In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge

forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product uses forms of real media products such as Time Out magazine and Around Ealing magazine. Using feedback and

research I also went against certain conventions so that I could appeal to wider target audiences. These are the conventions I used and didn’t

use.

Main image.

Celebrities with

blank or

expressionless faces.

Controversy using

two models instead

of one, and both

models of different

class and race in

comparison to

David Tenant.

Central image.

Controversial using

a background in

comparison to the

plain background

of Time Out.

Date shown to make obvious what edition it is, but also that the magazine is delivered weekly.

Website address so audiences feel included in the making of the magazine. Positioned in the upper

left corner as this is a conventional placing for audiences to recognise.Positioning the

name of the

magazine in

the upper left

hand corner,

as that is a

stereotypical

placing of

titles. The

Masthead

going over the

image as the

magazine is

not established

yet.

Cover lines.

Used big and

bold, mostly

not covering

the image.

Eye

catching, and

in line with

the colour

scheme.

Naming the

celebrity

with catchy

phrases.

Punctuation

to show

inflection.

Advert at the bottom to reflect something within the magazine, use of ‘freebie’ to attract audiences and appeal to the ‘greedy’

nature of London culture. Bright and bold but in line with the colour scheme.

Use of heading to show the audience what they are reading and masthead because my

magazine is not yet that established. Main image large so the audience understand that it

is the main article within the magazine.

Subheadings/article

names to attract and

direct the audience to

specific articles.

Pictures that

apply to

certain texts

and appeal to

audiences. I

put mine next

to the articles

instead of

numbering

them so the

audience do

not get

distracted by

images.

Credits notes so that the audience can find further information on the creation of the magazine. Contact information

so the audience can take part in the creation of the magazine.

House style so

audiences know

what magazine the

contents page

belongs to and

what page the are

on.

Numbered articles so

the audience know

what page to look at

for the article.

Editors notes

and

information

to make the

audience feel

connected to

the magazine

and included

in the creation

of it

Headline – catchy and appealing to entice audience to read what is inside.

Subheadings to summarise what the article is about.

Main

image to

appeal to

audiences

and attract

them to

enquire

what is

inside the

article.

Sub-images to make the audience understand what is inside the article and appeal better to them.

Using images of the model I made mine appeal to the audience and the article, but also look

promotional for what he is doing.

House style

so audiences

understand

the article is a

part of the

magazine as

well as know

what page it

is. Masthead

because my

magazine is

not yet

established,

used as a

typical

magazine

convention

Question in

bold point

and answer

in plain text

so that the

audience can

differentiate

the two.

Drop cap to

show audiences

where the

article begins.

Pull quote to

attract

audiences and

make them feel

they are being

spoken too.

Personal idiolect so

the audience feel

spoken too and not at

and so the article

does not show a bias

opinion.

Large title.

Attracts

audiences and

makes them

want to read

the advert.

Catchy slogan

– entices

audiences to

want to

participate.

Additional pictures – to advertise to the audience what they can be doing. My

use of sporadic pictures at angles to appeal to ‘quirky’ audiences

Main image to attract audiences to the advert. My use of a celebrity to entice the audience to

take the offer.

Additional

information to

let the audience

know what is

being advertised.

Contact

information so

the audience

can find out

more

information

about what is

being

advertised.

Promotiona

l text so

that

audiences

are more

drawn to

what is

being

advertised.

Name of the

sponsor/

company so the

audience are

able to trust the

information

given.

Additional

borough

logo, so the

audience

understand it

is a regional

advert that

applies

specifically to

them.

Codes and Conventions Glossary

• Masthead - Main title section and name at the front of a publication.

• Centre of visual interest (CVI) - The prominent item on a page usually a headline, picture or graphic.

• Boost - Picture boost (usually front page) pic promoting a feature or story in later pages

• Headline/Coverline - The main title of the article. Should be in present or future tense to add to urgencyMust fit the space provided. If it doesn’t, you are using the wrong words.

• Body or body copy: (typesetting) the main text of the work but not including headlines.

• House style - A publication's guide to style, spelling and use of grammar, designed to help journalists write and present in a consistent way for their target audience.

• Conclusion

Masthead

• Mastheads are generically big and bold, used as an item of attraction in order to make audiences familiarise with and recognise the magazine. Taking inspiration from Time Out magazine, I decided to create a similar masthead and alter it going against typical conventions. The purpose of a masthead, is not only to inform the reader of the name of the magazine, but also to create a type of logo for them to identify with.

