In what ways does your media product use, develop or

challenge forms and conventions of real media

products? By Katie Pearl

Codes and conventions• Codes create meaning through systems of sign and conventions are

the widely recognised way of doing something to do with content, form and style. It is really important to use codes and conventions in real media products because they help the reader understand the media text and the familiarity is important for effective communication. Although challenging certain codes and conventions can be used for effect and to make the media text more original.

• To begin with I used codes and conventions on my front cover by having a masthead at the top of the page and in the centre. This was the largest section of typography on the page and had a drop shadow, similar to other music magazines such as Billboard, Kerrang and Clash. This makes the magazine instantly recognisable as a brand and stand out on the shelf amongst other magazines.

• Another convention which I have followed for the front cover is having one talent as the main image. This person (or group) usually has a direct mode of address by looking straight into the camera, which establishes a relationship with the audience. The images are striking and would compel audiences to buy the magazine if they are familiar and like the artist being shown on the front cover.

• Furthermore, I have used many coverlines on the front cover of my magazine similar to most magazines (not just music magazines). These spark interest within a reader and gives insight to the content inside the magazine. I placed the most appealing cover lines on the left third of the page as this is what the reader reads first when they pick up a magazine. These coverlines are also short and too the point making them more effective and thus following the codes and conventions of music magazines.

• On the contents page, I advertised a subscription to the magazine at a reduced price. This is common in many different magazines and allows the magazines to gain established readers of the magazine and guarantee the sales of their magazine over a certain time.

• On the contents page and double page spread, I also followed codes and conventions of music magazines by using incentives such as competitions and information about festivals to make a reader want to buy the magazine. These competitions and information is specifically targeted at the audience, as the competition is to win tickets to Olivia Roses’ tour. The festival information is for Lovebox festival, which is primarily a dance festival but has artists from within the pop genre perform. These incentives create a buzz around the magazines and may make be the reason a reader buys the magazine.

• I have further followed the codes and conventions of music magazines on my double page spread by dividing the page into six columns. Many other magazines lay their information out in columns and it makes the page look neat, easy to read and aesthetically pleasing.

• I also used pull quotes in the double page spread which are very common throughout many magazines. This is with an enlarged and different font so the readers’ eyes are drawn to it and makes the pages more visually interesting. If the content is intriguing it will make the reader want to read the whole article or may make the reader buy the magazine if they are flicking through the magazine in a shop.

• I have also followed the conventions of music magazines by using a certain colour palette of black, white and yellow, which creates a house style and also a brand identity. This choice of colour palette challenges the codes of the pop genre as magazines like Top Of The Pops usually use the colour pink. My magazine colour scheme is more similar to Billboard magazine and I believe yellow stands out more and looks better.