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

Main TaskA convention of magazines is for the main image to overlap the title. I did this, but made sure it didn’t cover too much of the logo so that, because it is a first issue of the magazine, so you want people to be able to read, remember and recognise it.

I used another convention when you put a differently coloured box behind the text to make it stand out and make the page more attractive.

A lot of the time covers use a medium shot of the person, so you can see their facial expression and they usually have natural lighting.

Main cover lines are usually bigger than all the rest of the cover lines to make it obvious as to what the main cover line is and they are commonly placed towards the middle of the page where there is more room (when avoiding faces) to put text.

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

Main Task

Many magazines use a footer, which I have put onto my music magazine. This lets the reader know what is included in the magazine and what to expect.

I decided to put my date line under the title, this breaks conventions of music magazines, as they usually have the date within the barcode on music magazines.

Many magazines have their title across the very top so I decided to do this too, and have the image overlapping. Many rock/indie magazines also use a ‘cracked’ font. I used this to represent the correct genre, as done successfully with other magazines such as ‘Kerrang!’.

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

Main Task

The majority of music magazines have a barcode on their front page like mine. Though, I chose not to put the price on the front as I thought it would crowd the screen, therefore I thought it would be better on the back page.

A convention of music magazines is to offer information and offers on the latest festivals, which I included on a cover line.

I chose to put a mini picture on the cover, to act like a puff and illustrate the cover line. Kerrang also do this on their covers, as their covers are usually quite busy and use lots of images on the cover.

I chose a consistent house style of red, white, black and blue through my magazine to keep a style to make the magazine look appealing and to connote the genre of rock/alternative.

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

Main TaskA pull quote on the contents page isn’t actually that conventionally, although just like this magazine (Spin) I decided to use one to show a bit about the article that the photo relates to and to capture the readers interest.

Like this magazine I used a box on my contents page to give references to the photographs and credit to the photographer. Usually, there is just a anchor to the photo to tell you underneath.

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

Main TaskIt is a convention of music magazines to have your logo/masthead repeated on the contents page.

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

Main Task

It is also a convention of music magazines to have subheadings to order the contents of the magazine and help the reader find what they are looking for in the magazine.

Many contents pages have anchors to the photographs, as a further guide as to finding the page the reader is looking for.

I also carried the date line onto the contents page, as many magazines do this.

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

Main Task

If a double page spread is on an artist/band they usually put the name up in a big bold font. This is so the artist/band can get publicity and so they aren’t mistaken and you can tell straight away who they are.

It is convention of all magazines and newspapers to put the articles into columns.

Another convention is to put an anchor on photos so you can give credit to the photographer.

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

Main Task

Many magazines, especially ones of the rock/alternative genre have writing over the top of the picture to achieve this attractive look with white font.

Most magazines start with a sub heading under the title to sum up what the article is about because the reader reads it.

Page numbers are usually used in magazines, and sometimes a the name of the magazine is included too.

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

Main Task

A pull quote is usually also used on a double page spread so that the reader can tell straight away what the article/interview will focus on and if they would like to read it.

Many double page spreads have a smaller image included, to give further detail, information and publicity for the band/artist.