Masthead

Use of two different styles of fonts.

Both sans serif fonts

Bold font. Typical convention

that magazines use to attract

attention.

Use of regional (London)

colours, this is recognisable to

British audience. Typical of a

regional magazine.

• Placing my masthead in the upper left hand corner is a typical magazine convention, as it is big and bold and stands out from the other words on the front cover audiences are automatically drawn to it, but placing it in the specific and universally known corner, the masthead itself becomes an entity that applies to the typical conventions. My masthead going over the main image challenges these conventions as it shows that my magazine is not as well established as other because audiences will not recognise it unless it is fully visible.

Choosing to use the typical regional

colours of red and blue the masthead then

becomes a sign of London creating an

iconography that is easily applicable to

London culture.

GLOSSARY

Centre of visual interest (CVI)

• The centre of visual interest in a magazine is used as a target of interest.

This specific convention is a way of getting an audience to feel intrigued and

also to create a specific representation of a magazine, article or other media

product.

Pull quote: A brief phrase (not necessarily an actual quotation) from the body text, enlarged

and set off from the text with rules, a box, and/or a screen. It is from a part of the text set

previously, and is set in the middle of a paragraph, to add emphasis and interest.

A quote or excerpt from an article that is used as display text on the same page to entice the

reader, highlight a topic or break up linearity.

Centre of visual interest (CVI)

Larger image, usually a

person or object

applicable to the main

topic of interest.

Large or bold font, used as a

way to make obvious what

the topic of interest is

about.

Masthead, large and at

the top of the page as

a type of logo.

Specifically coloured

text as a way to

distinguish the

separation of text.

Magazines will typically have an image that will take up the whole of the magazine. I decided that

taking three separate images and putting them together would create a version of London that would

suit the target audience's perception of the region. These images became my C.V.I. Using two females

meant that I took in the feedback from my target audience and applied it too my work. This takes in

the conventional element of females as powerful beings and not just objects, going against Mulvey’s

theory of ‘the male gaze,’ by creating an artist, that although is urban is fully clothed and respectful,

shown powerful not passive and partially aggressive but not de-womanised. However I am also going

against specific stereotypes, such as Bell Hook’s ‘commodified blackness’ theory, that black women are

objectified and sexualised keeping my artist fully clothed, using black as a form of power and status

and the beige coat as a form of etiquette and mystery. By using the image of the London eye, I was also

able to use the iconography of London that is visually familiar to a range of different people meaning

my audience will identify better with my magazine. Centring the two images is a typical convention for

a regional magazine, but using two models instead of one is not. This is so that the audience are drawn

to and understand that these people are the main topic within the magazine, and main item of interest.

Compared to magazine's such as Time Out, my main image reflects the same type of representation of

London as a lively place using celebrities to entice the audience, but appealing to my target audience by

using younger models and hybridizing my magazine to fit with regional and gossip. This links in with

theorist Steve Neale that says 'difference is essential to genre' and I took this theory and applied it so

that I could appeal to a target audience of Mainstreamers and Aspirers according to 'Young and

Rubicam's' audience reception theory.

In terms of my contents page, I used images as a centre of visual interest. Using these images I was able to

reflect the element of my magazine, making the main image the young white educated male, this meant that

my magazine gave off the educational vibe as another hybrid convention. Depicting him in a shirt and chino’s

so that he is viewed in a ‘smart casual’ formal/informal dress, so as not to alienate my target audience and

appeal to all types of social classes. But also including the landmark of Big Ben as a regional icon, so that my

audience understand that this is still a regional magazine and to create a feeling of identity within the magazine

so that the audience familiarise with the sight of the landmark. By also including the image of the young black

female on the front cover, I also add a sense of diversity to the magazine and create the link from the front

cover to the contents page. By making the magazine editor black as well links in with this idea, and including

her smiling, means that my audience feel welcomed and invited to read what is inside of the magazine. I

decided not to number the images as I did not feel it was needed and instead put the images next to the

articles that they apply too so that my audience did not feel ‘babied,’ but also had the choice of filtering

through the magazine to find what they are looking for.

The images I used within the article are all supposed to present the model as a passive but humble character,

someone who cares for the community and is not fraught with all the gossip and ‘turf’ wars. This is supposed to

present a young person in a positive light and is a contrast from the front cover because it is not gossip and

rumours. This is also supposed to be a juxtaposition because the celebrity is known for violence but promoting

passive thought.

