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

2. Front Cover...

3. Before beginning with the creation of my own magazine, I initially started off by
doing some research on existing pop magazine covers. By doing this, it gave me an
idea as to the conventions I needed to include in my magazine if I wanted it to be
successful like the ones I deconstructed.
Some of the key forms and conventions of the magazines I researched were:
-strong image with direct eye contact
-lots of bold colourful colours
-sense of symmetry
-lots of interesting cover lines
-names of some artists featured
-exclusives
-bold masthead
-free posters/music
-lures (WIN!)

4. Conventions that I used....
The main factor I think which makes a magazine successful is direct
eye contact. I specifically made sure that my model looked directly at
the camera and I think that this is very important. Direct eye contact
is very helpful in drawing the reader in, it grabs the readers attention
more, and is a very common technique.
Also, after looking at existing magazines I immediately decided that I wanted my
cover to have a white background. I think those with white background stood out
most to me, it meant that everything was very clear with no colour clashes.
Furthermore, I took into account how existing magazines have a varied amount of
cover lines, all of different colours, fonts and sizes. In my cover, I have used many
colours of which I think connote pop. I have also used lots of different fonts, and my
cover lines are all different sizes. I think this helps it to attract more to my target
audience and it make the cover a lot more interesting and eye catching.
In my cover, I also decided to use lots of lures. These are again very successful and
help to encourage a reader to buy your magazine. In my cover, the lures I have
used are:
. WIN TICKETS TO T4OTB
. FREE POSTERS
. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
.EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

5. Conventions that I challenged...
Like all other magazines, I have also got a masthead at the top of my cover. My
magazine is called Jukebox, and to help it connote music in my masthead, instead
of the ‘u’ I have some big headphones. The majority of the magazine covers I looked
at either had an image below or above the masthead. I didn’t like this idea, and so
for my magazine, I decided to have my masthead very clearly at the top with
nothing covering up any of the letters.
Another convention I slightly went against was the randomness of some of the
covers I looked at. Some of them had cover lines that would overlap the
image, which I didn’t especially like. Therefore, I tried to make my cover look
slightly organised but not overly organised. I like wrapped my cover lines around
my image, but to make it more interesting I decided to add some stamp type
things, including a star and free posters box.
A few of the magazine covers I looked at were set out in thirds and had a sense of
symmetry (the blender magazine in particular). However, some were more random
and didn’t really have a sense of symmetry about it. I decided that I preferred those
that did and so for my cover you can see that it can be split into thirds and has a
sense of symmetry about it.

6. My front cover product compared with existing product...
Differences Similarities Differences
My masthead is extremely clear as there is Both covers have a capitalised The Bliss masthead has the image of Cher
a pink box underneath it, making the masthead, across the top of the page. underneath it. It is still clear, but doesn’t
white writing stand out a lot. They are both pink and are quite stand out as much for me personally,
bold and eye catching.
Both covers have an image in more or
less the centre of the page. Both
models have direct eye contact with
the camera, helping to draw readers
in more.
The two covers have JLS mentioned
on the front cover, I think they are a
big part of pop so it will help
encourage fans to buy them.
Both of the covers have a cover line
about the model of the front cover.
You can clearly see what a main
article in the magazine is going to be
based on.
Quotes have been used on both the
covers, my quote is from a song and
the Bliss quote is from an interview.
Both cover have something what
My model is a readers can WIN, this help to attract
guy, which I I have a box people to the magazine as they may This front cover
about hot free They have a box model is a
think helps like the things that are available to on the summer
appeal more to posters that come win. girl, Cher, who is
in the magazine. fashion. becoming quite
girls. The two covers have a white
My cover lines are wrapped The cover lines on this big in the pop
background and quite similar colour
around my image, I have used cover overlap over the industry.
scheme of pink, blue, yellow, white and
more colours and more variations black. image, less variation of
of fonts. font is used.

7. Contents...

8. I deconstructed 3 different magazine contents pages as well. This was helpful as it
helps to give you an idea as to the common forms and conventions of contents pages.
Some of the key forms and conventions in the contents pages that I analysed were:
-clear numbering
-mixture of images
-main bits stand out more
-heading to split the contents up
-strong image/images
-variation of page number(not just listed 1,2,3,4 etc)
-highlighted text to make it stand out
-clear contents title
-colour variations

9. Conventions that I used....
The main factor which I think makes a contents page successful is not listing all the
pages in 1,2,3,4 order. This makes the contents extremely boring and goes against
the normal conventions. Therefore, in my contents I have listed it with random
page numbers which contain all the magazines best things.
Also, another convention that is similar is the clear contents title. In the magazines
that I initially looked at, all of them had a clear contents title, so again I made the
title really clear by having white writing on a pink squared box so it stands out
against my white page.
I have also used headings to separate my contents; featured, reviews and
exclusives. This again goes along with the normal conventions of contents page and
I think it is a good way to clearly divide up the contents information. Readers can
easily find what they are looking for immediately.
I have also included an online web address which persuades readers to go have a
look online at the magazine and possible subscribe up for it monthly. The majority
of magazines would have a web address somewhere in the magazine.
Finally, another convention of contents that I used was highlighting the main parts.
I used yellow to highlight some new, up-to-date things that my magazine has to
offer in that particular month.

