which is a common convention, single person shot , Direct
Mode of address , links to main story , personal relationship (uses and grats) , creates
Link between artist and audience, Subject is prominent on the page , dark background
In contrast to light subject which causes them to be eye catching and stand out,
Challenges the usual convention of a white background, subject is provocative,
Sexualised image , identity is present not objectified .
Magazines that use these conventions

6. Header
EXCLUSIVE creates engagement with the audience ,text has influence , buzzword
‘EXCLUSIVE’, In capitals to make it stand out , eye catching , Exclusivity is informing
The unknown (uses and grats needle model)
Magazines that use these conventions
NME

7. Features
An insight into all the features –informative (uses and grats)
They contrast to the background and are on both sides of the
Magazine, they are also in a smaller font to the main cover
Line
Magazines that use these conventions
Billboard Q
NME

8. Pull Quotes
Pull quotes create questions and engagement with the
Reader –entices the audience
Magazines that use these conventions
NME
Q

9. Anchor Text
Artists name , entices the fans and anchors the image ,
Bold text , and stands out against the image
Magazines that use these conventions
Q
Billboard

10. Cover lines
Cover lines create a question so that the audience wants to find out answers
- They use the uses and grats needle model
Having a pull quote with the cover line is not a convention that is used on
All music magazines but some other magazines to challenge this convention
And do and this is why I added it to my cover. It entices the audience to
Read more and seperates it from the features
Magazines that also use this
Q

11. Main cover line
The common convention is to place the main cover line near the
Anchor text to show the connection, use of a shadow to make the
Text stand out againt the background –it is informative (uses and grats)
- Entices the reader to find out more
Q
billboard
Other magazines that use this convention

12. House style
The house style challenges usual conventions ,I chose white orange and purple
As I wanted a softer house style as oppose to some of the bold colours usually
Used like white red and black – usuing unique colours makes the magazine
Stand out.
Other Magazines that use this convention

13. Issue number
Masthead
Special Features
Columns
Social media links
Images
Numbering

14. Date and issue number
Gives recent information is informative, placed at the bottom of the
Magazine page in bold but smaller text and contrasts in colour to the
Background.
Q magazine

15. Images
All the images I have taken of my models are mid close ups
So there body language and facial expressions are easy to read.
I used a phot of a musical instrument (drum kit) so that the
Contents page wasn’t crowded with pictures of people and also
Makes it clear that it is a music magazine.
The images on the page do not over lap which gives the magazine
A professional look.
Rolling Stone
Q

16. Columns
I Used columns as they make the contents page look more
Organised and they are a common convention which I discovered
In my research and planning. No over lapping of images or features
And no crowding causes easy navigation.
Q NME

17. Numbering
Big numbering makes them stand out on the page and cuases easy
navigation for the reader- it creates easy shortcuts and
convenience. It informs of what is inside the magazine (uses and
grats) and it sticks to the house style of the magazine.
Q

18. Special features
Title in bold text – eyecatching –breaks down the image
giving a brief explanation- easy navigation. Shot description
of the special features this entices the reader, co –
ordinating of numbers and not being too text heavy .

19. Social Media links
In my research I haven’t come across many
contents pages that contain social media links,
however I decided to use it as I feel it is modern
and that many people do use media across social
media now and as the magazine is mainly aimed
at young adults it would also appeal to them. It
also means that the reader can keep up to date
between issues just like cosmopolitan magazine
does on its snapchat feed to keep readers up to
date.

20. Page Number
Page number is informative and the name of the magazine is
Just above it keeping brand awareness and proffessional
Consistency.
Q Billboard

21. Masthead
Bold and simple , contrasting to the light colours used on
The page.
Q
Billboard

22. Double Page Spread Anchor Text
Columns
Pull quote
Image
Drop Cap
Page number

23. Layout
I used the convention of having one whole page for the main image on the spread and It being on the left hand side of
The spread while the text is on the right hand side of the page. I did this as I wanted the image to be the main focus of
The spread. I wanted it to be enticing to draw the audience to read the article.
Q magazine, I mainly based my double page spread
On the layout used by Q

24. Image
For the double page spread I used a medium close up shot as I found in my research I found this to be a common
Convention on double page spreads. I made the model use direct mode of address as it connects the reader to the
Artist creating a personal relationship (uses and grats) and entices the reader.
Q , use of direct mode of address , picture in colour
And covers half of the page with model posing with
Hands on face

25. Text
I used a large letter behind the text of the double page spread which is the letter of the artists first name
And the colour continues the house style of the magazine.
Q NME

26. Columns
Having the page split up in to three equal columns is a convention that is used in many other magazines
Therefore I chose to use it in my own double page spread as it makes it look organised and professional.
Nme use of three columns and pull qoute
Larger than the rest of text

27. Pull quote
Pull quote gives an insight to the rest of the article which creates engagement and
Questions , personal relationships are created (uses and grats) a larger font is also
Used.
Nme

28. Artists name
I didn’t title my double page spread but had the artists name in the top corner of the page which entices the fans to read
The article, it stands out as it is in bold and colored text.
Q magazine

29. Page Numbers and Drop cap
Page numbers are informative I put the beat logo above the page numbers as it creates brand awareness
Q magazine use of 2 drop caps