Placing the main image as a medium portfolio shot in the top left hand corner, means the audience are able to

receive the model full on. This mainly applies to the female subset, but males that idolise the celebrity as well.

This image in large is a means to attract the audience as a centre of visual interest. The audience are

automatically drawn to the larger picture of the young male. Following the convention of a pull-quote in an

article, is a way of interesting the reader in the article. The inspirational words are something audiences can

relate too or identify with, but also so that they recognise it as something the celebrity would say. Using this

convention also means that I am able to attract audiences with something big and bold. Catchy words and large

writing is a convention that always attracts the eye of the audience, and in doing so I can attract audiences with

inspirational quotes that portray the celebrity in a positive light and goes against typical conventions.

Using the young man in my advert as a centre of visual interest, I made the entire background a large image of

him, something that audiences cannot ignore because of the subversion from the rest of the magazine. Creating

this character meant that I had to keep my magazine completely neutral so that it was not specific to any team and

did not show support or favouritism too a team. I did this by keeping with the colours of the magazine and using

blank and plain clothes, this meant I was able to achieve a neutral ground. Making sure to keep my model in

football clothes, I also added the use of a football to make more obvious that he is a footballer and put him in a

field to make obvious to the audience that this is his comfort zone and this is a football advert. Putting him in

clothes that show off his physique also makes audiences aspire to be like him by working out. This entices them to

join the gym and sells the idea of a celebrity taking interest in them making the audience feel invited and welcome,

but also makes the magazine look communal and also fun. This produces the idea that London is a lively place

with great opportunities and using an Asian model, it also portrays it as culturally diverse and different. Also

making the heading/slogan two toned colours in bold Sans-Serif font, makes this another form of interest so the

audience have another reason to gain interest in the image being advertised to them.

GLOSSARY

Boost

• A picture boost is a convention typically used as a picture promoting a

feature story in later pages. These images are always relatable to the main

story-line that the magazine want to cover. They can also be connected with

a : Subhead: A secondary phrase usually following a headline. Display line(s)

of lesser size and importance than the main headline(s).

• These conventions can both apply, especially in magazines, as the image and

strapline will usually be on the front page of a magazine.

Large image of two

females within the

magazine. These

females are not

included within the

shown pages of my

product. Large image of

David Tennant.

Used as a way to

advertise a

theatre

production.

Specific headline/strapline

that entices the reader. Larger

than the other straplines.

GLOSSARY

Headline/Coverline

• The headline also known as Coverline, (when on the front page of a magazine) as a typical convention of a magazine, is important to let the audience know what it is they are viewing but also meant to be bold enough to attract them. The headline is the main source of information for audiences as most audiences will ‘judge a book by its cover’ so to speak. This must be used to create a meaning for the article at hand and is usually closely followed by a: Deck - Part of the headline which summarises the story. Also known as deck copy or bank, or a: Standfirst - Lines of text after the headline that gives more information about the article, or about the author.

Taking inspiration from Time Out and Around Ealing magazine, I was able to create headlines

that I thought would attract readers. Using words that sounded similar “books and boxers” as a

catchy way of getting readers attention, and ‘recognisable names’ such as “ Lady T and Sistah

D” as a bolder way of getting readers attention. The headlines being stereotypically convention,

using these ideas, bold text, the specific house style and recognisable words so that my audience

aren’t intimidated. I used this convention so that my magazine did not stray far away from the

typical regional genre, especially as it is a hybrid magazine. I did not want to make my magazine

explicitly incongruous because I did not want to alienate my audience.

Getting feedback on this helped me to better understand that my audience needed more

information when reading magazines as they prefer to be informed before viewing. This meant

that I had to incorporate the use of a ‘deck’ or ‘standfirst’ so that my audience could understand

the subtext behind the article, and also the deeper meaning of the image on the front cover.

I ensured my main cover-line was large and centred to link

with Time Out and ES magazine. The idea was to advertise

the story of the two models depicted, and make it appealing

to an audience. This is so that audiences can recognise the

words and respond to that by picking it up to get a closer

look. I also used bright red letters with a white outline, to

reflect the St George's cross but also to catch audience's

attention. Centring the letters means that it is also a focal

point for the readers, and goes with the typical convention of

a magazine. Using catchy phrases and the artists name,

audiences are drawn to that which they familiarise with and

are subliminally subjected too each and every day. Using bold

letters means audiences are generally more likely to read the

word. Using exclamatory punctuation, audiences are

understanding of the inflection given but also universally

perceive the sentence as exciting and new. This applies to

typical magazine conventions because it entices the reader

and makes them want to be informed as to what's so exciting

about it.

