By Annie

Davies

Q1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES

YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT

USE, DEVELOP OR

CHALLENGE FORMS

AND CONVENTIONS OF

REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

USING CONVENTIONS - COVER

Masthead: Normally at top centre

or top left hand side of page.

Largest piece of text usually,

although headline may be bigger.

Cover image: Normally fills the majority of the cover. Subject

makes eye contact with camera and normally top half of body

– head shown.

Headline: One of the largest lines of text on the

page – this is used to draw the reader in and

make them buy the magazine.

Cover lines: Used to draw the reader in and make

them buy the magazine. A rock magazine typically

has a lot to make the cover look busy.

USING CONVENTIONS - COVER

Dateline and Barcode: This is

conventionally really small

and placed in the corners of

the page, such as under the

masthead.

Quote: Used to draw the reader in

as it shows authenticity of

magazine and therefore persuades

the purchase of the magazine.

Insert image and Splash:

Adds colour and dynamic to

the cover.

Subheading: Adds more information

about the cover article, often talks

informally at the reader.

USING CONVENTIONS - CONTENTS

Photos – either lots or one main image, tell us the

genre

Contrasting colours –

writing on photos

Editor’s letter and photoSubscription details

Quotes

USING CONVENTIONS – CONTENTS

The Issue number,

name of

photographers, date,

brands worn on cover

and copy of cover are

usually small and kept

to a corner of the

contents page.

Title – ‘contents’ normally covers majority of top of page.

The bottom of the page has chronological information about each of the pages. This is

where the detail that makes the customer buy the magazine comes in. I have included

columns so that the contents page looks busy, in keeping with my theme. I have been

careful not to miss any page numbers so that the page makes sense and looks as

realistic as possible. I have also highlighted important information, such as band names,

so that the customer can quickly see if the product I what they want to buy.

USING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE

Background – normally either black or white

Graphic – create interest, give atmosphere

to page

USING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE

Pull quote – quote pulled out of the

article to draw reader in, used to break

up columns, create interest.Colour of text – Black, contrasting to

background

Text – paragraphs. Aligned left, and not

hyphenated

Drop Cap – First letter of the first word,

which is larger (maybe 8 lines long) and

indents the rest of text.

Subheading – may be in one sentence with

headline (Searching for the ghost of [Kurt

Cobain])

Headline – includes name of band / artist

(Kurt Cobain)

Columns – break up text usually two –

four. Columns at angles create interest.

Questions and Answers – normally

different colours / boldness / italics

about angles.

Margins – Text has a margin, images

don’t have too.

Lead in bigger font

Footer – links to social media, expanded

content, web link. Page number.

Text cannot go through, images can but

not faces etc.

USING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE

Index tab – placed at top right hand side of

page, to allow easy flicking through.

Byline – who the article is written by, who

took the photos, credits. Placed on left hand

side page in margin.

Gutter – middle of the double page, the fold. Images – multiple has connotations with a

scrapbook, single is usually used for an

artist instead of a band. Single does not

mean clean cut, think

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - COVER

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS – COVER

Cover image: I think my cover image goes with the conventions

as it fills the majority of the cover and Gabby has maintained

eye contact with the camera, which draws the reader towards

the magazine on a shop shelf. I have kept editing the photo to

a minimum as I found, by flicking through Kerrang! Magazine,

that they rarely airbrush skin tones. The top half of Gabby’s

body is shown, also keeping in line with conventions.

Masthead: I based my masthead on NME’s as it has a simple,

yet eye catching format. The font is in keeping with the genre

of music, and the colour relates to my target audience. It is a

similar size and shape to the NME masthead, and therefore

follows convention.

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - COVER

Dateline and Barcode: This is

conventionally really small and

placed in the corners of the page,

such as under the masthead. My

barcode and dateline therefore

follow convention.

Quote: My quote stands out as although the pink and

green contrast, it is in keeping with colour scheme of

the page, as well as clear and easy to read.

Insert image and Splash: Although I did not include an insert

image, I included two splashes. These create a 2D feel to the

page, but also help certain cover lines, or quotes, stand out.

This is because they overlap other images and text, therefore

keeping in line with conventions.

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - COVER

Strapline: These appear at the top and

bottom of the page – following

conventions. The footer goes across

the whole page, which is very

common.

Headline: This follows convention as it is one of

the largest pieces of wording on the page. It is

the name of an artist, which is also not

uncommon, and follows the colour scheme. The

font is also clear to read.

Subheading: It is

underneath the

headline, therefore

following

conventions.

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS – COVER

Cover lines: I think my cover lines are quite

conventional as they fill in the gaps left by the

image, and are to the edge of the page. They are

bright and contrasting, which draws the reader

in, and are of a topic that would interest a

potential buyer of the magazine. A rock

magazine typically has a lot to make the cover

look busy, and I think the colour scheme helps

with this. I have taken inspiration from NME’s

cover by highlighting words.

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - CONTENTS

I have taken

inspiration

from Rock

Sound

magazine

with my layout

as it is bright,

colourful and

busy looking. I

liked the idea

of putting the

page number

over the

image, along

with the name

of the band /

artist

pictured.

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE

DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE

CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - COVER

I do not think that I have challenged any

conventions with my magazine cover as I

have tried to follow inspiration I took from

Kerrang! And NME very closely. This was to

ensure sales of my magazine – I did not

see any point in challenging conventions

when the ideas already work well for so

many popular and well-known magazines.

CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - CONTENTS

I do not think I have challenged conventions of a

contents page hugely, although I have not

included some of the usual aspects. This includes

the name of magazine, or website.

I have also not included an advert or a mixture of

cut out photos and non-cut out photos in the

conventional way. This is because the yellow star

in the middle of the page could be described as an

advertisement for the magazine subscription,

although it is not an advert for an external

company. The majority of the photos are in a very

regimental format, although the photo of the

editor is at a slant, therefore could be described as

cut out from the layout of the page.

CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS - ARTICLE