The document discusses how the author's media products use and challenge conventions of real magazine formats. For the magazine front cover, the author followed conventions like using multiple fonts but challenged conventions such as having the dominant image overlap the masthead. For the contents page, conventions like sectioning by page number were followed, but adding a grey column background challenged conventions. For the double page spread, conventions like using multiple fonts and images were followed, but challenging conventions by using alternative content and a textured background.

1. In what ways does your
media products use,
develop or challenge
forms and conventions of
real media products

2. Magazine
- Front cover

3. When creating my front cover I used my knowledge form my research in real media texts to follow conventions which I believe
are essential in a professional prom magazine and therefore need to be kept, then challenge certain conventions which would
allow my magazine to gain a unique selling point to allow it to stand out amongst the tough competition on the market.
I followed the convention of using multiple fonts in order to add character to my page and make it fun for my target audience.
It would also make it more entertaining for the audience to read as the text would not look as much ‘in bulk’ which would
further appeal to my target audience as they are young and would be attracted more to images (hence the large dominant
image) and less text, this way it makes the text look more attractive and they will be more likely to read it. As you can see my
influence by the image from my inspirations. They also use a range of colours which also help attract the target audience. I
challenged the way the features were aligned as I made the main one slightly bigger and it leaked to the middle section of the
front cover. I did this as I believe this left more of an impact on the page as even though the text is smaller than the others it is
still able to stand out on the busy page. I also took inspiration from the text of the elle magazine such as The larger sell line
“confidence” or the contrasting colour scheme. I decided to challenge the convention of having my dominant image overlap
my masthead. I chose to do this due to the size of my masthead and the framing of my model in the image. I also decided to
challenge the feature of having a sub image on the page as I feel it will distract my target audience and make it seem busy and
overcrowded. Although I have followed various of conventions from magazines already on the market I still believe that my
magazine is original as I have used inspiration from various brands therefore it is still unlike any magazine which is on the
market. When choosing the title of my magazine I also referred back to real media texts and decided that I wanted my
magazine that I wanted my magazine to sound catchy and wanted it to be short. I uses prom 101 as 101 referes to a personal
encounter and therefore will close a social distance between reader and writer. I decided to copy the feature of utting the
ussie number and price close to my masthead. While also making them small just like in other magazines. I chose to
incorporate a mixture of strategies within the layout of my magazines following conventions of a real media text but in other
ways challenging them. I mainly focused my layout around the left side of the images in order to use structure to the target
audience and make it not seem overcrowded. I also tried to keep them aligned together except from my main sell line. For the
rest of the image I decided to keep it available to see as I felt the dress was the statement of the model and therefore the
target audience needed to be able to see it. I believe these conventions will attract the target audience to my magazine. I
decide to challenge the convention of having the dominant image overlap my masthead as I feel I wish to have both fully
shown to my target audience making them both stand out against once another.

4. Magazine
- Contents page

5. When creating my contents page I kept in mind my findings from my excessive research and planning. Through doing this I
was able to evaluate publications from real media texts as inspiration for my own. The main two inspirations for my contents
page were Elle and top of the pops, as you can see from the images below they made an impression on me and influenced
my own creation using conventions of both. For the main bulk of text I decided to both follow and challenge conventions in
order to make it unique. I firstly followed them using the conventional layout of a contents page by sectioning them
according to the page number in columns but challenging this by arranging them in my own way. I also challenged this by
adding a grey column background to define the features on the page to break it up and make it more fun. Due to the fact my
target audience is young I feel long titles and detailed descriptions would be boring so I therefore left this out. It also
intrigues them in to what the feature is about. I further challenged the conventions of real media texts though the use of the
editors section in order to show my opinion of the magazine. I feel this closes the social distance between reader and writer.
In addition to this I also followed the convention of placing the issue number and website under the masthead while using
the feature of placing a contents logo aswell as the magazines masthead. In order to replicate a feature from top of the pops
magazine I inserted an image of my front cover in order for it all to link together. I felt this would also link to my target
audience in order to add more character and fun to the page. For the text I chose to use a vary of basic and fun texts to allow
the audience to easily navigate around the page, thus therefore the magazine. I liked the layout of Q magazine despite it not
matching my genre, therefore I decided to include these conventions to switch up my magazine to make it unique. I also
believe I have challenged conventions of a typical fashion/prom magazine boosted by the fact my magazine is regional. This
allowed me to use language which would never be featured in magazines such as Elle. i do believe this is a good aspect as it
will relate more to my target audience as this is the language used on a casual basis and will therefore feel more connected
to the magazine and relate more to the articles. Another way I challenged conventions of a magazine is by the image use on
this page. I included an image of my front cover which is used in magazines such as top of the pops which appeal to my age
demographic. I also included a sillhouette image of my model whom the main double page spread was about. In addition to
this I added an editors photo in order for my target audience to know whom was writing the magazine to close the social
distance.

