Q1 - IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA

PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR

CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS

OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

J E M M A S H A W

FRONT COVER COMPARISON…

Main Image

Strapline

Masthead

Pull QuoteCoverline

Plug

Barcode

Date Line

Price

After researching numerous magazines, I have found that these are the main

conventions of an effective magazine. Therefore I have decided to base the front

cover of my magazine off this magazine, due to it including most of the

conventions I planned out. By using these conventions to produce my magazine

I was able to create a professional media product.

MY FRONT COVER…I situated the masthead at

the top of my magazine as

that is where they are

predominantly found. This

convention is easy to read

as it tends to be the

biggest element on the

page, therefore attracts

the readers eye.

On my magazine I have also chosen to

include a strapline along the bottom

of my magazine. It is at the bottom of

my page because I didn’t want It to be the first thing the audience saw due to it not

being the most important convention, unlike the masthead of main image. Within this

strapline I have also include the buzz word, this tells the reader that there is a lot more

inside the magazine which helps attract the audience to buy it.

My main image grabs the readers attention due to Jessie J looking

forward and her body posture looks like she is leaning out of the front

cover, therefore this gives the image quite a bold message.

Furthermore I have also set the background to look like concert lights

so that the audience instantly know what genre the magazine is

without having to

read any further information.

The barcode, date and price

are also typical conventions of

a magazine, allowing the

magazine to be bought. I

decided to put these

conventions in the bottom

right hand side corner as this

is where most magazines I

researched into placed them

and also it prevents these

elements from getting in the

way of all the other

conventions.

I chose to position my

main coverline, just

below half way down the

magazine on the left hand

side. This is because

people naturally look from

left to right therefore it will

be seen easily. Also I have

enlarged this text so that it

is bigger than all the other

coverlines, this is so that

the audience knows what

the main story is.

Pull quotes give the

reader an idea of what

else is going to be

included in the magazine.

These conventions also

interact with the audience

as they make them want to

read more about that

particular

story/article/interview or

the whole magazine.

CONTENTS PAGE COMPARISON… Main Image

Caption

Title/Logo

Columns

Sub Images

Page Numbers

After researching into various contents page, I have found that these are the

main conventions of a typical contents. Therefore I have decided to base my

contents page off this magazine, due to it including most of the conventions I

planned out. By using these conventions to produce my magazine I was able to

create a professional media product.

Colour Scheme

MY CONTENTS PAGE…The title of this page is

placed at the top as this is

where most readers look

first This tells the reader

what the purpose of this

page is, telling them what

features inside and the

various page numbers.

The main image is another typical convention of a contents page and

is usually the largest image on the page. I have placed this towards

the centre of this page so that it stands out from the other images

situated around it.

Using columns on a

contents page is also a

main convention. This

gives my contents page a

simple but effective layout

as I have placed my

columns down the left

hand side. The font,

‘Mangal’ which I have

used also makes this

information easy to read,

this is also vital when

looking at contents pages.

Sub Images, these

images relate to the

columns at the other side

of the page, which makes

them easy to relate too.

They also attract the

audience to read further

into the magazine by

showing them which other

artists are included in this

particular magazine.

Colour Scheme, even

though this doesn’t match

with the main colour

scheme of my front

cover, I have used the blue

from the main image to

give the magazine a

variety of colours and so

that my magazine looks

professional with the

colours matching up.

I have also decided to

include an image of my

front cover, as this makes

my magazine look to a

high standard and is also

included in my other

contents pages that I have

researched into.

I have also included another strapline at the bottom of this page, as it is

still telling the user what is inside the magazine which will help gain the

audiences attention to read further.

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD COMPARISON…Pull Quote

Caption

Title

Drop Cap

Main Image

Sub Images

Columns/Article

After researching into several double page spreads, I have found that these are

the typical conventions. Therefore I have decided to base my contents page off

this magazine, due to it including most of the conventions and because it uses

an interesting layout. By using these conventions to produce my magazine I was

able to create it to a high standard.

MY DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD…

The masthead on this

page tells the reader

what this page is about.

This is placed on a

diagonal as it adds a

quirky edge to the page

making it interesting for

the user to look at.

The main image on

my contents page

relates to the image

on my front cover. It

carries on the

staged

theme, therefore

this synergy helps

make the magazine

flow.

Sub Heading, this introduces the audience as

to what the rest of the article is about. This is

also a typical convention of double page

spreads. Furthermore I have made this into a

bigger font to make it stand out to the reader so

that they are interested in then reading the

interview below.

I have also included an

Image Caption, which

informs the reader about

the image above, for

example who the artist is and

where they are playing. I have

made the background of this

convention black as it helps it

stand out from the rest of the

information on the page.

Pull Quotes, these have

been situated in between

the columns, giving the

page an interesting look.

They have also been

written in a much larger

font and in italics, this

helps engage the

audience to read more into

the interview as it can be

the main focal point.

This interview has been divided into three Columns, this

makes it easier for the audience to read as it applies a simple

effect to the page. The use of columns also makes the page

look less ‘wordy’ and usually takes up about half of the double

page spread. This is also a typical convention of a double

page spread.

Also on my double page

spread, I have merged the

image and context together,

this is so it gives more of a

professional look.