1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

Masthead

PlugAnchorage

Barcode

Feature Article Photo

Menu Strip

Cover Line

Selling Line

Graphic Feature

FRONT COVER

Kicker

Lead Story

Flash

Banner

I used a barcode on my magazine as through research on codes and conventions of magazines I noticed that many placed the barcode on the side, and this then worked well with the house style of my overall magazine. This then makes my magazine look more professional and that it may be being sold. I also placed the issue number above, as also through research of codes and conventions, I had noticed that many music magazines also did this. This also makes my magazine look more professional.

Here I show my final magazine product, and my chosen example magazine.

Front Cover

The image I used for my front cover uses a direct mode of address as the model in the image is looking directly at the audience of the magazine. I also made it the dominant image of my magazine by not taking the focus away by placing other images around the magazine front cover. I did this to make the audience aware that the main story of the magazine will involve the model on the front. Also, using only the singular image gives a very dominant feel.

I used the four cover lines with the titles of the bands in bolder writing as this then draws potential buyers to the magazine if they see a band they like will be in it. I then gave a brief explanation of what the article on the band will be about, this will also encourage people to buy it more, as they will want to know more on what it says.

These help to engage the audience to the magazine and what it may be about. But also these are used to easily identify the magazine to regular buyers. I used the chosen font as it is bold and easily recognisable, also it fits in with the initial house style of the magazine, it also helps reflect the overall genre. Also, the use of the strap line helps potential buyers to know what the aim of the magazine is, and what the articles in the magazine will be about.

The image I used for my front cover uses a direct mode of address as the model in the image is looking directly at the audience of the magazine. I also made it the dominant image of my magazine by not taking the focus away by placing other images around the magazine front cover. I did this to make the audience aware that the main story of the magazine will involve the model on the front. Also, using only the singular image gives a very dominant feel. I also developed this from my chosen example magazine.

These are seen as being billboards for the magazine, as they advertise the magazine for the intended audience by using words such as ‘EXCLUSIVE’ and ‘WIN’ or ‘FREE’. These are mainly used so the audience will be intrigued in winning the competition’s or getting the exclusive interviews with the artist. I advertised my top and bottom strips by using a black background and a bold writing that comes out prominent on this, by using a red and white font. This is then a lot more eye catching to the audience. Also, from the magazine I used as my model, these also revolved around my initial house style.

Front Cover

The top grid contains information that the buyers of the magazine will look at first, this is why I placed the selling line with a buzz word of a different colour as the audiences would be more drawn to reading this. Also I used buzz words in the top right corner with giveaways and exclusive interviews, as this would then make the audience more likely to buy the magazine.

The middle grid then contains the additional information that comes within the magazine, along with my feature image, this is less intriguing than the top of the magazine, as hopefully with the top grid, the audiences have already been enticed into buying the magazine.

The bottom grid then contains the least important information, as you can see from my magazine front cover, the bottom grid has been left quite bland.

The Grid System Front Cover

Front Cover Copy

Signed Editorial

Border/Divider

Main Feature (With inset pictures)

Inset or Feature Shot (Of highlights and exclusives)

Page Numbers

Section Header

Issue and Dateline

Stand-out Quote

Navigation Panel (With header)

Number Itemised List

Subscription Box

CONTENT PAGE

I didn’t use a main image in particular in my content, as I wanted to use a vary of images to link in with the stories on the front cover, I also did this, as it makes the content page look a lot more exciting and interesting. I stuck to the overall house style colours of black, white and red so the magazine all fits together. I also used the same font for the title on my content page, as I did on my front cover. This then also makes the magazine recognisable to the audience.

I also used the quotes under the pictures to entice the audiences further into the magazine. I also made the keywords of the quotes in different colours to entice the audiences into reading what was said, but to also bring out the buzz words such as ‘exclusive’ so the audiences then feels they are getting something other magazines do not have.

I tried to stick to the original house style of the example magazine. I did this, but changed the positioning of the feature shots to make the content page more interesting and enticing. I also stuck to the original house style with the colours red, black and white. To make my magazine look more professional.

Content Page

Content Page

On my content page, I placed the page numbers near the chosen feature shots, to make the magazine look more professional, as this is a convention I had said whilst researching magazines.

I also used border/dividers to give my magazine a much more professional feel, and to also separate the articles from each other, so they do not merge and become too confusing for the audience to be able to understand.

I also used a subscription box to entice the audience into the purchase of the magazine, I then used a buzz word in a different coloured font to entice the audiences into reading what it says, and to persuade them into purchasing it. This is also a convention I had seen in example magazine.

I used a front cover copy with my editorial to familiarise the audience with the magazine they were purchasing, and to also give them an incite on what will be in the magazine and what they will be expecting to see. This was also a convention I had seen in my example magazine.

Feature Article Photo

Introductory Text

Feature Shot

Stand-Out Quote

Headline/Quote

Page Numbers

Graphic FeatureMain Article

Pull Quote

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

Smaller Images

I used the feature article photo in a similar way to the way in which NME uses theirs. I did this, as it works well on the double page spread and makes it clear who the magazine is based on, I also used a direct mode of address from my image, as this then makes the magazine more intimate to the audience and the celebrity that is starring in the magazine.

I used pull quotes and headline quotes to give a brief overview to the audience on what they will expect to see in the magazine and what the interview is about, I made the headline quote the largest font on the page, as this draws attention to a specific quote that has been made in the interview and is also a house style followed by various other music magazines.

I used graphic features to draw attention to my magazine and make the page look more exciting, but to also make it clear to the audience what the magazine article was about, for example, the use of the “LEEDS” logo, makes it evident that the article will feature stories from Leeds Festival, I also used the “RMM” title font/logo, as this then makes it clear who has wrote this article and the magazine that the article is appearing in.

Double Page Spread

I used page numbers to help link the article back to the content page and to show the audience what page they were on. This is also a house style used by not only music magazines, but various other magazine genres.

I used introductory text, to introduce what my article was going to be about as a preview to the audience on whether or not they would be interested in reading on. This also gives details on who the article is about and what will be expected to be seen throughout. This is also a house style that my chosen music magazine example carries out.

I also used a section of smaller images to the bottom of the article to finish it off and to also link back to the article.

Double Page Spread