Q1.

In what ways does your

media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?

By Evie Holmes
Front Cover compared to a real magazine
Strapline Things I have
included unalike
Masthead Q magazine:
Puf
Issue number/date Direct address
from each
Main image model
Breaking of
Main cover line stereotypes:
encoded
Other cover lines message

Direct address
Things Q
Barcode
magazine has
Anchorage included unalike
my magazine:
Colour scheme Secondary
images
Font consistency
 (Similarities) I have followed the codes and conventions of
magazine production on my front cover of Reverb
magazine, by including the main elements of a
front cover which a professionally published
magazine also has.
The masthead of my front cover has been placed
in the top left hand corner of the magazine,
similarly to the masthead of Q magazine. The
masthead of a magazine should be large and eye-
catching for the reader, I believe my masthead
achieves this as the slightly distorted font links to
the name of Reverb, a guitar efect that slightly
distorts the tone of the instrument. Both the name
and font convey the genre of my magazine, indie
rock; by seeing the masthead on shop shelves in
My magazine has used both a consistent colour and font scheme, in theorder to show
left hand professionalism
corner as instantly
the reader will the Q be
magazine also includes these features. Similarly to the masthead, able
I am toaiming for on
pick up thethe
colour scheme
genre of the to infer the
magazine.
genre to the audience as gold, yellow, red and black were all voted indie like colours in my questionnaire.
My magazines front cover also includes a main cover line and other cover lines. The main cover line is anchored
over the main image in a banner to infer that the two are linked, it is also larger than the other cover lines to show
its significance. In addition, the quotation used for the main cover line is then part of my double page spread article,
showing a link for the reader to connect and also consistency. The cover lines list indie-rock bands and artists that
will be of interest to my audience, the stories shown on the front cover are then also mentioned in the contents
page.
The main image of my front cover shows the band that is subject of my double page spread, Vivid Dream. The
bands name is mentioned as part of the main cover line to reveal to the audience who the band are. The models in
the main image are each dressed in an indie-like fashion and possess indie styled haircuts; they further suggest the
genre of my magazine through these elements. The models are each giving direct address, showing that their
significance is equal, as opposed to Q magazine, where only the frontman of Muse is giving direct address. I have
followed rule of thirds.
In both magazines a barcode and issue number/date has been included, in order for reference, the two elements are
combined and have been placed out of the way of the significant elements within the front cover.
The two magazines also use a strapline, a catchy line that will infer a little to the audience in a fun manner, often
using a superlative such as greatest (Q) or newest (my magazine). I have followed codes and conventions by
placing my strapline near to my masthead, however Q magazines is less noticeable as they are an established
magazine where as this is my first issue, I need to catch the attention of my potential audience.
 (Diferenc
As well as following the codes and
es)
conventions of a professional
magazine, I have also developed
them.
I included a puf in my magazine,
which grabs the attention of the
audience with bright colours. The
content in the puf, win Reading
and Leeds tickets further implies
the genre of my magazine as
Reading and Leeds is a rock
festival. As this is my first issue,
the opportunity to win a
Another element that difered was that in my main image, eachcompetition
of my models maygave
appeal to an
direct
address where as in Q magazine, only the frontman of Muse isaudience
giving it. and draw each
I wanted themofin my
to
reading
models to give direct address as I wanted them to have an equal andof
amount buying my magazine.
significance, as
there is a lack of female representation within indie rock music so therefore I wanted to defy
these stereotypes.
Linking to this, due to indie rock and the music industry in general being a patriarchal system, I
wanted to encode a message that women can be just as powerful as men as music artists,
therefore I wanted my magazine to predominantly feature women that can act as role models
and an inspiration to a female target audience. I encoded this message through a heavy female
inclusion, as well as feminist type quotes such as that shown in the main cover line on the front
cover.

However, one thing that Q magazine included that I didnt was secondary images, as I did not
feel that this was necessary for my magazine and its appearance. As it was my magazines first
issue, I wanted to predominantly include already big indie name artists in order to try and
appeal to the fans of these artists, rather than including unknown and/or upcoming artists (I
was not allowed to use images that I myself hadnt taken).
Front Cover compared to my drawn
draft
Strapline