10. Conventions that I challenged...
One convention that makes my contents quite different from those I looked at is the
fact that I have used a huge variation of different fonts and font sizes. Whereas
some existing contents only use a couple of fonts throughout. I decided to use such a
variation in fonts to make it more eye catching and interesting. Also, I have made
the more interesting contents information have a slightly bigger font, meaning that
particular cover lines stand out more than the rest.
Also, in my contents I have used a total of five different images, one of my model
who is on the front cover and four that I took from concerts. This sort of goes against
the normal conventions of contents pages as they usually only have about three at
the most. I decided to include all the images as I believe it makes the contents more
interesting rather than just lots of writing and I think that the images will help to
attract my target audience.
Furthermore, I have also made certain page numbers bigger than others, I did this
deliberately to make particular things stand out more to the reader. This again sort
of goes against the normal conventions as the page numbering is usually all about
the same size.

11. My contents page compared with existing product...
Differences Similarities Differences
I have called my contents page Both contents pages have a heading They have just wrote ‘inside the mag...’, as
‘contents’ to clearly show if not already at the top in a pink box with white most people know that when they see lots of
known what the page is. writing, making it very clear and numbers it is going to be a contents page.
easy for the reader to read.
They both have used yellow to
highlight particular bits of the
contents to make them stand out
more.
A variation of numbering has been
used in both. They have not been
listed like 1,2,3,4 etc.
Both the contents pages have used
headings to divide up the contents. It
is not all just one massive list. It has
been divided up in ways which make
it look more interesting and clear to
read.
More than one image has been used in
both the pages. An image of members
of a pop boy bands have been used. In
my contents being Tom from The
Wanted and in the Totp contents
being members from One Direction.
Larger numbering has been used in
both to emphasis some of the main They have
I have a lot more Totp contents included an image
things featured in the magazine.
variation of fonts and I have included has images of of the front cover
font sizes. I have also an online web The colour scheme of both is quite jewellery as well and have arrows
included a variation of address for similar of pink, blue, yellow, black as artists to showing what is
different shapes, like reader to look and white. They are both very make it appeal page number
the star and circle. online at the colourful, helping to connote that it is to the girls even everything is on.
magazine. a pop contents page. more.

12. DPS...

13. I also deconstructed 3 different magazine double page spreads before starting any
of my own creation of my pages. It is helpful to do so as likewise to the front cover
and contents, you can also get more of an idea as to the common forms and
conventions of existing products. Some of the key forms and conventions in the
double page spread that I analysed were:
-eye catching image
-large main quote
-clear questions and answers
-’exclusive interview’
-consistent colour scheme
-artists name clearly displayed
-easy to read
-suitable length writing
-variation of different images

14. Conventions that I used....
In my double page spread I ensured that the text was very clear and easy to read. It
would be pointless if the writing was hard to read as people won’t even bother
reading it. So, I have a suitable size font that I believe is clear and easy for anyone
of all ages to read. I have also provided a suitable length interview so people are
not let down and the money that they paid for the magazine is worth it.
Also, I have clearly split up the questions from the writing so it is not just one big
chunk of text. I have my questions in pink and my writing in black. This is similar to
the DPS pages I looked at and it makes the page more clear and interesting for the
reader.
I also used the convention of having a large quote, which is usually the best part
from the interview. It helps to sum up the interview as a whole and encourages
people to read on more.
Furthermore, I have included some lures that existing DPS pages also do. I have
exclusive, debut album out now, and the chance to win a signed album. This helps
to promote the artist and their work and it also enables reader to read on through
the magazine and be at chance of winning lots of exclusive things.
I have clearly displayed the artists name both at the top of the interview and on the
image. The informs people if not known, who he is, so they automatically know who
the interview is going to be based on.

15. Conventions that I challenged...
Most of the covers that I looked at had two or more images on the DPS. However, on
mine I only have one, I didn’t really feel it was necessary to have another as I
believe that throughout my front cover, contents and DPS my images have helped
to show a different personality side to my model each time. My model does have
eye contact with the camera again, which again I think is very successful in drawing
the reading in more.
I think that in my DPS compared to those I deconstructed, I have a lot more
variation of fonts again. I feel that the font variation works quite well, it makes the
page more interesting and kind of makes it make it have a more ‘poppy’ feel to it.
Another convention of my DPS that is slightly different to the ones I deconstructed is
the fact that all my text is on the right hand side. In the ones I looked at however, it
is spread a little across both pages. I don’t feel this is a problem, as on the one page
I have a large eye catching image and on the other I have the exclusive interview.
I also have included a little signature at the bottom of the interview, which I
haven’t seen in any existing DPS’s. I think that it makes it more personal, and it
shows the reader it is from the artist and not just made up gossip.

16. My DPS compared with existing product...
Differences Similarities Differences
Both have a large quote on the right
All my interview is on the right hand The interview is spread across with part
hand side. It is normally the most
side. I have one large image and then of it on each. There is also two images of
interesting part of the interview and
the interview beside, with lures and the artists in the same clothing and same
kind of sums up the interview as a
quotes around the page. equipment (basketball) but different
whole.
They both have a bit to positions.
show that it is an
exclusive interview and
readers know that it is
new gossip that has
never been out before.
The male models in
both have direct eye
contact with the
camera, this helps to
draw the reader in
more, and encourages
them to read the
interview.
Questions and answers
have been clearly
separated in both by
the change of colour.
The answers in both
have been done in
black font as it is They have included help and advice to
I have included the artist name clearly probably one of the
on the image, so reader can cut out and readers who may have experienced
most easiest for every to bullying like Justin Bieber did. I think
keep the image if wanted. Also, I have read.
persuaded them to read on by giving that this is quite good, not only can
them a chance to read a signed copy of Both have a similar length interview people read about their favourite
his new debut album which I think is based on male artists, both are on a celebs, they can also get some important
quite a good idea. white background, both have lures to advice on how to deal with serious
attract reader. matters.