2. I decided that in general, my magazine would be more successful if I
followed more media conventions than I challenged. This is because
existing media products that have proved to be successful to tend to
be similar in the way they structure their magazine and generally
follow music magazine conventions.
However, in a few instances I found it necessary to put my own
stamp onto my magazine in order to make it unique and fresh – this
meant challenging some forms and conventions of existing media
products.
3. I have followed the ‘rock/alternative’ music magazine convention of using no more than three
main colours on my cover and contents page - excluding black and white. This also follows the
typical convention of having a ‘house theme’ which includes colour scheme and fonts. It will also
set up my magazine for future issues – adding continuity within each individual issue.
I have also followed the convention that I found typical of magazines such as ‘Kerrang!’ and
‘NME’ by using bright, bold colours such as yellow to contrast darker tones like deep red and
black on my cover and contents page. This makes my magazine look exciting and stand out –
something that will appeal to my target audience.
I have used darker colours on my double page spread featuring my main artist – something that
is typical of ‘NME’ and ‘Q’ magazine. This is to ensure that the article has the correct
connotations for my artist and matches their persona, appealing to the existing fan base for my
audience and also additional members of my target audience who will be interested by her
dark, alternative persona conveyed through use of colour and images.
4. I ensured that I followed typical codes and conventions of existing media products when
creating the images for my magazine. I found that eye contact was extremely important in
magazines and was used on almost every cover I looked at – which is why in all three of my
major images (cover, contents and double page spread) I have used eye contact with my feature
artist. This will attract an audience as eye contact is extremely appealing to an audience.
Furthermore, the costume and makeup of my artist was tailored to my magazine genre. This
follows convention as I have used similar styling to female artists on magazine covers such as
‘Kerrang!’ in order to fit into the market and appeal to the correct ‘rock/alternative’ consumer.
The posing of my artist also follows media conventions as I found that it was quite similar with
female cover model’s on most music magazine covers. My model is posed in quite a serious way
on my cover in order to attract my target audience of ‘alternative’ people as they will be more
able to relate to my artist if she looks quite mysterious and ‘alternative’.
5. I followed the typical convention of choosing a font for a magazine cover that is bold and clear.
Something that is simple to read yet at the same time very recognisable. This is used on music
magazines such as ‘NME’ and ‘Kerrang!’ and becomes an icon that people instantly recognise
with just a glance at the magazine – even with the cover model partially covering this text up.
I further followed convention as I used simple, easy to read fonts throughout my magazine
production. This ensures that my audience can clearly read my magazine, and it doesn’t look too
overly complex. This is something that I found the majority of magazines followed in order to
appeal to a target audience.
As common in magazines, I have used ‘buzz words’ such as ‘new’ and ‘exclusive’ throughout my
magazine production. This enables my magazine to appeal to a wide audience and attract them
to read mine over another, as it may seem my magazine is the first to know about things, such
as ‘exclusive interviews’ to my magazine – making my magazine benefit. This is a common
feature on magazine covers.
I have used interesting and relevant text throughout my magazine in order to make it something
my target audience would really want to read – giving my magazine real appeal.
6. I have followed the convention of using an easy to follow layout for my magazine cover, contents
page and double page spread. I have used the typical layout for my magazine cover – the main
image large and in the centre with the text for articles on either side. This was to ensure my
magazine is not too complex and confusing for the reader and to make sure my magazine didn’t
look too ‘busy’.
I have also taken into account magazines such as ‘Kerrang!’ and ‘NME’ when designing my
contents page. I followed the convention of having the largest image on the contents page in
direct correlation to the main feature article of my magazine and secondary articles with smaller
images. I found this layout the most aesthetically pleasing, and so, more likely to attract the
target audience.
My double page also follows conventions of real media products as the layout is similar to
Kerrang!’s interview structure. It features an A4 sized image, or poster, followed by an interview
on the facing page. I have also structured my interview in a question and answer format –
something that can be found in many interviews in music magazines. Furthermore, I have put
my text into columns, something that is a clear convention of the majority of magazines.
7. I did however challenge some media forms and conventions during the production of my
magazine.
I made the decision to use only one image on my magazine cover. Typically, magazine covers
have one main image and some supplementary images that are smaller and attached to smaller
feature articles. I decided to challenge this convention as my media product was more
aesthetically appealing with only one image on the cover, as I believe it would attract my
audience as it puts the spotlight on the main artist.
I also decided to challenge the ‘rock’ music magazine convention of using all dark colours and
serious poses. I found that ‘Q’ and ‘Revolver’ magazine tended to use serious images – however
I took a different approach and used some quirky, fun images of my feature artist for my
contents page and my double page spread. I made this decision based on the fact that my
audience are quite alternative and quirky, and may react positively on this decision, appealing to
them over other, more serious magazines.