Masthead

Puf

Four cover lines

Main image
including 3
models

Barcode + issue
number

Bottom banner
Comparing my final product to my drawn draft, I have clearly followed my original ideas, whilst developing
them in some way.
I have included all of the features that I drafted originally, such as puf, bottom banner, etc, whilst
following the rule of thirds.
I have made some slight developments such as resizing the masthead and repositioning the cover lines
and barcode; I made these alterations subject to my main image, in order to not overlap the hotspots I
want my audience to focus on. In my drawn draft, my main image shows three females posing with their
instruments, however, in my final product the models are shown equally and without their instruments.
Instead, the models are shown with their instruments in the main image on my double page spread, where
they are subject of the feature article.
A colour scheme of gold, red, yellow and black has been added in order to infer the genre of indie rock, as
my questionnaire results showed me that those are the colours people associate with the genre. To further
reveal the genre, I have inserted guitar icons to separate the words inside the bottom banner, this element
difers to the simple wavy line showed in my drawn draft.
Contents Page compared to a real magazine

Banner Things I have

included unalike
Issue number Q magazine:
Social media
Anchorage over
Main image
images
Branding
Things Q
magazine has
Page numbers
included unalike
my magazine:
Columns Image of front
cover from past
Content issue

Colour scheme

Font consistency

Categories
 (Similarities) I have followed the general conventions of
a professional music magazine contents
page by including similar elements to the
example from Q magazine as well as
presenting my product in a similar way.
At the top of the page I have inserted a
banner which, similarly to Q, lists the
date/issue number of the magazine;
however in my product I have also gave the
page a heading, contents.
I have coloured my banner red in order to
stand out and get the attention of the
audience whilst also relating to the general
colour scheme of my magazine
red/black/white/yellow etc. I have used this
colour scheme as my questionnaire
feedback revealed that these are some of
the colours which my audience associates
In addition, I have also presented my contents page in a similar way to Q,with as Iindie
haverock
usedmusic they
a main and are evidently
secondary
images as well as a column to list the features within the magazine. Within accurate as Q magazine
the column, alsomy
I have listed reports mainly
content
under specific subheadings such as reviews rather than simply includingon this
one genre.
generalised subheading, which Q
magazine has done. I have included several subheadings to enhance the appearance of my contents page and also
give a greater indication to the reader if they were looking for a specific feature such as a review they may be able
to find it under the reviews subheading.
In the bottom right corner of the page, I have included a page number for indication and branding, by inserting the
Reverb name/logo. By using branding I will be constantly reinforcing the name of the magazine to the audience as
this is the first issue it will familiarise them with the magazine, they can also then potentially share and promote it
between their friends etc.
The main image that I have used links the cover story and the double page spread story in my magazine together,
as it shows one of the band members which features in all three main images. I have presented the main image
larger than the secondary images to reveal its significance in comparison to the other features. Although Q
magazine presents a main image, a description of the content is not as clear when compared to my example. As well
as making my main image larger, I have also increased the size of the related text and presented it separately from
the content listed inside the columns, again, to show significance.
Both examples have also used a consistent font, revealing professionalism and showing a appealing element of
consistency to the reader, as well as enhancing the appearance of my contents page.
 (Diferences)

Though presenting my contents page in a similar way to Q magazine, I have also developed some aspects.
I have added social media icons and the handle of my magazines social media profiles at the bottom of the
contents page, filling some dead space. I have included this element to further appeal to a younger audience who
possess an interest in sites such as twitter, instagram etc. Although Q magazine has not included this, it is not a
fault. Q magazine, I believe, have the target audience of a middle aged male, who is interested simply in the
magazine print and not its external social media. By having social media accounts for the magazine, readers will
be able to follow the pages and help support the magazine, potentially sharing the page on Facebook where their
friends will also see it and maybe take an interest. With new media, social media is a great way for promotion and
advertisements; by including this element, the magazine becomes more modernised for a tech savvy young
audience.
In addition to this, I have also inserted some anchored text over 2 of my secondary images. Q magazine have not
included text anchorage over their images, most likely because the artists which feature in Q are already
recognisable to its audience a description is not necessary needed to familiarise. However, the images of the
artists which I have used anchorage over are upcoming indie artists the audience begins to learn about them in
this issue of the magazine. I placed the description related to the image anchored over it rather than in the
column, as I wanted the column features to predominantly be subject of already established indie artists, so that
the reader (a potential fan of them) could develop an interest and read on/buy the magazine.
Contents Page compared to my
drawn draft Contents heading
Ways I have
Top banner developed my
final product:
Masthead (branding) Included social
media names
Issue number/date Anchorage over
images
Main image Sub-headings in
the column
Larger feature + page
number linked to main
image