6. Magazine
- Double page

7. For my double page spread I used my knowledge form previous research into real media texts I found from
the normal conventions which are expected in a prom magazine. With this information I both followed and
challenged some of them into creating my own original products which would in theory stand out from the
other strong competitors in the market such as cosmopoliton, glamour and elle magazine.
For this page I looked at real media texts and found the layout I like most was a text to images style that had
several images featured. I believe this would suit my target audience as it uses both texts and images in
comparision. Also from researching into real media texts I found that they use a range of different fonts
styles within their articles as this would make the article more entertaining for the audience an they are
more likely to take notice of the text included. Using a mixture has allowed me to give different
connotations and dennotations for different pieces of text. I also challenged conventions with the use of the
content of the article I felt this would be an alternative to what I had seen in my research of prom
magazines. I decided to challenge the plain background convention by including a textured one as
sometimes it can be seen as too much. However linking to my target audience of being fun and would
therefore make the page more interesting. I feel this completes the overall look of the page as my intentions
were to create a fun, diverse and creative page to match my model. It is her own personal experience of her
prom night and therefore I felt I had to represent her personality. Once again my colour scheme is consistant
on this page which follows a convention and links of my media products together. With regards to the
images on my double page spread I decided to include image that relate to what writer is speaking about at
the certain time which is a generic convention and also the layout. This consisted of make up, dresses and
shoes but also images from her prom and the experience she had to add a personal touch. Due to me taking
a range of images I was able to do a lot more with them for example the images located for the Ramside
made a great example of her prom experience.

8. Billboard

9. For my billboard I carried out a lot of market research into real media texts who use billboards to promote products. By
doing this I was able to find conventions which would be expected in a successful billboard and was able to follow these
conventions, but also challenge them to allow my final product to stand out with the intention that my target audience
would see this billboard over others and would therefore be interested in purchasing the magazine it is promoting.
For my research I found the conventional billboards is mostly like the Topshop one below or the forever 21 . They are very
simple with minimal text but portray everything needed. As you can see I challenged and use some of the generic
conventions. For example I challenged the convention of having only one model as I had several. The girls are in a group
which connotes that prom is a thing you can enjoy and plan with your friends. For the colour scheme the continuity from
other media products is kept with the blues, pinks and purples. With the use of grey and black subtly used also. I believe
this works well and would attract the attention of passers by. I followed these conventions by using a plain and simple
background in order for my other features to stand out such as my image. For the text included I took inspiration from
both real media texts show. I. knew it was essential to include the magazine name and the website in order for the target
to be able to gather more information about the brand and conduct more research. My masthead was he biggest piece of
information on this piece then included a regional piece of information. Below this I then included the website url. I
decided not to use any more text as I believe this would have made the billboard look too overcrowded and due to the
fact that people will only see this when passing, they will only be able to see it for a couple of seconds therefore the texts
needs to be simple and precise in order to be memorable and attention grabbing.

10. Website

11. When creating my prom 101 magazine I both followed and challenged conventions of real media products such as
prom girls which I have previously researched. Through this research I was able to use the conventions to create
my own unique product.
I followed the conventions of having an interactive website. I found from my research that the most successful are
interactive. Those containing gifts, photo galleries, videos and social network links etc. I used a range of galleries as
this instantly draws in the target audience and makes it more eye catching. I noticed that within top fashion
magazines on the current market they all show a strong use of synergy throughout their product. For instance
having their company name on everything n which I replicated due to my genre resembling fashion. It can be
found on the header featured on every page and also on the cover of my magazine. There is also the colour
scheme as although it is not used to once again keep the continuity of the products in order for my target
audience to recognise my brand. Also the models used throughout my magazine are also featured in my website in
order for my audience to trust the brand and the models included. l also felt they were apart of the product and
therefore will raise the recognition of the brand and also the trust from the target audience. it will also allow the
audience to recognise that they are made by the same company. Once again on this piece I used a mixture of a
formal and colloquial tone to match my target audience and make them feel connected with the magazine.