Question 1 - media evaluation

1. Nicola Nightingale

2. Front Cover - Similarities
Similar cover
line design
Similar
additional
cover line
Similar
medium shot
of main
image
Similar layout of
box along bottom
of page
Fashion
included in
both
Similarly
placed
additional
cover lines
Barcode in
same
position
Quotes used
in both
magazines
Pictures of
celebrities featured
in both magazines

3. Front Cover Comparison
 My magazine’s front cover is very similar to a real-life magazine whereby the conventions and forms have been used.
Images of different celebrities are present on both front covers, fashion has been included in both front covers and
additional cover lines have been placed in similar places are just some examples of the similarities between the
magazines front covers. This shows how I have used forms and conventions of Pop Music Magazines. I think that
reason Pop Music Magazines include images of different celebrities on the front cover is to attract the young teenage
audience that they appeal to as many of these young teenagers are fans of different celebrities and would rather read
about more than just one celebrity. I think that the reason why fashion is present on both front cover and is a convention
of Pop Music Magazines is because they appeal to young teenage girls who would be interested in the latest fashion and
what fashion labels celebrities are wearing. The additional cover lines have been placed in similar positions on both front
covers which is a convention of Pop Music Magazines. I think this has been done because it is easy for readers to see
what else is in the magazine and also because the audience of Pop Music Magazines are often teenagers who are
interested in lots of different celebrities. Moreover, the additional cover lines on both front covers have their own coloured
boxed background to the text. This is a convention of Pop Music Magazines because it will make them stand out and
have a purpose for being there. They may also attract other readers if they see one of their favorite artists is featured in
the magazine also. Both magazines’ front covers have used a medium shot of the artist and the artists also seem to be
using the same facial expression – a smile. The eyes of the artists are both looking directly into the camera. I think that
this facial expression and medium shot is a convention of Pop Music Magazines because Pop artists’ songs are usually
very upbeat and happy which is portrayed through there facial expressions on the front covers. Furthermore, the medium
shots in both magazines front covers shows the artist clearly to the reader and therefore will stand out and inform the
reader that the main article in the magazine is about that particular artist. The cover lines in both magazines are big and
bold, which I think is convention of magazines in general as they need to stand out and associate to the main image on
the front cover of the artist so the reader can identify the image is linked to the cover line of the artists name if they do not
know who it is. Another reason I think that this is a convention of magazines in general is because the reader will be able
to clearly see who the main article is about and if they are a fan of the artist then they will be more likely to buy the
magazine and read it. the barcode has been placed in similar places on the front cover which I think is a convention of
Magazines in general and is done so they can be seen but aren't very noticeable. However, the Masthead’s of these
magazines’ front covers have been positioned in different places. I placed my Masthead at the top of the page as I felt
this would be the best way for it to be recognized. Although it is challenging the convention of a Pop Music Magazine as
it is simple and does not include a symbol like the other magazine it is bold just like the other magazine too. The colours
used in both magazines are bright, bold and include a range of different colours. I think this is a convention of a Pop
Music Magazine because Pop artists songs are usually upbeat which is shown through the colours, as the range of
colours used are bright and stand out.

4. Contents Page – Similarities
Name of
magazine in
same place
Similar
message
style
Main featured
artist is the
biggest
image
Page number
in similar
place to
image
Featured images
included in both
Other articles
and features
both present
Page numbers next to
other articles or
features both present