Three secondary images

Column

Page number
Similarly to my front cover, I have pretty much followed the drawn draft plan of my contents page, whilst developing
it in some ways.
I have presented my final product contents page almost identically to how my drawn draft is laid out, though I have
clearly added a colour scheme which matches that shown on the front cover (red, yellow, black).
I have added anchored text over two of my secondary images in order to infer the feature behind the image to the
reader, as in my main column I wanted to include features that consisted of established indie artists rather than
unknown ones, so that my audience could recognise them and hopefully develop an interest in my magazine.
Also, at the bottom of my contents page I have added social media icons and the handle of the magazine. The
inclusion of the magazines social media names reveals that Reverb is a modern magazine hoping to reach a young
target audience. By including this element, my magazine can also receive further attention and promotion a
reader of the magazine could share the magazines Facebook page and their friends may check Reverbs page out.
In the column listing the features inside the magazine, I have added subheadings in order to categorise the content
mentioned, so that if the reader was looking for a specific feature such a review, they could skip to the reviews
subheading. I have developed the simple column shown in my drawn draft in this way to enhance the appearance of
Double Page Spread compared to a real magazine

Things Ive included that Q

hasnt:
A layered background behind my
image of the band

Things Q has included that I

havent:
Secondary image

Headline

Byline

Body text

Drop caps

Quote

Main image

Page number

Branding

Caption
 (Similarities)
I have followed the general conventions of a
music magazine double page spread by
including elements in my final product such as
a headline, main image, byline and body text
of the article.
The headline included in my dps, living the
dream is a quick, catchy headline which
relates to the story and the name of the band
Vivid Dream.
The byline gives a brief description/summary
of the article whilst also crediting the author,
which I have presented beneath the headline,
following conventions .
I have inserted a drop cap to begin my article
in order to grab the attention of the reader; my
article text has been split into four columns as
my article was fairly long and I wanted to fit
the majority of it on the page. My actual article
was too long/large to fit on just over half a
page of the double page spread, I did not want
I have also inserted a quote taken from the article at the top of the thefirsttext
pagetooftake
theup more
dps, spacetothan
in order givethis
the so
reader
a quick insight into the content of the article, as well as filling up some dead space. I chose a significant quoteoffrom
therefore I had to unfortunately cut some
the article which portrayed the band as hard working and in a positive my way
article out. being spoken in a manner which
whilst
defies gender stereotypes females swearing (asses).
The main image used within my double page spread is a low angle shot of Vivid Dream, which conveys that the
band have a powerful status as the reader is looking up to them. This encoded message defies gender stereotypes
as the music industry is patriarchal women possess little to no power in it, however this image and article reveals
that this is something that the band want to achieve, it represents women in a positive, assertive way.
In the bottom right corner, I have included a page number for reference (page numbers only feature on every other
page in my magazine) as well as the name/logo of the magazine as part of a branding method. This is the first
issue of Reverb, by reinforcing the name of the magazine, the reader will become familiar with it and hopefully
continue to pay the magazine interest as well as potentially sharing/promoting it with friends etc.
I have also used a caption in the bottom left corner of the first page, in order to fill some dead space inside the
main image and also familiarise the reader with the band by listing the members names.
(Diferences)
However, despite the clear similarities
between the two double page spreads
shown, they also have their diferences.
Q magazines example has secondary
images; I chose not to use these features as
I wanted the main focus to be primarily on
the key elements of the double page
spread (i.e. main image, headline) in an
attempt to reveal the power which the
artist being reported on desires to possess
they can make it on their own without
assistance (encoded message). Linking to
this, I felt any secondary images would not
be necessary to the appearance of my
double page spread they instead would
be a distraction from the key elements of
the dps.
In addition, a feature which my dps has
included and not Q magazines is a
separate background image to that of the
original image shown (models). This is not a
fault of Qs they have they access to
greater settings and props so thus have the
opportunity to take an immediate main
image, where as the original background to
my main image was a blue screen. I added
a concert background to my main image in
order to enhance the image and relate it
further to the genre of the magazine as well
as the content mentioned within the article.
Double Page Spread compared to my
drawn draft
Headline

Byline

Body text

Drop caps

Main image

Branding

Page number

Ways I have developed my final

product:
Added a quote
Added a separate background to the
original main image
Added a caption
Though adding a few extra
features, I have pretty much
followed the initial drawn draft of
my double page spread when
creating my final product.
I have carried out the elements
and features which I drafted, such
as a headline, byline and main
image each of which follow the
conventions of a magazine double
page spread.
I have created a colour scheme for
my double page spread based on
the background image colours and
lighting which I have layered under
my original main image
(pink/purple/white).
I inserted the concert like image
behind my band, who are the
subject of the article, as it links to
the topics discussed in the article
such as the band performing at
Glastonbury; it also further reveals
that the genre of the magazine is
music.
I have also added in a quote from
the article, in order to fill up some
dead space as well as give the
reader a greater insight to the
content of which the article
discusses, this may determine
their interest in reading on.
I have also added a caption, to fill
some dead space inside the main