This document analyzes how the media product uses, develops, or challenges conventions of real music magazines. It summarizes how various elements like the masthead, cover lines, images, columns, and page layout follow conventions of magazines like NME and Kerrang. However, some elements are unconventional, like only having one image on the contents page or placing the subheadings on the right side instead of left. Overall, the document shows a thorough understanding of how real music magazines employ certain forms and styles, and how the media product both adheres to and adjusts some of these conventions for maximum visual impact and reader engagement.

1. QUESTION 1
PHOEBE JOHNSON
In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?

2. FRONT
COVER

3. Masthead
Puff
Pull Quote
Anchor Text
Main Image
Main Cover Line
Tag Line
Features
Cover Lines
Cover Line

4. MASTHEAD
My masthead is large, bold and is placed above the head so is clearly visible
(conventionally in music magazines placed behind head) – prominent colour
and fits house colours – gains attentions – in the typical top/middle – easy to
detect.
Followed NME’s conventions of a simple and bold masthead – to show importance
of the magazine masthead is conventionally placed above the main image – to
attract and is easily recognisable, as well as easy to detect.

5. MAIN IMAGE
Convention of medium close up being
used. Imaging using direct mode of
address – uses & gratification theory,
creates personal relationship with
reader. Lips are a bright red colour –
used contrast to enhance the colour –
symbolism of sex; which is mentioned
in Goffman’s theory.

6. PUFF
Flash of information – black, white & orange fit
the house colours. Hypodermic needle by using
the word ‘new’ makes reader. Also using the
word ‘win’ entices the reader to buy the
magazine to enter the competition.
Conventionally in NME magazine.

7. MAIN COVER LINE
Creates hermeneutic question to audience
– what has she reinvented herself as?
Positioned onto of anchor text – to show it
is to do with the main story. Convention of
contrasting with main image and anchor
text. Also uses house style & colours.
Conventionally in both NME and
KERRANG! Magazine.

8. ANCHOR TEXT
Uses name which entices
fans of the artist – anchors to
image – what the main story
is about – bold text with white
outline – stand out against
picture – colour fits into
house style.
This is conventionally in most
music magazines magazines.
(Q, NME, KERRANG!, VIBE)

9. COVER LINE
Uses and gratification needs model –
audience wants to find answers.
Hypodermic needle – powerless to resist
finding out what the story is about.
Different colours used on fonts to
separate text.
Magazines that follow this convention are
NME and KERRANG!

10. TAG LINE
Using the word ‘exclusive’ creates engagement
with audience – ‘exclusive’ in bold colour, so is
clearly visible – exclusivity is informing
audience of the unknown, uses and
gratifications theory.
Other magazines also use this convention
such as NME and Q.

11. PULL QUOTE
Direct insight into artists life –
creates personal relationship
(uses and gratification theory).
Hypodermic needle – reader
powerless to resist reading it.
Also creates hermeneutic code as
suggests interesting content –
entices audience to read the
article.
Conventionally in most music
magazines such as NME and
KERRANG!

12. FEATURES
Insight into information in magazine – also for entertainment
needs (uses and gratification theory).
Positioned at the bottom – orange lines to separate (fits house
colours) – contrast against background of main image.
This style is conventionally used in KERRANG! magazine.

13. HOUSE STYLE
My house style consists of three colours
; orange, white and black which contrast
against eachother – similar to NME which
is my magazine influence, keeping the
black & white as they are a classic pair
and adding orange rather than red as it is
still a bold colour.
Tag line, cover lines, puff and features all
contain bold text in orange as it is the
main colour used in my magazine.
Similar to NME’s house style.

14. CONTENTS
PAGE

15. Masthead
Image
Subheading
Page numbering
Subscription box
Editor note
Columns

16. MASTHEAD
Common convention in NME and
KERRANG to have the masthead on
the contents page – creates brand
awareness – links to front cover,
which creates an identifiable image
– continue through every issue for
professional look – house style is
followed through using black and
white colours.
Conventionally in NME and
KERRANG!

