The document summarizes the ways in which the media product uses and develops conventions of real magazines. It discusses researching existing music magazines to understand common layouts and features. This provided an outline for the student's own magazine. Target audience research found that attractive front cover images and freebies would attract buyers. Subject matter research informed dressing the model in a casual yet "cool" style to appeal to the R&B audience. The only challenge was shortening the magazine name based on audience testing.

1. QUESTION ONE
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions if real media
products?
Zeanne Khan - 5702

2. The first thing which I did in order to construct my real media product was
research on the basics of magazines such as the layouts and features. I did
this is my Similar Text Analysis (STA), I looked at popular music magazines
such as ‘Billboard’, ‘Top of the Pops’ and ‘Rolling Stones’. From the STA’s I
gained a lot of knowledge about magazines such as the similar layouts and
features which they shared. For example barcodes, mastheads, pugs ect
however it also showed me how you can be original with your magazine as
there is no one way of doing it. Just as long as you include all the basics that
you need on a magazine cover – the masthead, the headlines, straplines,
price, date, issue number and a bold main image. The STA’s really helped me
before constructing my own magazines as it showed me that if you liked a
way a certain feature was placed in a magazine it was ok to do a similar thing
or even the same. Overall the STA’s gave me a basic outline as to how
magazines generally looked and from the concluded research I initially had an
idea as to what I wanted to include in my own magazines.

3. In order to complete our Target Audience Research, we
asked a number of questions to our targeted audience on
Fronter. From this we gathered information such as the
main image on the front cover being the feature which
attracts them first. This helped me make the decision that I
would have a mid-shot of my model and make sure that it
was a eye capturing image which looked very professional.
I also learnt that buy including a freebie (preferably posters)
it would further attract my audience into purchasing my
magazine.

4. My Subject Matter Research helped me decide on what I
should have my model wearing in the shoot. I did research
on how current R’n’B tend to dress and also looked at
images of them. From this I noticed that they had a very
‘chilled’ look about them however it also showed their
wealth. For this reason I had my artist wear a casual t-shirt
with jeans however in order to show their ‘cool’ personality I
got him to wear chains, a hat and bracelets.

5. I didn’t make any big differences which challenged the
research which I had completed. However from my Target
Audience Research, the most popular name for the
magazine was ‘Ker-ching’ however when actually
constructing my magazine the name seemed too long.
From this me and my partner decided that the next most
voted for name ‘Remix’ would be a better option.