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 the left hand corner the reader will
instantly be able to pick up on the genre of the
magazine.

My magazine has used both a consistent colour and font scheme, in order to show professionalism as the Q magazine also
includes these features. Similarly to the masthead, I am aiming for the colour scheme to infer the 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.
 (Diferences
)
As well as following the codes and
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 competition may appeal to an
audience and draw them in to reading
and buying my magazine.

Another element that difered was that in my main image, each of my models gave direct address where as in Q
magazine, only the frontman of Muse is giving it. I wanted each of my models to give direct address as I wanted
them to have an equal amount of 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.
The main diference shown is that in my final product I have included a banner across the middle to make the main cover line
stand out as the most significant this was not originally planned.
Contents Page compared to a real magazine

Banner Things I have

included unalike Q
magazine:
Issue number Social media
Anchorage over
Main image images

Things Q magazine
Branding has included
unalike my
Page numbers magazine:
Image of front
cover from past
Columns issue

Content

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 with indie rock music they are
evidently accurate as Q magazine also reports
mainly on this genre.

In addition, I have also presented my contents page in a similar way to Q, as I have used a main and secondary images as well
as a column to list the features within the magazine. Within the column, I have listed my content under specific subheadings
such as reviews rather than simply including one 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
developed my final
Top banner product:
Included social
Masthead (branding) media names
Anchorage over
images
Issue number/date Sub-headings in the
column
Main image

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 the magazine as well as assisting the reader.
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
the text to take up more space than this so
therefore I had to unfortunately cut some of
I have also inserted a quote taken from the article at the top of the my firstarticle
page of the dps, in order to give the reader
out.
a quick insight into the content of the article, as well as filling up some dead space. I chose a significant quote from
the article which portrayed the band as hard working and in a positive way whilst being spoken in a manner which
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
image and also familiarise the reader
with the band by listing the members
names.