QUESTION 1In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

By Phoebe McCarthy 12RP2

FRONT COVER

Strap line INFORMATION

MASTHEAD

MAIN IMAGE- BACKGROUND

FEATURES

HEADLINE/ MAIN SELL LINE

SELL LINE

INFORMATION- DATE/ PRICE/ WEBSITE

BARCODE

STRAP LINEA continuous convention of a slogan/ phraseused in many urban magazines- short and simple-recognisable for audience- enables the magazine to be easily remembered when slogan is seen- informative towards audience- allows readers to acknowledge what’s present inside magazine- [Uses and Grats] – diagonal slash used and simple clear text- to suit the ‘Urban’ look along with appearing clearly towards the reader- each word sits on a letterOf the masthead to maintain a modern, unique design.

Other magazines that feature this convention:PAPERNMEROLLACOASTER

MASTHEAD

Large- bold- northerly placed as a common convention- placed above image- usually placed behind image however was not readable due to my image – (developed convention)- taking up the width of the page- engages with reader- unique – easy to detect- use of white- bold- recognisable- allows reader to see both image and masthead clearly.

Other magazines use this convention as shown:

FEATURESInsight into features included for entertainment and informative needs (uses and Grat)- slight left positioning- development on the continuous convention of left positioning- for a more unique ‘urban’ look- simple text used and large spacing between artists- to clearly present what is included in the magazine to the reader- smaller font- not main selling point- contrasts against background.

Other magazines that use this convention are: (CLASH,OYSTER& ROLLACOASTER)

A key point is that all these magazines are situated in the ‘urban’ genre of magazine.

MAIN IMAGEConvention of a medium close up- singular person to cover page- creates direct mode of address with artists and audience- personal relationships- (Uses and Grats)- women is positioned to appear as the main object- appear as passive objects for males (Mulvey)- use of bright lights to highlight models face [MAIN IMAGE] - image contrasts against background.

Other magazines that use this convention:

Use of medium close up’s

Use of Direct Mode ofaddress

ROLLACOASTER & CLASH Q & VIBE

SELL LINEI used the common convention of a sell line- informative towards main headline {Main Artist} [Uses and Grat]- sell line usually below masthead- challenged by featuring it above headline- contrasting colour against image for enhancement – repetitive clear font used- allows audience to see the sell line clearly and the use of white allows it to stand out.

Here are a few other magazinesThat use this convention being [from left to right] Q, BILLIBOARDROLLACOASTER & CLASH, this Particular issue of Clash was the Main magazine I looked at as it suited my preferences of urban and unique thoroughly.

HEADLINE/ANCHOR TEXT Cover artist- Name- unusual- entices readers/ fans- anchors readers to image- San Serif font used- bold, 3D appearance- contrasts against background- purple/pink links to house colour scheme- bold inventive name use- pop of colour encourages fans to buy.

Other examples of magazinesThat use this convention: SAN SERIF bold fonts

[From top to bottom]: CLASH,ROLLACOASTER, Q AND BILLIBOARD

INFORMATIONInformative text- website/date/price- Informs with reader- [Uses and Grat] –Simple and clear text- white colour- contrastsWith background- typewriter font- urban look.

Other examplesOf magazines thatUse this convention:[left to right] CLASH&NME

BARCODE

Barcode situated upwards on the left hand sign-Modern look- simple- effective.

Other examplesOf magazines thatUse this convention:

CLASH & NME

HOUSE COLOURPurple/pink/white within the front cover. I decided to use these colours as they suit the ‘urban feel of the magazine’. I developed this house colour scheme by adding the bold colour of pink, I referred to this in my planning. I asked my focus group [of both genders] if they would by the magazine or be interested in it if the headline was pink, 80% of them said they would despite the colour however a few males said they would not. From this feedback I took it into account by re searching and realised that there were no music magazines on the market that were aimed to females, as NME and Q are mostly targeted towards males. From this I decided I would develop from this and create one. I chose the colour of a lilac pink as it is very vibrant and bold and allowed the artists name on the front cover to stand out, as well as the model. I suited the models mis en scene costume to black and grey to allow the headline to stand out, along with the highlighting on the models face to suit the mastheads bold colour of white.

Below are some images of magazines that also use this house colour scheme:

CONTENTS PAGE

DATE

SOCIAL MEDIA

PAGE NUMBERS

WEBSITE/ DATESUBSCRIBE BOXNUMBERING

IMAGES COLUMNS

FEATURES

DATEShow recent information- informative towards reader [Uses and Grat]- regular readers can keep up to date with what issue they need to buy- generally allows readers to know what music is in each season. Other magazines that use this convention: (NME, Q & ROLLACOASTER)

SOCIAL MEDIAThe use of social media links- allows reader to connectWith magazine- informative [Uses and Grat]- engages with Reader. Although I did not see this convention in other music magazines,I thought it would be a positive to include so the audience can keep upTo date with with issues and it maintans the ‘urban’ look.

