This document analyzes the conventions and forms used in real media products and how the student's media product uses, develops, or challenges those conventions. It provides examples of conventions for magazine covers, contents pages, and double-page spreads. It also explains how the student's product challenges some conventions, such as using social media links, including an editor's note, and using different colors in the house style.

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or
challenge forms and
conventions of real media
products?
QUESTION 1:
By Laura Craig

2. Front Cover
SELL LINE
MASTHEAD
DATE &
ISSUE NO.
COVER LINES
FEATURES
MAIN IMAGE
FLASH
ANCHOR TEXT
PULL QUOTE

3. HEADER
“HOTTEST” – engages with the
audience – influences audience to buy
– effects model – use of buss word –
capitalisation – bold colours – eye-
catching – stands out – informing the
reader (Use and Grat.)
Other magazines that use this
conventions:

4. MASTHEAD
Large – bold – simple – capital letters –
top of the page – behind image – brand
awareness – eye-catching – stands out.
Other magazines that use this common
convention:

5. MAIN IMAGE
Medium long-shot – single person in shot
– link to main story – direct mode of
address – connection of audience and
artist – personal relationships (Uses and
Grat.) – in front of masthead – stands out
of page – eye-catching – strong posture –
challenges male gaze (Mulvey) – not an
object or sexualised – costume not too
revealing.
Other magazines that follow these
conventions:

6. FEATURES
Insight to magazine features – informative
(Use and Grat.) – entice audience – smaller
fonts – different font per feature – not
main cover line.
Other magazines that use this convention:

7. PULL QUOTE
Pull quote – questions and engagement
with audience – entices audience to read.
Other examples of magazines that use
this convention:

8. ANCHORTEXT
Name of artist – entice fans – anchors to
main image – main story – bold text –
capitalisation – shadowed text – stands out.
Examples of this in other magazines:

9. COVER LINES
Creates questions – audience wants to find
answers – Informative (Uses and Grat.) –
audience are powerless to find out.
Other examples of this convention being
used in magazines:

10. MAIN COVER LINE
Common convention – placed near to
anchor text – connection between the
text – shadow behind text – stands out
– informing (Uses and Grat.) – entices
reader to read.
Examples from magazines that use
this convention:

11. FLASH
Bold – stands out – shadow behind text
– informative (Uses and Grat.) – buzz
word ‘EXCLUSIVE’ – entices audience –
powerless to read on – hypodermic
needle model.
Examples from other magazines:

12. DATE & ISSUE NO.
Recent information – Informative (Uses
and Grat.) – regular readers stay up to
date – near top of page – one of first
things seen – slightly smaller text than
features.
Examples of magazines that use this
convention:

13. Contents
FEATURES
NUMBERING
COLUMNS
EDITORS
NOTE
IMAGES
SOCIAL MEDIA
COMPETITION

14. IMAGES
I tried to vary the shots used in my
contents page, a long shot at a concert and
a couple of medium close-ups.The body
language and facial expression are easily
seen this way.The concert photo is there
for variation so not all pictures are of
models, and to make it clear that it’s a
music magazine. No overlapping, and
neatly aligned for a professional look.
Other magazines that use this:

15. COLUMNS
I used columns to make my contents page
look organised, they were found as a
common convention in my research and
planning – I challenged the traditional 3
columns and settled for 2 for a more simple
look. No overlapping – no crowding – easy
navigation.
I challenged other magazines that used this
convention:

16. NUMBERING
Big numbers – stands out – easy navigation –
suitable to young audience – creates
shortcuts – convenient – links to articles –
informing of what is inside (Uses and Grat.) –
not overpowering.
Other magazines that use this convention:

17. FEATURES
Titles are bold and contrasting – short and
to the point – eye catching – breaks down
the magazine – easy navigation – short
descriptions – not text heavy – informing
(Uses and Grat.) – entices reader.
Other magazines that use this convention:

18. EDITORS NOTE
I included an editors note in my contents
page. It is not a common convention in
other music magazines from the research
I have carried out, however it is a common
convention in other genres of a magazine
and I felt it would be relevant for a first
issue as an introduction and this way can
create a personal relationship with the
reader (Uses and Grat.). I also changed the
font that was used from the other
features to differentiate them.

19. SOCIAL NETWORKING
I found in my research that links to social
media was non-existent. However, I
decided to use it because my target
audience is late teens/ young adults,
therefore social media is used frequently
by them and it would attract my audience
and get them more involved.The
audience would receive up to date notices
and this will create a customer base,
allowing me to reach my readers easily
and market the magazine effectively.The
use of social media here is essential to
entering the competition...

20. COMPETITION
Once again, a competition was not
something I came across in my research
previously, but it was found that there are
special offers in relation to buying a
number of magazines from the brand, so I
adapted this convention. It would also be
logical to include a motive for the audience
to buy the magazine because this is the
first issue of my magazine, and to further
attract regular readers.
The original convention is used:

21. Double-page spread
PULL QUOTE
DROP CAPIMAGE
COLUMNS NUMBERING
ANCHOR TEXT TAG LINE

22. LAYOUT
I used the common convention found in my research that the image of the artist takes up
one whole page, and positioned to the left hand side with the text taking up the right-
hand side of the double-page spread. I also kept the image in colour and adjusted the
tones to make the image really stand out and is eye-catching to the audience, as well as it
being a whole page which should be more prominent to the audience anyway.The name
of the artist is something I wanted to challenge, as commonly it would be a lot smaller.
However, I felt that a large header and anchor text would catch the audiences attention
to the article and make them want to read.
Magazine with a similar layout:

23. IMAGE
For my double-page spread I used a mid-shot because I wanted to challenge the common
convention of using a close-up or medium close-up.Also, and mid-shot would allow for
more of the body language to be seen and the eye contact between the artist and
audience creates personal relationship (Uses and Grat.) and entices the reader to read
the article from the page.
Magazines I wanted to challenge the
convention of:

24. COLUMNS
From my research into codes and conventions, I found that having the page split into
three equal sized columns was a common convention used, which makes the spread
look professional and well organised. I decided to stick to this convention.
Other magazines that use this convention:

25. PULL QUOTE
Pull quote – insight to story – creates engagement and questions with audience –
personal relationships for those who experience (Uses and Grat.) – different font to
differentiate – italics – eye catching.
Other magazines that use this convention:

26. ANCHORTEXT
I chose to challenge the convention of having a rather small name of the artist placed in
the top right-hand corner of the page.As previously mentioned, having a big and bold
name of the artist should attract the audience and inform them of the article (Use and
Grat.), whilst I also used a slight drop shadow to make it stand out even more to the
audience.
Magazines I wanted to challenge
the convention of:

27. DROP CAP & PAGE NUMBERING
Page numbering – informative
Drop cap – introduction to text – large and bold – attention grabbing – entices readers.
Magazines that use this convention:

28. TAG LINE
This was not a common convention found in my research however I felt that the effect
using the buzzword ‘EXCLUSIVE’ on the reader would entice them to read, therefore
would be beneficial to the article – influence to read – effects model – anchors to text
and image – bold text – capitalisation – slightly shadowed text – stands out.

29. HOUSE STYLE
My house style of grey, black and
white throughout my music
magazine challenges the
conventional red, black and white
which is seen frequently in my
research. I did this to keep more
gender neutral colours to attract a
wider audience and not such a bold in
‘in your face’ approach, slightly tones
down and more subtle.
A magazine I wanted to challenge the
convention of: