In what ways does your media product use,

develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The masthead of the magazine uses a distinctive font which is then repeated throughout the magazine in order to create a house font; a popular convention within real media products, such as The main image on the

front cover is placed strategically in front of the masthead, this suggests that the audience will still be able to recognise the magazine which uses a convention that is also used by a real media product;

The issue number is written in a small font beneath the masthead on the front cover. This can be seen to conform to a popular convention used by

By placing the price of the

magazine on the front cover, a

popular convention of

real media products was

used. The contents page text is featured on the left side of the main image, this uses a convention of many real media products. The reduced opacity highlighting of the font develops the convention used by

The enhanced lens flare on the Double Page Spread develops a convention used in

When comparing my media product withit is clear that many conventions have been challenged. For example, the presence of a barcode on the bottom left side of the cover. If my product was a real media product, the barcode would be on or inside the back cover as I feel that this would contribute to the USP.

Another convention that has been challenged is the use of cover lines. Real media products tend to use the convention of cover lines to inform the reader of what is included inside the magazine. However, also regularlychallenges this convention.

The absence of a barcode allows the product to challenge another convention of real media products such as as the price is usually placed along with or on top of the barcode. However, the absence of a barcode on the front cover means that the price is freestanding thus contributing the USP.

The front cover also challenges a convention demonstrated by the cover of bright colours which are likely to attract the audience, by using monotonic colours. However, this represents the genre of music more accurately that brighter colours would.

The contents page challenges a convention commonly seen in

as the main image covers the whole page whereas other magazines place more focus on the text with a smaller image.

Another convention that is challenged by my product is having the main image in black and white. Real media products such as

always use the convention of having brightly coloured main images and fonts on their contents pages.

The contents page also challenges the common conventions of real media products’ contents pages as the artist has no direct mode of address with the audience, nor are they performing; both conventions that can commonly be seen in

The media product challenges the convention of structured, closely aligned columns on the double page spread; a convention that is used throughout the majority of real media products. This is another contributor to the USP.

The product also challenges the convention of large interviews that can often be found in This is the case as the magazine aims to target an audience who will appreciate the photography and therefore, do not need to read as much about the artists. Again, this will help to create a USP for the product.

Due to the various conventions that are used, developed and challenged throughout the product, a unique selling point is created. This allows the magazine to specify it’s audience to a niche target. Popular conventions from other magazines such as the house style will allow the product to enter the market with relative ease as the audience will hopefully recognise and appreciate the familiar conventions. Additionally, the development of conventions throughout the product, allows the magazine to have an edge on competing magazines as it is new and current, despite the more vintage house style that has been created through the use of photography. Furthermore, the conventions from real media products that were challenged by the magazine are particularly responsible for the unique selling point as they will hopefully interest the target audience; people who are willing to experience new things.

Overall, there are more challenges to the conventions than there are conformities, however, various conventions and forms have still been used and developed which should hopefully increase the popularity of the product.