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

2. What forms and conventions were considered on my pop
magazine and how were they used?
Whilst creating my pop magazine, ‘Iconic’ I took into account the typical conventions of a
pop magazine. I ensured that each part of this criteria was included in my front cover and
then was carried on throughout the magazine as it was needed. The forms and
conventions that I used are :
• Striking/iconic image – I found this very time consuming as every image that I took just didn’t
seem to be eye catching enough. I did however, get the right image in the end. My model has
direct eye contact with the viewer which is a convention widely used in all magazines. The way
the model is dressed and how her hair and make up is gives forward the connotations of pop.
• Rule of thirds – Whilst creating my front cover I used the rule of thirds. The most important part of
the image is in the centre third and to the right and left is the cover lines. This has ensured that
the front cover looks balanced and easy for the viewer to access each bit of information.
• Lure – I used a lure on my front cover at the bottom of the page. This was one vital convention of
a pop magazine. I also used a lure on my double page spread by using the quote to give the
reader an insight into the interview.
• Clear and iconic masthead – My first idea for my magazine was to incorporate an eye into the
masthead which would also feature as the logo, however, this didn’t look visually pleasing when I
tried it on my front cover, therefore I decided to go for a clean and neat masthead which would
mirror the type of pop magazine that I was aiming for.
• Colours relating to the genre – Pop magazine generally tend to use baby blue’s and sugar pinks,
however, I did plan to make my magazine slightly more sophisticated so that it could be read by a
range of ages. Therefore, throughout my magazine I have used pinks, purples, greys, black and
white. These all connote pop and make the magazine look very sophisticated.

3. Did I challenge any of these forms and
conventions?
During the making process, I did use many of the typical forms and conventions of a
pop magazine. I did however, challenge some of these by doing some things which
aren’t normally seen on normal magazines such as :
• Edited main image – On my front cover I have used an iconic image which has eye contact
directly with the viewer. All of these conventions are normally seen on magazines. I did however,
edit the picture so that the majority of it was white and pink. This is not normally seen in
magazine but whilst doing this I decided that it looked appealing to the eye and also connotes
pop.
• Masthead – I used a clean and sophisticated masthead which was what I was intending to do,
however, I didn’t used a logo on my front cover which is a convention that is normally typical of a
magazine.
• DPS main image – This main image is in black and white, this is not a typical convention. Whilst
editing the picture I came to the conclusion that the image looked better in black and white
therefore to help it to blend in to the DPS correctly I used the same background colour to cover
the whole of the DPS. Grey was initially another colour that I wished to use in my magazine,
therefore I haven’t changed my idea hugely by editing this picture in this way.
• Added picture – On my front cover, I have a small picture showing ‘Sophie Wilds’ new album.
This isn’t usually seen on a magazine front cover however, there are some exceptions. I thought
this was a perfect place to advertise her new album to viewers, even if they chose not to
read/buy the magazine, they would instantly see this image on the front cover.

4. Comparing my product to professional
products..
I have chosen to compare my magazine with this professional magazine,
‘Top of the pops’ because I believe there are both many similarities and
differences between them. Such as :
• Barcode - They both have the barcode in the right bottom corner along with
the date of distribution and the price.
• Ticker tape - They both have ticker tapes showing the lures. The only
difference is that the ‘Top of the Pops’ one is at the top and mine is at the
bottom of the page.
• Colours - The use of pinks, purples and blacks on both front covers are
similar.
• Mast head - both are iconic, however theirs is also the logo of the
magazine which is good advertisement. My masthead is using plain and
simple font which is just like the font on the other magazine, ‘Top of the
pops’
• Added photos – Both of these magazines have added on photos, mine is
of Sophie Wilds new album and ‘Top of the pops’ images is relating to the lure
that is situated to the left of it.

5. Comparing my product to
professional products..
I have chosen to compare my contents page against the professional
one that is below. I did this because both pages look very similar in
layout, however there are many differences too.
• Page title – both of these contents pages are neat and cleanly presented
the page title is located at the top of the page and look sophisticated.
• Image – both of these images are located on the right hand side of the
contents page, they also span the entire length of the page.
• Colour scheme – both of the colour schemes are quite plain and sophi-
sticated.
• Layout – the layout of both of these pages are very similar, the text is
on the left had side of the page along with the image on the right and the
title at the top of the page.
• Text layout – All of the text on both of the contents pages seems to be
neatly laid out so that it is easy to read and understand. It also has very
readable page numbers so that the reader can navigate the magazine
easily.

6. Comparing my product to professional
products..
I have chosen to compare my double page spread to this
one below of Lady Gaga. This is because they are both
quite similar.
• Picture – Both pictures are on their own separate page on
the left hand side of the double page spread. They are also
both in black and white. The images themselves both seem
to be of the shoulders and head only too.
• Text – On both of these double page spreads the text is only
shown on the right hand side and it doesn’t seem to spread
onto the other side at all.
• Bold letter – At the start of the text on both of these double
page spreads is a larger letter. This is typically seen in
newspapers but is now spreading to magazines. Both have
an ‘S’ in a different size and font to the rest of the text.
• Colour scheme – Both of these double page spreads
have the same sort of colour scheme. Mine is grey, black
and pink and the professional one is grey, black and red.
Another similarity is that we have both continued the use of
the background colour in the image as the colour used
throughout the rest of the double page spread.