The document summarizes how the media product uses and develops conventions of real music magazines. It follows many conventions such as placing the masthead in the top right corner and using plain colors. However, it challenges conventions by using more mature colors for the masthead and images that portray artists as serious rather than always smiling. While maintaining a chatty tone, it uses more formal language than magazines for younger audiences. Fonts and layouts are similar to other magazines but content and some visuals are adapted to better suit an older, 16-20 year old audience. Overall, the media product develops conventions to match its genre but subtly challenges stereotypes to portray a different view of artists.

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

2. The Masthead
My media product is a music magazine. In order for my design to look like a typical pop music magazine l
had to adapt the generic conventions of a magazine and incorporate it into my magazine layout, style and
formality. I did some research into other pop music magazines that I’d aspired for mine to be similar too. I
found several factors were almost identical in each magazine. For instance the masthead would typically be
in the top right corner of the page and in several magazines l researched they usually had a plain
background colour to make the masthead stand out even more. The masthead was often in bright and
bold to catch the audiences attention. So for my masthead l decided to follow the plain background to
enhance the title of my magazine since it’d be new to the market. However in comparison to other pop
magazines l decided to go for more plain colours for my masthead. This is because my target audience is
more mature then ‘We <3 Pops’ audience. So l chose white and purple to connote maturity, femininity and
purity – since the majority of my magazine is based on new artists with a fresh new sound. Using the
contrast of these colours l have both followed and challenged the generic conventions for a masthead.

3. Mode of Address
For the mode of address l have mostly followed the generic forms and conventions of a
pop magazine, since l have chosen language to make my magazine chatty and friendly
which is commonly used to attract young audiences. I used direct questions I address my
audience so they felt more involved with the magazine such as w which
would be attracted to a more older audience, since my target audience is 16-20. Because
of this l decided to use a more formal mode of address, avoiding words like ‘OMG’ and
‘YOLO’ as that wouldn’t appeal to my target audience instead l used words that are
formal and a bit more complex compared to perhaps ‘we <3 pop’. But l still made sure
that it’s understandable and not too complex to follow. I used lots of explanation points
to connote excitement about my magazine-as many pop magazines do.

4. Fonts
All the fonts I used for my magazine are in InDesign. This is because they were
easily accessible. There is a continuity of fonts throughout my magazine
because l wanted to keep the house styles the same and the so that the pages
looked similar. Like other magazines l chose fonts that would connote
happiness as well as being easy to read. I chose Cooper Black for the majority
of my headings, Minion Pro for the main body of the text as well as the
masthead. Both fonts l connote maturity. I chose these fonts because l thought
they suited my magazine, genre and represented my target audience.

5. Images
For the majority of my images I have followed the generic conventions
of a real music magazine. Unlike the usual pop magazine, my central
image is of a girl who’s smiling and maintaining eye contact with the
camera. Like a pop magazine where the models are usually smiling to
connote happiness, in my magazine my central image also connotes
seriousness, hard work, and being determine. These are all topics which a
younger audience wouldn’t understand however my audience will be able
to understand as well as perhaps relate too. The images on my contents
page also connote these features, which makes my magazine look more
mature and more relatable to the older audience. Compared to my
double page spread where that image is of a model smiling-this contrasts
with the rest of my magazine. So in this way, l have challenged the pop
genres stereotypical images and expressed a different view of new
artists-a more inspiring one.

6. Puffs
I found that in several pop music magazines, puffs are used to attract their
audience into buying their magazine. So l incorporated this into my magazine as
it will attract my audience. The fact that they could win a album, or meet a
celebrity is a enticing factor therefore I incorporated this convention into my
magazine and added several puffs. Most were competitions to win either
concert tickets or albums. Things l thought would appeal to my target audience.

7. Double Page Spread
On my double page spread l have used
the generic conventions and layout
features to make it appeal to my
audience. I have used things such as
pull quotes which are generically used
in magazine interviews, to make it look
ore professional. As well as using a
question and answer format to present
my article-this is easy to follow and you
can narrow down to specific details that
would appeal to your audience. I used a
50/50 picture to text ratio as in my
research that is what was commonly
used in the layout of a double page
spread.

8. Using developing or challenging forms and
conventions
As I’ve stated in the information above, l have only subtly challenged the forms
and conventions of a pop music magazine. This is because l found it hard to
change things significantly without causing it to contrast with other genres and
not properly represent my genera.
For the majority of my magazine l continued with the generic conventions of a
pop music magazine, l just developed things such as the colour scheme to fit
better with my target audience.