This document discusses the typical conventions of magazine design and how the student's media product incorporates or challenges these conventions. It covers conventions for the cover, contents page, and double page spreads. For the cover, it uses a masthead, partition color, main image, additional images, bold coverline, barcode, captions, and consistent color scheme similar to typical magazines. However, it displays information down both sides rather than just the left third, challenging conventions. The contents page includes columns, images, page numbers, magazine name, date, editor's letter, and consistent colors. It also includes a competition not always seen. The double page spread features multiple large images, direct eye contact, quotes, and

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
QUESTION ONE

2. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS OF A MUSIC
MAGAZINE
Masthead: Special font with a
high impact red colour.
Partition colour: To add extra
information and to catch the
readers eye. Positioned above
the masthead.
Main image: Usually
with direct eye
contact
Cover images: Extra
images on the cover
as a means to
introduce featured
articles within the
magazine.
Main coverline: Bold text,
standout colour, usually in the
centre of the page. In Kerrang
magazine specifically, the main
coverline is in it’s own text box.
Barcode
Photo captions: To help
introduce articles, and also draw
the readers attention to bigger
stories.
Consistent colour
scheme: On this
magazine, that colour is
red… possibly to help the
reader associate the
magazine with a certain
colour.
Listed band names: To help the
reader understand what the
magazine wants to be associated
with.
Teasing content

3. HOW MY MAGAZINE INCORPORATES TYPICAL
CONVENTIONS
Masthead: Similar, grungy
font in bold and striking colour:
black.
Main image: Central,
direct eye contact,
takes up a large
section of the cover
Partition colour(s): With extra information and images
Barcode
Main coverline: Bold text,
standout colour and in the
centre of the page. Reflective
of ‘Kerrang magazine’, this
coverline is in it’s own text box;
with tie-dye effect
Eye-catching
and teasing
content
Photo captions:
Helps introduce an
article within the
magazine, as well
as briefly
introducing the
people in the image
Listed band
names: Helps
the genre of the
magazine come
across, as
shows bands
the magazine
wants to be
associated with
Consistent colour scheme:
This magazine has got a
colour scheme of yellow and
blue, both striking and eye
catching colours. These
colours should be consistent
throughout the rest of the
magazine.
Teasing
content
Magazine’s usually display the
majority of the information and
advertisement on the left hand third of
the cover. However, my magazine
differs from the typical as I have made
it so that the information is displayed
down both sides.
This goes against the typical
conventions of a music magazine and
therefore makes my magazine more
individual.

4. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS OF A
CONTENTS PAGE
AND HOW MY MAGAZINE HAS INCORPORATED THEM
Typically, contents pages
incorporate:
. Column's (usually 2/3)
. One main image
. Other, smaller images
. Page numbers
. Name of the magazine
. Issue number/ date
. An editor’s letter/comment
. Similar colour scheme to the cover
Competition: I have
included a competition
on my contents page
as I had found this to
be popular feature
used on a lot of
contents pages. By
introducing a
competition so soon
into the magazine, the
reader may become
engaged and involved
much more quickly.
Main image: This is
the focal point of the
contents page and is
used in order to draw
the majority of the
readers attention to
this specific article Page numbers:
Helps direct the leader to the
article/story they are most
interested in reading
Columns: Helps to break up
and organise the contents
page
Name of the
magazine: This keeps
the contents page
consistent with the
cover
Date/issue number
Subscription prompt: Helps with
the advertisement of the magazine
Editors letter/comment: Helps make
the magazine more personal, and
also gives the opportunity to address
the reader directly
Consistent colour
scheme: Helps
relate the contents
page to the cover
and keep the overall
theme and look of
the magazine
together

5. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS OF A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
AND HOW MY MAGAZINE HAS INCORPORATED THEM
Double Page spreads typically include one main image on the left
hand side of the page. My double page spread challenges this
slightly as I have not only opted to have photos across both sides
of the page, but have also decided to put the largest image on the
right.
The main image has direct eye contact with the reader, this
feature is usually found within double page spreads.
Following typical conventions, my magazine incorporates direct
quotes from the article to help the reader quickly pick out the
most important themes and features of the article.
As both the cover and contents page incorporate the colour blue,
I have kept the colour scheme consistent on my double page
spread by making sure the same colour has been used. However,
typically, not all magazines follow the colour scheme through to
the double page spread.
One of the most important features of a double page spread is
the use of columns. I have made sure to incorporate this also
within my own work.
My double page spread could have been improved by adding a
headline to give the reader an insight into what the article is about
before reading it.