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

2. Existing media products using the conventions:
NME’S front cover of Alex Turner and Miles
Kane has a variety of the conventions of a music
magazine which I have consequently used
through my magazine. The Masthead is
underlined behind the main image of the
magazine which allows the readers' attention to
begin concentrated on the image. NME cover
also uses a stick on effect symbol with text on,
to give the effect of a sticker and adds texture to
the cover. NME also tend to use banners at the
top of the magazines, such portrayed on the
NME cover on the left; this neatens the
magazine and helps it to appear together and
complete. This also allows room for bold text to
be included which can help attract the reader
into continuing with the magazine.

3. Existing media products using the conventions:
The ‘Florence and the machine’ cover additionally
uses the conventions of a music magazine to
relate to the target audience and portray the
magazine with the correct ‘look.’ The main cover
line is the width of the magazine and stands out in
a completely different colour to the rest of the
magazine, ‘FLORENCE.’ Adding this allows the
reader to realise the main cover story and what
they can expect. At the bottom of the magazine,
NME have also used ‘plus’ which includes short
information of other bands included in this
magazine. This results in the target audience
becoming more diverse and covering larger social
groups. This is a definite advantage to the
distributor and magazine.

4. Using the conventions in my magazine:
In my magazine I used a variety of conventions that appear in media products. Specifically,
my cover lines which were inspired by the ‘Florence’ NME cover. For example I included a
‘Vs.’ story between two artists which create discussion and aims to attract the audience, as
they would be intrigued to read about others views on the artists.
I also included a cover line story making tribute to Amy Winehouse which many different
magazines do as a sign of respect and thanks for the music contributed. I have also included
a stick on note shape, inspired from the ‘Alex Turner and Miles Kane’ cover to give the
magazine more texture and creates interest for the audience. It breaks up all the constant
text.

5. Using the conventions in my magazine:
The artists I advertised on the front cover were intended for the target audience, they vary
in genre, similar to NME. Adele covers the pop genre, while the Wombats genre covers
indie rock. I want my audience to feel connected to a genre but not cut from all other
genres and styles. Therefore MSC covers music for different styles of people. I included the
conventional barcode discretely at the bottom of the magazine, as eventually the aim is to
sell the magazine in retailers.
I have additionally changed the text of artists names to bold similar to the convention on
the ‘Florence’ cover, this attracts the eye of the audience straight away.

6. Publisher version of my mag with analysis:

7. Current contents page and double page spread
conventions:
The three images below present the conventions of a contents page and double
page spread. The three pages below cover NME and Q. For the NME contents
page it uses a coloured banner across the top which helps to define the bold text
layered over. One of NME’s conventions is including the band index down the left
hand side, this helps to the audience to relate and understand the genres of music
in the magazine.
This contents page also has a coloured
text box with subscripting details for the
reader, this allows the reader to feel a
part of the magazine and keep up to date
with it. It results in more profit for the
company.

8. Current contents page and double page spread
conventions:
The Q contents page additionally uses the conventions of the media product through the
text across the top; it’s bold and clear, there is also a line underneath the text to neaten the
whole page and create divisions and interest.
The Q double page spread uses the conventions of the photograph on one page of the
spread, and all the text is neatly inserted on the right side. Q uses a convention of extra
details and information about the artist before the interview and using an over sized letter
to introduce the interview. However Q develops one of the conventions, by including a
coloured letter across the entire interview, creating questions and presenting the Artist as
unique and different.

9. Using conventions in my magazine:
For my double page spread I used the conventional technique putting a contrasted
photo of the artist onto one side of the spread, and having the interview on the
opposite page. I also added a quote from the interview above the artist to attract the
reader’s attention, therefore allowing them to understand the topic of the interview
and what the artist is like. I additionally added another quote in the same font and
style in the middle of the interview to break up the constant text.
I had the interview started with the oversized letter and introduced the artist’s past
and achievements to allow the reader to begin to know Bryony. For the double page
spread I also used a convention having the interviewer and Artist’s conversation in
different colours, to show the visual changes and lengths of conversation.

10. Using conventions in my magazine:
For the contents page, I used a
banner across the top and a
banner down the left hand
side to keep the page neat and
using the conventions. I
included a different colour box
at the bottom with subscribing
details. The contents page was
broke up into different
categories, using a convention
of the media product which
NME uses frequently in their
designs.

11. Developed and challenged ideas of the
conventions:
I have used various conventions of the media product in my own magazine,
however I have additionally developed and challenged several conventions. For
example, The picture I used for the contents page wasn’t a close up photograph
and didn’t create eye contact with the reader. This was a risk because the contents
page shows the reader the rest of the magazine. The picture creates interest,
because the model stands out against the bland background.

12. Developed and challenged ideas of
the conventions:
The model also appears to be looking at the pages and details, this helps
to draw attention to the left hand side. I have also kept the colour scheme
to a minimum of blue, red, black and white. This is a developed convention
because magazines tend to include more colours, especially on the front
cover image. I decided to put the image in black and white and contrasted
it because it helps the cover to look intense but professional at the same
time.