This document provides an evaluation of Laura Loughridge's media studies coursework on creating a magazine front cover and contents page. It analyzes the various design elements and conventions used, such as the color scheme, main image of a model, bold masthead, and large headline straps, and how they develop conventions seen in real hip hop magazines. The contents page layout is also evaluated, noting the use of a large central image, graphics incorporating the magazine name, and bold titles to match conventions from magazines like Vibe. Overall, the document demonstrates how Laura's project draws upon and develops the typical forms and styles seen in established hip hop print media to create realistic and engaging magazine pages.

1. AS Media Studies – Coursework
Evaluation
Laura Loughridge

2. Q1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media
products?

3. Colour scheme Strap
I wanted to make sure that my colour scheme worked well and also This feature is typical convention of hip/hop magazine which I realised
corresponded with some of the colours in my main image as I realised as I researched and looked at established magazines, it creates an eye-
that is a convention of real media products, I also wanted to use colours catching heading so the audience want to read more, also the use of
that my target audience wanted, so I used purple, orange and black which caps lock and words such as ‘loudest’ and ‘ exciting’ intrigues the reader.
linked within the colours on the hat of the model and worked well Other magazines use the strap to show big stories or big features in the
together to make the text stand out magazine and the positioning reinforces that it is a different headline to
the rest – and adds more shape to the front cover.
Strap from vibe and the source magazine
Masthead
Masthead’s are used on every magazine front cover, I chose my font
from Photoshop which is Rockwell Extra Bold in size 222pt, I looked for a
bold, thick font which stood out because on general hip-hop front
covers, text is a big feature so I wanted to make sure it mine stood out
and clearly stated ‘TRAX’ to connotation the masthead being important .
I used a dark purple colour which linked in with the colour scheme.
Bold, thick, bright masthead (the source magazine)
Main central Image
For the main central image I used a male model with
stereotypical ‘hip-hop’ clothes such as chains, watches and a
hat as well as dark clothing, I recognised dark clothing on
many models on the front of magazines and wanted to make
my model look as real as possible. I also used a direct mode
of address so it connects with the target audience and the
‘rapper’ is seen like others on vibe and source front covers
with minimal smiling and a serious facial expression.
Font and titles
For all the titles and headings I used Impact font in caps lock so my
front cover was eye-catching and bold, I kept up the colour scheme
with

5. Text
Text is another big feature of my contents page, I used lots of different sizes and Title
used text to create my page and the main idea of it, I used an invisible boarder I used black bold font for the title of the contents page and use
and made sure all my text lined up so it looked professional and neat. I used bold Rockwell bold as my font, I wanted it to be bold and made it different
text for the titles and different colours for the subheading’s so they would stand by making the word contents be on two lines instead of one- this
out. added different shapes to my page, this is also a convention that other
hip hop magazines use and also works well with a contents page with
one main visual image instead of a contents page full of images.
Tagline (date/issue)
I used this to show what issue my magazine was and added it as it is
used on a lot of contents pages for magazines as it makes the page
make more sense and the colour of it also links in with the colour
scheme on the page.
Main Image
The main image on this page is the main feature- I used one
main visual image on my contents page as this technique is used
in other magazine contents pages such as VIBE which is a
magazine that is similar to what I wanted to achieve, it is a in
direct mode of address and portrays a female hip-hop star which
is different to stereotypical male rappers and stars, she is wearing
little clothing and showing a lot of skin connotation of what
women on hip-hop are like – this also appeals to the male part of
my audience in comparison to the male models who appeal to
my female audience. The clothing is bright and bold and she is
wearing big gold hoop earrings along with a long necklace which
links back to the stereotypical hip-hop look
Graphics
When I was looking up contents pages of hip-hop magazines
I noticed some other graphics were used which usually used
the magazines name or initials, I wanted to use this in my
contents page so I used a big ‘t’ and reversed it, I then typed
‘rax’ to complete the word and make the graphic look
better.

7. Title
Main Image I used a very thick and bold font for the title and also used black
I used one main visual image to take up half of my double page spread, I did so it stood out as much as possible; I used caps lock to emphasise
this as I wanted the focus to be on the image of the artist and also because I the artist’s name and also to make the text more important as if
had seen it in many other magazines before. I used a medium close up so the it was an image
audience feels like they know they artist better and know more about him. Graphics
As I was looking
through other
articles I realised
Language that double page
spread’s in the
In order for all my
same format as
audience to
mine (one whole
understand and
page for a image)
relate to the article I
usually used a sub
used simple
heading underneath
language and asked
the main heading to
questions to the
add another feature
artist so I would
to the page – I used
obtain answers that
this by creating a
could be simple and
text box filled with
not to complicated. I
yellow and blue
also used slang
text, even though
words within the
this is simple I like
article such as
that it added more
‘sick’and slept words
interest to my page.
such as ‘wanna’ so
I also highlighted
that the young
some of the text
audience can relate
and made it bold to
to the artist and
point out key words
believe that the
within the text.
artist is a like them
Text
For the layout of my double page spread I used 3 columns, I also used a drop cap to make it seem like a typical
magazine article, I also underlined all the interview questions and made them black so they stood out – this is
something that isn’t used in all magazines but is used to clearly show an interview. I used size 9 pt and Kozuka
Gothic Pro H font, which is simple. I aliened the text on the left hand side as it makes it easier to read and
understand