Evaluation 1

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

Front Cover

After carrying out research into the conventions of a music magazine earlier in my coursework, I have based some of my conventions of my magazine upon some of the mass market magazines such as NME and Kerrang which I have research , this is so my magazine is likely to fit into the market and be marketed similar to like theirs is.
An example of how my magazine conforms to the convention of real media products is through the use of a the magazine title. Within my research I found that majority of magazine titles for the main magazines were places at the top of the page, usually reading from left to right.( being placed in the top left hand corner of the page)
However some may view my magazine as challenging the conventions of a real media product as my title is placed in the top right corner , yet also conforms to the conventions of real media texts such as the NME magazines as the title stands out and has a clear brand throughout my magazine. I took inspiration from the NME logo and created my own based upon it.

This image to the left is the logo from NME magazine, the creaters have used contrasting colours to make the name stand out and to give the magazine a logo.

Therefore I used a similar idea with my magazine name, and used the contrasting colours of red and white and I have continued this colour theme throughout my work aswell as displaying the logo.

Moving on from the title, I have used a variety of different subheadings which, again, conform with the conventions of real media products, as it outlays what is going to be featured within the magazine, and the effective use of displaying band names on the front cover immediately captures my target audiences attentions , because if they follow that band they will want to read and buy my magazine to find out the information about them exampes where I can comapre the similarity between the conventions I have used are shown below.

Both show the band Kasabian and a story about them, I have decided to use this band ( my screenshot is to the right ) this is because its a well known band within the Indie music industry so alot of people will follow them.

This is another example of how I have used the media conventions within real media texts. From my research I found alot of indie magazines advertised festivals, especially large ones such as Leeds , Reading , T in the Park and Glastonbury. Therefore I felt that it was necessary to conform to these magazine conventions as it fits with my target audience, and above is a comparison with my magazine with a real media text (NME).

These images above are of my final front cover and an image of Q magazine, both show the actor in the image looking directly into the camera and either pointing or making a symbol with there hands, this immediately captures the audiences attention, as it is as thought the actor is communicating with them, and it draws the readers in. This type of image I felt would be effective for my magazine, hence why I used it.

 In addition to this I have used many more simple codes and conventions from real media texts which I was able to apply to my work. One of these was a barcode, this on my magazine was placed in the bottom right hand corner, and this gave my magazine a sense of realism with the barcode being present as it shows that the magazine is available for retail in majority of stores.

Another convention I have conformed to is the use of an issue number on the front cover of the magazine this is because it shows that the magazine is regular and is a mass market product where more than one issue is brought out. Again this gives the magazine a sense of realism for the target audience.

Contents Page

In addition to this I have also followed some of the conventions of real media texts within my contents page whilst also challenging them.

An example of the way I have conformed to the conventions is the simple layout of a contents page by having an editors collumn. This conforms to the conventions of a real media texts as alot of indie magazines such as NME and Kerrang have editors collumns where the editor can have there word said within the magazine, and give any readers some important messages. In addition to this is also conforms to conventions throught the pages layout. It clearly shows the page numbers of the articles which are within the magazine and they are split into catergories whilst also there is images around the page. However, it is layed out in an organised and readable fashion so the person who picks up the magazine is able to locate the page they want.

Another way I have conformed to conventions is through placing the logo of my magazine "Vida" in the top right hand corner of the page, this reiterates the branding of my magazine and allows the audience to remember what they are reading. An example of a real media product which also does this is the NME magazines, they place the logo on their contents pages aswell.

However I also challenge the conventions by not placing the title "contents page " on the page, as I felt for the style of the magazine it is not necessary , as it is already clear to the reader the type of page it is and it would not go with the branding of the magazine as it would also interfere with the logo i have places in the corner.

 

Double Page Spread

In addition to the contents page and front cover, I have also conformed to the conventions of real media products within my double page spread. I have done this in many ways; first of all I have used the simple layout of one main image and then the article to the right of that image. This is so the magazine is readable for the audience and whoever will pick it up.

Also I have used a eye catching heading for my title for the article this is also a typical convention for a music magazine as it captures the audiences attentition and draws them into reading the article. iN addition I also continued my branding of the magazine and added the logo of "Vida" in the top right hand corner of the double page .