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

2. FRONT COVER I have placed the Masthead at the top of the page; this follows the codes and conventions of a music magazine. It is there so that audience can identify the product easily. I have split my page into three columns; this is known as the ‘rule of thirds’. Almost all magazines use this. My image is in the centre as it is the most eye-catching item on the page. The cover lines are then on the right and left with the main one across the centre. I have added a main cover line to my front cover; this follows the conventions of music magazines. The text stands out and a pull quote is used to make the audience want to buy it and read more. All magazines have the price, issue date and a barcode. I have placed mine at the bottom because it is less important than the text at the top of the page. Throughout most of my research I realised that medium/medium close up shots were used a lot with the main images; especially in Billboard which is the magazine that covers the same genre as mine. Therefore I decided that I would follow this convention. My research showed that generally most magazines use images with the model looking serious (especially Billboard); I think this is to seduce its target audience. However I have challenged this convention by making my model look fun. Her facial expression makes it seem as though she is trying to persuade them to buy it and read about her.

3. CONTENTS PAGE According to my research it is essential to include the masthead somewhere on the contents page. This is so that the audience can recognise and identify the magazine. Separating the magazine pages and placing them under different headings help the reader to identify what they are looking for and leads them straight to what they are most interested in; this is conventional and is shown through my research when I analysed the three different magazine contents pages. The contents page follows the colour scheme of the rest of my magazine. The main colours being the blue. The clothing colours of my models are black and white which is relevant to the colours I have used on my other pages. It is conventional to add the page number that the image will be found on therefore I have done that here on my main image. Medium close up shot used so that the audience focus mainly on their facial expressions and body language rather than their outfits. Whereas other images focus on fashion. These images are long shots so that the audience focus mainly on the fashion of the models; this gives away the indie/cool look which relates to the indie/mainstream genre.

4. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD My research showed that almost all music magazines use some sort of pull quote or tag line above the article. I decided to follow this convention buy using a quote from the interview below; I believe this will make the audience want to read it all and find out what the artist is talking about. Drop capital is used to make the reader go straight to the part of the article; this is where the artist is introduced and the most important text on the page. I have followed a convention by doing this. I decided to make my image take up the whole right side of my double page spread. A lot of my research showed that this was a popular thing to do therefore I followed this convention; this means that the readers of my magazine can use this as a poster. She looks fun and chilled which is also appealing to my target audience. The fact she is not looking serious or at the camera however is challenging magazine conventions as this is what usually occurs. Every type of magazine I have researched has included page numbers; it helps the audience find pages quicker. Picture credits; always included in magazine articles explaining who took the photo. My magazine images, conventionally, all follow the colour schemes of my text. Throughout my research I realised that a lot of magazines do this, especially NME. This is so the magazine looks neat and the audience recognise articles from that certain issue. When I looked at double page spreads I realised that interviews were not often used in magazines such as Billboard, however I decided that this would be the best idea for my magazine as it is the introduction of a new artist. I followed the conventions of double page spreads in that the questions are highlighted in a different colour to make it clear who is asking and who is replying.