The document summarizes the conventions used in various music magazines for elements like the main image, secondary images, contents page, editor's letter, images, content listing, and double page spread. It analyzes how the creator's magazine uses, challenges, and develops conventions from real magazines like NME, Q, and Kerrang. For most elements, conventions are used, such as including a main image and using columns for the content listing. Some conventions are challenged, like placing the pull quote over the main image. The document aims to follow best practices from real magazines while also innovating in some ways.

1. Main Image
I have used the same conventions for my main image as real media products such
as NME, Q and Kerrang.The images are the biggest convention on the mise-en-
scene to attract the audience as the cover star will be a well known artist from
that genre.All the artists have blank expressions to show that they are serious
about there music and want to be known for that.
I have also used the same form as NME and Kerrang as both have their star’s eyes
in the top third of the mise-en-scene and there is eye contact with the audience
creating a gaze.
However, I challenged and developed Q because the star is wearing sun glasses
meaning there is no gaze created with the audience.
NME’s main image Kerrang’s main image
My main image Q’s main image
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2. Secondary Images
I have used similar conventions of NME’s secondary pictures as I have grouped them
all together and I’ve used a separate background colour to do this. I have also put
anchorage which explains to the audience what is going on in that image/feature.
I have challenged Kerrang’s conventions of secondary images as I have only used
three that are all grouped together where as Kerrang have used a group of images
then a single image on its own too. However, Kerrang’s images are small and some
overlap each other making them less clear to see where as my images are big and
bright to make them stand off from the page.
I have developed Q’s conventions of secondary images as Q have not used any other
images apart from the main one where as I have used three others.This could
connote to the audience that I have more things to see in my magazine compared to
Q who would have more things to read.
NME’s secondary
images
Kerrang’s secondary
images
My
secondary
images
Q has no
secondary images
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3. Contents Page
ContentsTitle
My contents page uses conventions of real media products as I have used a contents title to indicate to the audience
what page they are on. Real media products such as Kerrang and Q, which have the same sub-genre as my music
magazine, have a contents title also. However, NME just go straight into introducing what is inside the issue.
I have used conventions of real media products as my text is in block capitals like in Kerrang, NME and Q.This stands
out to the audience, makes it clear and easier to read. I have also used conventions of real media products because I
have made the text a bright yellow colour that is still part of my house style colour scheme and stands out from my
background colour. Likewise, Kerrang has done this to stand out against the black background to the audience. Q also
uses a contrasting colour to make the contents title stand out but the colour isn’t too bright so the masthead of the
magazine doesn’t get over powered. NME also uses a contrasting colour on their introductory title to make it stand out
from the audience, as well as this the text is in block capitals and is the largest text on the page.
I have used conventions of real media products as I have included the issue date and issue number. Kerrang and Q have
included the issue number and date, but NME has just included the date.This reminds the audience of what issue they
are reading and this helps the audience keep up-to-date with the features.
My title
Q’s title
Kerrang’s title
NME’s title
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4. Q4
Editor’s Letter
My contents page uses conventions of real media products as I have included a editor’s letter on my contents
page. Kerrang also includes a editors letter on it’s contents page. I have used similar conventions to Kerrang as I
have included a picture of the editor and a signature.This creates a personal feel for the audience and
encourages them to read on. My editors letter is also situated along the left hand side of the mise-en-scene like
Kerrang in order not to disturb and interfere with the contents listing.
My contents page challenges conventions of real media products as NME and Q don’t feature a editors letter
on their contents page.This is because a contents page is self explanatory so doesn’t need to include more
information in an editors letter. However, having a editors letter allows the editor to personally address the
audience and give recommendations.
My editors letter
Kerrang’s
editors letter
Q and
NME

