The document discusses how the media product, a pop music magazine called "Popsters", uses and develops conventions of real pop music magazines. Some conventions that were used include a mid-shot on the cover with the model looking at the camera, bright colors in the design, a prominent masthead, pull quotes from artists, and busy layout with many images and bits of information. While conventions were followed, care was taken not to exactly replicate existing magazines. Research was conducted on magazine design elements and feedback was gathered to help make the magazine look professional and like a real pop music publication.

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

2. • In order to make my magazine look realistic, I felt that it was
important to stick to the conventions of a real pop magazine.
• Although I looked at various different pop magazines, the one I
focused on the most was ‘We Love Pop’ magazine. This was
because the target audience of this magazine seemed to be similar
to the audience I was aiming for (older teenagers) e.g. 18 year olds.

3. The Shot Type

4. I found that in the majority of the
Pop magazines I looked at, the shot
of the main image was a mid shot.
Also most of the time there was an
angle of gaze where the shot was at
eye level with the model, making it
look as if the model was looking
directly into the camera -lens. I used
this idea on ‘Popsters’ magazine too.
The shot I used for my front cover
was a mid-shot where the model was
looking directly at the camera.
Although my model was wearing a
black and white dress, to give it a pop
look I made sure she wore purple nail
polish and red lipstick. This also
linked with my colour scheme.

5. Masthead
Pop magazines always have mast heads that stand out. When the
audience look at the page, their attention is often drawn straight
to some features, one being the masthead.

6. The pull-quote is another part of the front cover
that is meant to catch the attention of the
audience.
The pull quote also has a relationship with the
main artist and in associated with them in some
way. Although some pull quotes may use solid
fonts, I felt that adding a hand written looking
font would add a personal touch and look like
primary information.

7. The colour schemes that ordinary pop magazines follow are for
example; Pink, blue, Purple, Orange- Bright colours.
I carried this on with my magazine, however I wanted my
magazine to look a little more mature then the expected pop
magazines as my target audience were older and so these are
the colours I chose;

8. A lot of pop magazines use the logo or title of the
magazine as a logo on the contents page. This is
also a way by which the front cover and contents
page links.

9. Pop magazine contents pages include numbers which have stories near them. Not every
single page number is displayed. Instead, a few page numbers are used, and these pages
would be the most likely to attract and interest readers. They also have images with page
numbers written on them.

10. Use of Informal Language

11. HIP-HOP MAGAZINE POP MAGAZINE
One of the main conventions of a Pop magazine is how busy they are.
Compared to other genre magazines like hip hop, pop magazine has
a lot going on all the time. It is packed with information .

12. Although I have looked at magazines such as “We Love Pop” a lot
for guidance, I made sure that I changed the idea so that although
it might me similar, it wouldn’t be exact. While creating the
product I researched thoroughly at factors such as the look of the
artist, shot type/angles, the colours used, the effect of different
colours, and other aspects like the layout. I felt that all of this had
a large influence on making the magazine actually look like it
belongs to the genre I intended for it to belong to. Although
sometimes I thought my idea would work, I made sure that I
asked others for suggestions on whether certain features work or
not, and if no what can be done to improve it. I made sure that I
stuck to as many conventions as I could so that it looks
professional and real. Sticking to convents helps to gain the
expected look from a magazine.