17. PAGE NUMBERING
Page numbers in contrasting bold colour
makes it easy to locate – meets young
audience – creates shortcuts which
means convenience – informing what is
inside (uses and gratification) – fits
house style with orange and black.
Similar numbering found in NME
COLUMNS
Following conventions of NME magazine
split onto two columns – meaning it is
organised and structured – white spaces
around edges, for high standard finish.
Doesn’t fit the common convention of
three columns but contents page I took
inspiration from had two colours – in
NME and KERRANG!

18. EDITORS NOTE
Editors notes are not conventionally in
many music magazines but they are in
KERRANG! – it creates a personal
relationship with reader (uses and
gratification) – introduction to the
magazine – contrast in fonts to attract
readers.
Found in KERRANG!
SUBSCRIPTION BOX
Entices reader to buy next issues with the
deal – gives an example of the next issue
– hypodermic needle, means the reader
must know what is in that issue.
Found in KERRANG! conventionally and
in NME.

19. SUBHEADINGS
Contrasting bold colours used to
make subheadings stand out – eye
catching and simple – easy to
navigate the magazine – short
definition is beneficial gives reader
an idea about story and its
information (uses and
gratifications theory). Subheadings
are conventionally on the left hand
side but I have put mine on the
right side as it follows NME’s
conventions and that magazine is
my influence – along with
KERRANG! As its subheadings are
also on the right.

20. IMAGE
Image uses direct mode of address –
creates personal relationship with reader
(uses and gratifications model) Relates to
the main double page spread article –
entices fans of artist.
Unconventional in music magazines as
there is only one main image on contents
page, like in KERRANG! And NME but in
magazines like Q contain many different
images.
Found in KERRANG! and NME.

21. DOUBLE
PAGE
SPREAD

22. Drop cap
Tag Line
Text
Anchor text
Image
Layout
Columns
Page numbering Social networks

23. TAG LINE
Using word ‘exclusive’ creates
engagement – it is a buzzword
– the effects model –
exclusively provided.
Found in other magazines
such as KERRANG!
DROP CAP
Introduction to article – bold &
bigger font & different colour
for contrast – grabs attention
– entices audience to read.
Found in other magazines
such as KERRANG! and VIBE.

24. ANCHOR TEXT
Relates name to image – bold
and contrasting colours which
entices fans - informative as
gives an insight into article
(uses and gratification theory).
Doesn’t fit into conventions of
KERRANG! Magazine as they
don’t use artist name as anchor
text. But conventionally it is in
NME and Q.

25. COLUMNS
3 columns that are neatly arranged, on the right
side of the page. Informative – informing reader
about artist through questions (uses and
gratification theory)
Follows conventions of Q magazine with 3
columns, as well as most of NME and
KERRANG!.

26. TEXT
Fits conventions of contrasting colours, bigger
size font – orange draws reader into subheading
– highlights important things – separates
between questions. First opening paragraph in
bold to stand out.
Found in other magazines such as KERRANG!

27. SOCIAL NETWORKS
This is not conventionally found,
however entices fans and gives
information to reader and an insight into
artists real life (uses and gratification
theory)
PAGE NUMBERING
Placed in bottom corner, with magazine
name and date. Fits conventions of
being in the bottom corner, easy for
reader to navigate.
Found in other music magazines such
as Qand NME

28. IMAGE
Direct mode of address – creates
personal relationship (uses and
gratifications theory) – social
integrative uses needs model.
Medium close up of model – in black
and white – fits alternative style of
music – conventionally on the left
side of the page – image takes up
whole space.
Found in most music magazines
such as KERRANG!, NME, Q and
VIBE

29. LAYOUT
I followed the convention of music
magazines by having my image on
the left end side of the page and text
on the right. I did this so the image
stands out the most meaning it is
eye-catching and entices the reader
to read the article.
Found in NME, VIBE and KERRANG!
Magazine.