5. Images
My contents page uses conventions of real media products as I have included primary (main) and secondary images. Real media
products such as Kerrang, NME and Q have used primary and secondary images also to go alongside their features. Using images
emphasises the main articles and attracts the audience to the features.
Kerrang has situated it’s main image at the top of the mise-en-scene and has secondary images, the title and text that anchors the main
image layered over the top. I have used this convention as my main image is at the top of my contents page also with information on
top of it too. Kerrang have also used other small secondary images next to some of the features and next to the subscription box to
attract the audience.
NME however have put their main image in the centre of the mise-en-scene with more anchorage text underneath. NME have provided
a lot of text that anchors the images with the secondary images that go around the main image.The main image is slightly larger than
the secondary images and in the centre so I have developed this by making my main image very large and at the top of the page.
Q’s main image is in the top right hand corner of the mise-en-scene but still takes up the majority of the page. Below this is the only
secondary image but attracts the audiences attention to the feature and persuades them to read it. I have developed Q’s contents page
because I have situated the main image at the top of the page in order not to disturb the content listing where as Q have one column
alongside the image.
NME
Q
Kerrang
My images
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6. Content Listing
My contents page uses conventions of real media products as when I have listed the content of the magazine I have used sub titles and
columns to make it easier for the audience to read and understand. Real media products such as NME, Q and Kerrang have also used
these conventions.
I have used conventions of real media products like Kerrang and Q as they have used sub titles to categorise the features. This makes it
easier for the audience to locate what type of feature they want to read. However, I have developed Q’s contents page as I have used
more subtitles like Kerrang making it evident what types of features are on offer to the audience, like Kerrang. I have challenged
NME’s contents page as I have included sub titles where as they haven’t. I believe my contents page is easier to understand as my
audience can find what feature they want where as they will have to read all of NME’s contents page to find a feature.
I have also used conventions of real media products like NME, Q and Kerrang as I have used columns to make the feature titles clear
and easy to read. This also allows any extra information or secondary pictures to be structured and helps the audience understand
which items belong together. Like Kerrang I have used a regular arrangement of columns as they are all next to each other where as I
have developed the conventions of NME and Q because they have used an irregular arrangement of columns of different widths and
alignments.
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7. Double Page Spread
Main Image
I have used conventions of real media products as I have included a main image on my double page spread. Real media products such
as Q, NME and Kerrang, which have the same sub-genre as my music magazine, have main images also.
Q, NME and Kerrang have no text on top of their image or really surrounding it, where as I have challenged this because I have
situated my pull quote on top of my cover star and I have a box with information in it to the left of the mise-en-scene. Having the pull
quote on top of the cover star shows that this is a statement this person has said and leaves room on the other page for the article.
Q and my own magazine have challenged the conventions of Kerrang and NME as our cover star’s are looking away from the camera
and not creating a gaze with the audience where as the stars in the other two real media products look directly at the audience
attracting them. My audience will already have been attracted to read the article from the front cover and contents page so do not
need any more encouragement. I have also used the same convention as Kerrang as both our main images are mid-shots to show the
stars' facial expression and body language. However, Q has used a close up just to capture the stars’ facial expression and NME has
used a long shot to capture the background of where the star’s are.
I have also included a grey box near my image which uses conventions of real media products as O, NME and Kerrang all have one. A
grey box describes what is happening in the image so is beneficial to the audience.
My main
image NME’s main
image
Q’s main
image
Kerrang’s
main
image
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8. Headline
My double page spread uses conventions of real media products as it includes a headline. Real media products such as
NME, Q and Kerrang have also included a headline.The headline tells the audience what the article is and relates back
to the front cover and contents page where the audience will have first been intrigued to read the feature.
I have used the same conventions as Q because both headlines are of the star that the article is about.This tells the
audience who the person in the main image is if they haven’t heard of them before. However, I have challenged the
features pages of NME and Kerrang as they have used a pull quote as there headline where as I put my pull quote on
top of my main image. Using the pull quote intrigues the reader to find out what the star is talking about but doesn’t
actually indicate who the star is.
My headline uses conventions of real media products as the text is bold and capitalised. NME, Q and Kerrang have all
used bold, capitalised text to stand out to their audience and make it clear and easy for them to read. However, I have
developed NME and Q’s headlines because I have made the text quite large to fill the width of the mise-en-scene to
attract the audience.
NME’s headlineMy headline Q’s headline Kerrang’s headline
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9. Stand First
My double page spread has uses conventions of real media products as I have included a stand first before the actual
article. Real media products such as NME and Kerrang have also used a stand first but it seems that Q just goes straight
into the article.
I have used conventions of NME and Kerrang as I have made my stand first short and only a few lines long. I have also
highlighted key words in a different colour to stand out to the audience at first glance which encourages them to read on.
I have included the main points discussed in the article like NME and Kerrang as this makes the reader want to find out
more and therefore read on.
I have structured my stand first the same way NME have as it makes it evident that this is separate from the main article.
However, I have developed Kerrang by doing this as my stand first doesn’t get lost in the headline like it does with
Kerrang.
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NME’s stand first
My stand first
Kerrang’s stand first
Q

10. Article
My double page spread uses conventions of real media products as it includes an article. Real media products such as
NME,Q and Kerrang also include articles in their double page spreads.
I have used conventions the same as Kerrang as I have shown what questions were asked in the interview and put
them before the stars’ answer. I have also highlighted the questions, to distinguish them from the answers, by bolding
the text, similar to Kerrang who have highlighted the questions in white to contrast with the black text. I have also used
a drop cap for the first letter of the article, which NME and Q have also done.
I have used conventions of real media products as I have sectioned my article into columns like NME, Q and Kerrang.
This makes it clearer and more straight forward for the audience to read and understand. However, like Kerrang I have
used three regular columns where as NME have used two and Q have a long column and a short column which would
be more confusing for the audience.
I have used conventions of real media products by keeping the text of my article black. NME, Q and Kerrang have all
done this as it is the easiest colour to read and contrasts against the greyish background all the products use.
Kerrang’s
article
Q’s
article
NME’s
article
My article
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