The document compares the forms and conventions used in the front cover design of a real media product, "Top of The Pops", and the student's own media product. For the masthead, both use a bold, colorful font to make it recognizable, though the student adds a white outlining effect. For the artist name, both use a solid colored shape but the student challenges the convention by not including the main cover line and using outlining instead. Both use puffs and plugs on the left side but the student gives theirs a cleaner, more professional look. The photography of a female artist in a mid-shot is the same for both to target their audience. Both also include a barcode to allow scanning

1. QUESTION 1: IN WHAT WAYS
DOES YOUR PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?

2. Top of The Pops Vs Laugh
Real Media Product My Media Product

3. Masthead
My masthead is the largest text
on the front cover of my
magazine. The text is written in
a bold font with shadowing
behind it as I felt it stands out
on the cover, making it
recognisable to customers.
This masthead is the largest
text on the front cover of the
magazine. The text is written in
a bold, colourful font making it
recognisable to customers. The
plain white background makes
the masthead stand out.

4. I believe my masthead is a development from
the “Top of The Pops” masthead, as both
media products use clear bold
mastheads, however I have used a white
outlining effect making my masthead stand out
more and is clearly recognisable to the
customers.

5. Artists Name & Main Cover Line
The artists name is
written in a solid
circle to make it
stand out, They
have also written the
main cover line in
this circle.
I have written the
artists name in a
solid rectangle to
make it stand
out, however I
haven’t added my
main cover line as
instead I have used
a white outlining
effect.

6. Although both artist names are in a solid
coloured shape, I believe I have challenged
the Main Cover Line, as I haven’t displayed it
in a solid coloured shape, however I have
used a white coloured outline to make it stand
out against the main cover image, i have also
used a slightly shadowing effect to support
this.

7. Puffs & Plugs
They have used a
variety of puffs and
plugs on both sides
of the magazine
front cover, they
have used images
as well as text to
show who the
puff/plug is about.
I have also used a
variety of puffs and
plugs but only on
the left third as this
is the most viewed
side of the
magazine front
cover, I haven’t
used images but I
have clearly stated
who and what the
puff/plug is about.

8. I have developed the idea of puffs and plugs to
clearly show who and what the puff and plug is
about. I think my development gives the
magazine a more professional look to it as it is
less crowded and gives it a lot more of a clean
and sharp final look to it.

9. Photography
Top of The Pops
has chosen to
use a single artist
as it stands out to
the customer.
They have used a
well known artist
to catch the
readers eye. The
artist is a female
who reflects onto
their target
audience. They
have used a mid
shot to create a
more direct view
of the artist.
I have chosen to
use a single artist
for the front cover
to make it stand
out to the
customer. I have
used a photo of
who the main
coverline is
about. The artist
is a female who
reflects my target
audience. I have
used a mid shot
to create a more
direct view of the
artist.

10. I believe my photography uses the same
technique as the real media product as both
models are a mid shot photo showing who the
main cover line is about. By using a female, I
am able to target my customers as I have used
a specific type of female who my audience
would relate to, this technique is the same for
the real media product.

11. Barcode
I have used a barcode
to create a more
professional look.
Barcodes are used to
scan the magazine in a
shop before buying
it, without a barcode
the magazine wont be
professional.
They have used a
barcode because
when the magazine
is in the shop, the
customer has to get
the magazine
scanned.

12. Both, The real media product and Mine, have
used a barcode. This allows the front cover to
look more professional as when the magazine
is being sold, it needs to have a barcode to be
scanned.