1. In what ways does your media product use forms and conventions of media products?

(Contents Page)

Similarities between my contents page and an actual contents page

Both pages have the ‘contents’ title at the top of the page to make it clear what the page is about.

Both pages have a set colour scheme

Have main images of people who are mentioned and focused on inside the magazine

The text frames the image

Main images are placed in similar part of the page, and models have a similar pose

Have used more than one image on the contents page to promote other articles.

Used different artists for the main image on the contents page to those on the front cover

Have a short note to cover up some space and interact with audience.

Both pages don’t follow the rule of thirds.

Differences between my contents page and the actual contents page

Not masthead of the magazine on the actual contents page.

The content of the magazine is divided into section for Kerrang and page numbers are not provided, but for mine the text is not categorised and page numbers are given for each separate article.

I have included social media information, they have not.

Kerrang have not significantly highlighted names of popular people on the contents page whereas my magazine has made the names much bigger and put a stroke around them.

Kerrang have included their issue number and date on the contents page whereas I have placed mine on the front cover.

• I followed many codes and conventions on my front cover such as including the masthead to create a sense of familiarity and to connect the magazine.

• I have also placed the title ‘contents’ to make readers aware of what the page will be about.

• I have anchored the main image with information about her article in my magazine. This is to show that the page number/article information Is connected to the artist in the image.

• I have included page numbers and brief details about certain articles on my contents page. This is conforms to conventions as many brands do this to let audiences know where the information they are interested in is. It is also done to advertise content inside the magazine.

• I have included social media information, which adheres to forms and conventions as this is done to promote the brand of the magazine and to interact with customers- especially for new brands.

• I have also highlighted the names of famous artists on my contents page. This is often done on contents pages to highlight the huge names involved with the issue of the magazine. This attracts audiences.

• I have also used one main image on my magazine, followed with a smaller to promote a article. Conventionally one main image is used and then other smaller images are placed around the page, which relate to the article descriptions given on the contents page.

• I have used the same colour scheme that I used on the front cover. This is done commonly in magazines to show a connection between the pages and to create some sort of recognition of the brand.

How I followed codes and conventions on my contents page

• One way in which I developed forms and conventions is by changing the model for the main image on my contents page. The image on my front cover is different to that on the front cover. I have done this as it switches things up and allows the audience to be able to focus more than one artist. This also stops a reader from getting bored of seeing the same person over and over again.

• I also placed a image of my front cover at the top of the page to cover up white space. There is a short note asking audience about the freebies and asking them to interact with the company. This is not done commonly but I chose to do this as it makes the page more interesting. It might even attract people to the magazine.

• Another way I developed conventions was by not dividing the article descriptions into separate sections. A lot of magazine tend to make different sections under which they categorise their articles. I didn’t do this for my magazine as I felt that everything related because my magazine only focused on one genre. Also, the text looked better in this format.

• My contents page does not follow the rule of thirds, similar to the ‘Kerrang’ contents page. I feel as if the technique wouldn’t have the same effect on the contents page as the rule of thirds would on a front cover. People know where to look on the contents page for details on articles in a magazine.

How I developed codes and conventions on my front cover

Compare draft & final – changes made to final

The short note was not planned on the draftOn the draft I had not planned to place the masthead on the page. On my final version I ended up placing the masthead on the top of the page on the right side.

I did not place the patterns of rectangles under the title of the contents page.

I changed the colour of the title compared to the draft as this was the same colour scheme used on the actual front page.

Another difference between my draft and final version of the contents page is that I placed a social media section on my final version, while I didn’t plan to on the draft.

Compare draft & final – similarities to final

The main image was placed in the same place as the draft version

I placed the ‘contents’ title in a similar place on the final version as was planned on the draft

The text that contained details on pages in the magazine was placed similarly to where I had placed it on the draft version. The image was also placed in a similar position.