Evaluation

Q1. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media productsFront coverOn my front cover I have used all the conventions of real media products. I have included Main Cover line which relates to my Main image so it is also anchorage text. The main cover line and Main image are on the cross points of the rule of thirds, this helps the reader to be drawn in to the magazine as the cross point is where they will look first. My Top line is also a sell line as it draws the audience in with the chance to Win tickets to a festival that is a favourite in the rock, pop punk genre. My strap line Your monthly music magazine explains to the audience that the magazine will be published every month. I feel that I could have developed this to make it sound more appealing and more exciting. My masthead meets the codes and conventions as it is the largest, boldest piece of text on my magazine. It is clear to read and is obviously the title of my magazine. My magazine has 3 cover lines which meet the codes and conventions as they link to articles in my magazine, however I could have developed this convention by including more cover lines, as real magazines often include more cover lines. My puff meets the codes and conventions as it stands out by the red contrasting with the grey background. I could have developed it by embossing the text to make that stand out even more. The codes and conventions of most magazines have the barcode in the right hand corner, I have conformed to this because I feel that this is where it looks the best and doesnt look out of place with the design of my magazine.

Main ImageMain cover lineTop LinePuffStrap lineCover linesMastheadBar coded/price/ issue number and dateContents pageAgain, with my contents page I stuck to the codes and conventions. I made sure I included an Issue number and issue date because I felt that this was important to that the reader knows which issue they are reading and when it was published so that they can stay up to date. I have put the title of the page Contents in bold at the top of the page so that the reader knows what page it is and so that it is clear where they need to look to find out where everything is. I have used the convention of having the masthead on the contents page as it helps to increase branding and recognisability. It reminds the reader the name of the magazine and links the contents page to the front cover. I have laid out my contents page in columns because it is a convention and it also makes it clear to read and see everything easily. Another conventions I have stuck to is when listing the features I have had a heading Eg. From the cover! and then a few words to summarise what the article will be about eg Trav from Over Host joined us and told us about whats going on and whats going to happen the heading draws the reader in and then the little summary makes them want to read the article. The page numbers are bigger than the text so this follows the codes and conventions however some magazine develop this code and convention and have the page number in a different font and colour however I did not develop my magazine like this because I wanted to keep my font and colour scheme consistent. I included 3 images on my contents page; I had one larger image as it is linked to one of the cover lines and then the 2 smaller images relate to the articles in my magazine. I have also used the convention of having page numbers on the images to link them to the articles in the magazine and to the features list on the contents page. Another convention I used in my magazine is an Editors message; I used this because I feel that it makes the magazine more personal and sound as though it is specifically for the reader. I developed the convention to actually include a photo of the editor to develop this personal feel further. I feel that by adding the photo it allows the reader to put a name to a face making them feel, again, personally involved with the magazine.

Issue number/datemastheadTitleOne large image with smaller images and page numbersHeadings followed by description with page numbersGrab quoteEditors message with a photoDouble page spreadOn my double page spread I have used quite a few codes and conventions however there was space for me to develop and even use some more codes and conventions. My image was based on the left hand side, a convention of magazines, and also used a direct mode of address (another convention) as this draws the reader in and makes them feel as though the magazine is talking directly to them. I used quotes to break up my text in the main article, however I could have developed my magazine by taking this convention further, like some professional magazines, I could have used a quote and placed it on the image. I have used a brief stand first on my double page spread but I feel that it could have been a little bit more detailed. I used a drop capital in my stand first but I feel that I used it in the wrong place and that it does not look right. To use this convention properly it would have been better to use it in the actual interview, although Im not sure it would have looked appropriate in this article. The headline to my magazine reads Trav Baillie talks Over Host success it links to the image and main cover line on the front cover and to the features part on the contents page. It is also linked by the page number used on the contents page and on the actual double page spread. Similar to the way Q magazine sometimes do, as well as other magazines, I have developed my magazine by including my mast head at the top of the left hand page this links all the pages together and also helps to brand my magazine as by repeatedly showing them the masthead they will remember and recognise it. A code and convention included on a double page spread is to give credit to the writer and photographer of the article, I have given credit to the writer just above the article however I did not mention the photographer.

Image on left hand side with direct mode of addressQuotesHeadlinePage numberStand firstDrop capitalMasthead