Following the subheading/strapline convention, my

magazine then becomes recognisable as a magazine

as this convention introduces topics and entices

readers. This follows the typical conventions that

you would find on a magazine front cover and

always applies to a specific audience.

GLOSSARY

Body or body copy

• The body of the product is what brings it all together. Without this

convention the product would not be complete and audiences would feel

confused and uninformed. This mostly applies to articles in magazines as a

lot of magazine front covers do not have to include text in order for people

to feel interested in reading them (much like ES magazine) and can function

fully on the main image.

• This also includes conventions such as a: Drop cap - a large initial letter at

the start of the text that drops into the line or lines of text below.

Text that applies

to the specific

topic of interest.

Using bold fonts to gain

information or drop caps

to direct the reader.

Pull quotes to attract

attention.

Images relating to

the topic of

interest.

Logo’s relating to the

article or magazine.

The mode of address within my article is meant to invite the reader and make them feel as though they are

a part of the interview. I have decided to use the interview type of address so that my audience get more

information and actual quotes from the celebrity instead of having a biased recount of what a journalist

might think of this celebrity. Doing this means that my audience are able to decide for themselves what they

feel about this person which in turn would make them feel empowered and a part of the magazine. Keeping

the interview informal also means the audience begin to understand how the celebrity speaks and how they

would come across in a conversation meaning the audience feels closer too the celebrity and are not

ostracised from the magazine.

I also used a drop cap so that the audience knew where the article began and could find their way through

the rest on their own. This way the audience do not feel confused or disorientated, but also so that they are

able to understand the layout of the magazine and its article. This is a typical convention in terms of most

magazines so that audiences can find their way through articles. Further analysing this work, I realise there

are no children within the article, but that was hard to require given my time and resources and therefore I

was not able too, along with this, finding younger students and getting permission from their parents would

be something I am willing to change if I ever got a chance to improve my work.

The main body of my product is the article in which I have created, using a specific mode

of address, a pull quote, picture and drop cap. Typical conventions of an article that always

appear. Using these specific conventions I was able to develop my article so that it followed

real media products and the conventions they have used.

GLOSSARY

House style

• The house style of a magazine is a way for a magazine to make its mark. The

use of colours, text, font and styles of creation is a way to make obvious

what the magazine is and how it want to present itself. For example:

professional magazines on business and economics would use a lot of bland

colours and serif font, whilst a teen pop magazine would use bright colours

and fancy sans-serif font. This is typically found more obvious in the layout

of the magazine contents page or article, showing different types of text,

images fonts and colours to present itself.

Double lines at the top

of the page, each

reflecting the colour in

the masthead.

Sans serif Calibri font,

attained from audience

research.

Headings/subheadings

matching the colour

scheme of the magazine.

Masthead, information

and page number as a

footer.

The house style of my magazine follows the typical

conventions of a magazine because it uses the colours

that would link the audience to the masthead, and the

regional colours of London itself. These particular

colours are seen all over the article and contents page,

but also throughout the magazine. Using these specific

colours, audiences are not bombarded with sight

affecting colour schemes and find the layout more

appealing.

Using a specific font I am following the conventions of

a typical regional magazine that appeals to the middle-

classed background, these specific people find this text

less intimidating and respond to it better.

The headings and subheadings match the colour scheme of

the logo and also the double line at the top of the page.

These apply to the house style keeping with the colour

scheme of the magazine, and make more recognisable to the

audience what presence the magazine makes within their

minds.

The information at the bottom of the page: the

page number, masthead and website information,

is another typical convention within the house

style that helps audience to identify the magazine

and the page they are looking for within it.

GLOSSARY

Conclusion

• In conclusion, my media product follows typical magazine conventions, this is so that they audience recognise it as a magazine, also so that it is easy to read, and so that it appeals to the target audiences needs and interests. Challenging typical representational conventions, my magazine becomes a target that should apply to a niche audience of aspirers, individualists or mainstreamers, but being three sets of niche audiences, this means my magazine then applies to a mass audience of new British culture. My media product is a development of new media and representations using old media conventions to do so.

GLOSSARY