5. Contents Page Comparison My magazine’s contents page is very similar to a real-life magazine’s double page spread whereby
the conventions and forms have been used. The name of the magazine has been placed in the same
place on both contents pages, whereby they are both on the top right-hand side. I think this a
convention of a magazine in general as it just reminds the reader of the magazine’s name which
would help make it more memorable for them. If it is the first time they have read the magazine and
enjoy what they have read then they may be inclined to buy they magazine again. Therefore having
the name of the magazine visible on the contents page is a convention of magazine in general.
Secondly, the image of the artist what the main article is about has been placed in similar places and
are also the biggest images on the contents page. I think this is a convention of a Pop Music
Magazine as it will enable to reader to find the page number for that specific article. Also, the reader
may have brought that magazine because they are fans of the artist who is featured in the main
article and therefore they would most probably want to read their article first. So, by having their
image on the contents page the biggest and most noticeable will help the reader find the page that
the artist is on. This is because the page number has been placed next to the image in both
magazines. I think this is convention as well which simply informs the reader what page the main
article is on. Another convention I have used is the fact that other articles and features in the
magazine have been placed on the contents page. I think that this is a feature of magazines in
general but it important as the reader may be interested in what other articles and features are in the
magazine. This relates to the next convention I have used which is that the page numbers are
present in both magazines and are placed next to the subheading of either an other article or a
feature which helps to inform the reader of what page the other articles and features are on. Within
both magazines a message from the Editor is present. I think this is a convention of a Pop Music
Magazine because by doing this it helps the reader feel more connected to the Editor of the
magazine. I think this is important for the reason that as the readers of a Pop music Magazine are
young teenagers, they want to feel like they are connected to the magazine and by doing this they
may feel that they start to know the Editor of who creates the magazine that they read. This is very
much like how fans of Pop artists want to meet and know everything about that specific person. The
reader may want to know about the Editor of the magazine they read to feel involved and feel like
they know them. However on the ‘We Love Pop’ magazine they included a pull quote from the
magazines main article which I think is a convention of a Pop Music Magazine. I decided to not do
this because I felt that I gave a powerful enough pull quote on the front cover to make the reader
want to buy the magazine. Also I included the subheading ‘Exclusive Interview’ which may intrigue
the reader even more so therefore I have challenged this convention of a Pop Music Magazine.

6. Double Page Spread –
SimilaritiesArtist name placed in
a similar position
Both include
pull quotes
Both feature
more than
one image of
artist
Both include
articles interview in
columns.
Both include
page numbers
in the same
place
Both feature
subheadings in
same place

7. Double Page Spread
Comparison My magazine’s double page spread is very similar to a real-life magazine’s double page spread
whereby the conventions and forms have been used. The columns used to put the interview in are
very similar and I think a convention of a double page spread in a Pop Music Magazine. Both
magazines have page numbers which have been placed in the same position, and I think this is a
convention of a Pop Music Magazine. Also, the pull quotes I have put in my magazine I think is a
convention and has been used in the magazine I am comparing it to. I think this is a convention of a
Pop Music Magazine because the quotes may grab the readers attention and therefore persuade
them to read the article. Within both magazines, more than one picture of the artist has been used in
the double page spread which I feel is a convention of a Pop Music Magazine because the reader
may want to see more than just one image of the artist they are reading about, this may also grab the
readers attention as there has been more than one image used. However, I have challenged the
convention because the facial expressions the artist has used in my magazine is not as foolish and
eccentric as those in the other magazine. This has been done to show that she is sweet and
innocent, she is also written as a new artist into the Pop Music industry which may be why she is
keeping her facial expressions simple for now. Subheadings have been used in the same place in
both magazines’ double page spread which I think is a form of Magazines in general but also in Pop
Music Magazines. They give the reader an idea of what the article is about or sometimes they
introduce the artist and include a small but detailed description of them. The name of the artist in the
different double page spreads have been placed in a similar place. I think that this is a convention of
Magazines in general but in Pop Music Magazines also because they are there just to inform the
reader of who the article is about as they may be unsure of who the artist is just by the image(s)
used. Another convention of double page spreads in Pop Music Magazines is that the colour of the
text where the artist answers the questions in the interview is different to the colour of the text where
the questions are being asked. I think this is done to distinguish the interviewer and artist for the
reader. I have also included a circle with a feature in about another page including the artist in the
main article which isn't a convention of a Pop Music Magazine. However, the magazine I have
compared to my magazine may not include the artist anywhere else but the main article so has not
needed to do this. I have used symbols in my magazines double page spread which I think is a
convention of Pop Music Magazines because teenagers can relate to these symbols as when they
are texting they may use them and therefore they know what they mean and make the magazine feel
more suited to them as others may not know what they mean or suggest.