COLUMNS

Continuous convention of columns split into 3 columns- organised- no overlapping- modern look- can clearly be read by audience- sorted into sections.*DISCLAIMER: I included both Fashion and Life columns as well as music although they are relate to music as a topic this is not a common convention for music magazines. However after talking to my focus group the female participants said that most of the magazines they read have all of these elements and topics and they would find it beneficial to see a music magazine on the market that includes of three, as fashion and life are becoming more dominant within the magazine industry. Below are some magazines that follow this convention of columns & fashion/life:

Q & NME CLASH

FEATURESHeadlines to present to reader what is in the Magazine- organised- clear- instructive- [UsesAnd Grat]- Italic font- bold- stands outNumbering on the features- allows reader To find story easily- in pink to stand out- Links to house colour

Bold feature headlines- to allow the readerTo know that the feature is about- capitals to Stand out- bold- recognisable

Small description of what’s included in magazine- engages with reader- informative- [Uses and Grat].

Features positioned to the left hand side- convention- clear- no overlapping-Informative to reader.

A few examplesOf magazines thatUse this convention:CLASH, BILLIBOARD &NME

NUMBERINGContinuous convention of page numbers- clear-Allow reader to locate feature easily- bold font-Capitals- Vibrant colour- pink- linking to house colour

Few other examples of magazines that use this convention:

BILLI-BOARD,Q & CLASH

WEBSITEThe insert of the web address is informative to the readers-[Uses and Grat]- allows the reader to keep up to date withThe magazine and exclusive features online. This is not a continuous convention however I included this element As I thought it would be beneficial to the magazine as it is informative and unique. Along with linking to the internet which is how most youths connect which suits my target audience.

SUBSCRIBE BOXI inserted a subscribe box to add a professional feature to the Magazine- making it recogniasble as a magazine- more modern look- the dotted line around the box depicts an urban look- bold lettering to be easily seen by readers- an offer on a magazine is proven to be a number one selling point- not an overly used element within the music magazine but is upcoming and a positive feature

An example of a subscribe box used: NME

PAGE NUMBERS Bold page numbers- easy navigation- a continuous convention On various magazines- organised- clear – informative- [UsesAnd Grat]

IMAGESInto thumbnail positioning- cuboid shape- organised-Clear- modern look- meets urban genre- multiple genreMusic included- whites, blues, yellows and blacks andPinkish tone colour scheme link to house colour scheme –Stand out/ contrast against background- organised boxes-Borders- professional look- not overlapping- not overWhelming.

Other magazines using this thumbnail and Organized mutiple image design:

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

HEADLINE/ TEXT

IMAGE

PULL QUOTE

LAYOUT

COLUMNS

DROPCAP ALBULM

PAGE NUMBERING

HEADLINE

Bold font- San Serif- stands out immediately to reader- Black colour- contrasts against background- links to House colour scheme- informative to reader of who the Article is about – [Uses and Grat]- takes up ¾ of page- Engages with reader

Other magazines that use this convention-[Top to bottom]- Q AND NME

TEXT

A small amount of text to inform reader of who took the interview and about the artist- [Uses and Grat]- bold letters for writer- clearly seen by reader- a continuous convention throughout magazines

An example of a magazineThat uses this convention-INFORMATIVE-

NME

COLUMNSOragnised columns- clear interview- question and answer- most common in female magazines- questions in bold, vibrant,Capital letters- immediately seen by readers.

Other examples of magazines that use this convention:

BOTH NME

ALBUM

Use of information of upcoming album by featuredArtist- Date on when it is released- informative- [Uses and Grat]- even though in small print bold textUsed- clearly seen by reader

This is not a continuous convention However I felt it would be beneficial Due to the informative concept

PAGE NUMBERING

Bold page numbers- easy navigation- a continuous convention On various magazines- organised- clear – informative- [Uses And Grat]

Examples of magazines that use this Convention : Q MAGAZINE

LAYOUT

I have decided to use the continuous convention of the main image being located on the left page, taking up the whole page being the background. I used a powerful image including a guitar and shallow focus behind of a drum kit to depict the topic of music. I then decided to situate the headline coming from the right hand side of the page which is unusual however I tried to fill the whole top of the page with the headline but it did not look right. Finally I located the text further down the right hand page which is not used repeatedly, however I found the design on an NME page and felt it suited my ‘urban’ genre and design.

(Magazines below: NME, Q & BILLIBOARD)

DROPCAPDrop cap- introduction to article- bold- engages with reader-Entices them to read the article

Other magazines that use this convention are below:

NME, Q AND CLASH

PULL QUOTE

Pull quote- insight into rest of the story- makes audienceWant to read article- creates engagement and questions-Personal relationships with artist and reader- [Uses and Grat]

Examples of magazines that use this Convention: CLASH & NME

IMAGEMid shot of artist- Direct mode of Address- connects artist and audience-Personal Relationships (Uses and Grat)-Medium/ long shot- expression becomes Visual- projection of ‘indie’, ‘urban’Artist- meets target audience- youth- Guitar and drum kit present general Music topic.

Other magazines that use this convention:(Left to Right): Q & NME