1. In what ways does my media
product use, develop or challenge
form and conventions of real
media products?

2. Front cover-Masthead
Convention My Product
The first convention of a magazine is the My magazine has a conventional Masthead, It is at
masthead, which is usually at the top of the the top of my magazine cover and spreads out
across the page from left to right. The title of
magazine. This is the title of the product and ‘Optimiste’ means in French to be optimistic
indicates to the audience what the product and upbeat. As my target audience is a high-
is called. The Name should connote the class group of people, I thought that using
genre and content of the magazine, such as another language for the title would make it
‘Jazz Magazine’ which is all about Jazz seem more sophisticated and attract more of a
higher-class audience. The font I have decided
music. Furthermore this title masthead is to use is slab serif which means the text has
conventionally larger than most of the other serifs on the ‘S, P and I’ which helps to create
text on the page to attract its audience into the sense of an old-style, traditional magazine
picking it up. The colours of this masthead which will appeal to a B , 40-55 year olds,
unisex aspires who want to be ambitious into
usually contrasts well with the background achieving something such as knowing the latest
colour, text or the boost image which has music artists in the chosen genre and learning
been used. more about the genre culture. The colour used
a gold/brown colour which contrasted with the
colour of the saxophone my model was holding
in my boost picture. The fact that it contrasted
with the boost image helped the cover to
connote a sophisticated look Furthermore when
looking at my cover, The masthead is
significantly larger than everything else on the
page, and is the focus centre apart from the
boost image which I have used.

3. Front cover- Cover Stories
Convention My Product
The majority of Music magazines, mainstream On my front cover, I challenged the conventions of a
and independent use a large number of typical magazine by only using a few cover-lines. In
cover stories to interest their audience into total I wrote 6 cover-stories and used no reversed
out cover-lines , which were just names and simple
picking up the magazine to read. Also the
sentences such as ‘Music study’ and ‘Herp Alpert’ to
use of reversed out cover-lines are also
attempt to attract my audience. They are in a small
used to stand out above the boost image list with font size of 14, so it is almost impossible to
which also attracts the audience as it is read them without picking the magazine up. There
different to the image. These are used to is main focus in the middle of the magazine which
attract the audience to their magazine and relates to the boost image model. This is the one
try to fit all the good information onto the cover-line which is larger than the others to
cover in order to make more sales. reinforce the nature of a magazine and to connote a
traditional magazine of the main focus point of the
bigger cover line. I have used very few cover-lines
to connote an older audience and that through my
research, this type of audience do not particularly
mind what is on the cover, but the content inside is
more interesting and what matters to them most.
The use of the simple sentences and names shows a
sophisticated and mature audience because they
are people who would look past the cover and the
short cover-stories to what is actually inside the
magazine.

4. Front cover- Other Cover Content
Convention My Product
All magazines should have the date, price and My Magazine has again challenged the conventions
of the other cover content. As stated, all
a barcode on the front to indicate how magazines have the price, date and barcode on
much it is and so it can be put through the the front, and mine is no exception. I have
scanner at the till. A lot of other magazines priced my magazine at £3.99. This will appeal
to a higher-class audience because they will
also use screamers, pull-quotes, sell, potentially be able to afford this price and will
splash and banners to attract their seem more stereotypical for them to pick up a
audience. This connotes a mainstream more expensive magazine and seem above
everyone than picking up a mainstream price of
audience that that they are looking for £1.99. I have also included a barcode which is
what is on the front before they buy, an situated at the bottom of the page which is a
conventional situation as when it is on the
example of this is a younger audience who shelf, the barcode is hidden and the audience
look to see what is on the front to see what can see the more important aspects of the
is inside, and if the cover is not interesting magazine. Furthermore I have not included any
screamers, Sells or splashes to my cover as My
enough then they will not pick it up or buy audience, from research shows that they are
it. more interested into the content of the
magazine and not what is on the cover.
However a few cover-lines, such as ‘ Mark P’
(as I have included) will give them a brief idea
of what to expect inside.

5. Front cover- Boost Image
Convention My Product
A Boost image is the main For my magazine i have used a pull page image of
my model, Mark which spreads a variety
image which is seen on the amount of messages out to my target
audience. The use of the glasses are natural as
cover of the magazine he naturally needs them to see and also match
which usually fills up the well with the other colours in the image. The
use of the hat shows the ideology of a
whole cover and represents stereotype of a Jazz artist. The image has not
be altered or photo-shopped, sp the detail of
one of the main aspects the the skin is all natural, which connotes an
honest Magazine which is not interesting in the
magazine covers and writes way the artists who feature in in look. The
upon. These images are Magazine is about the talent and music and not
how they look. The use of the Saxophone prop
usually stereotypical of the shows a stereotypical look at the Jazz genre as
this is the instrument which is most associated
person or of the genre of with this genre. However In my double page
spread, I challenge these instruments by using
magazine and are often a ukulele as the main instrument used by the
thought of role models for artist, which is something you would not
normally see in this type of magazine and
people. incorporate it within the genre of Jazz.
Through my research I noticed that a
considerable amount of models in boost
pictures use direct contact to engage with the
audience. I used a different approach with a
indirect contact with the audience. The soft
eyes and the fact he is not looking into the
camera makes the magazine look less
intimidating

6. Contents Page- Numbers
Convention My Product
Magazine contents pages I have written the page numbers
traditionally have page fairly large so it is easier to
see and read where each
numbers by the side of article or page is. They are too
the text to indicate the top right of each little
where about in the section of text . They are size
9 font and cover up to pages
magazine that 32, This connotes a traditional
particular article or target audience who like
everything to be traditional
page is. The amount of and orginised in the correct
pages in magazines order, which I have created so
the page numbers go from the
vary from styles and smallest at the front of the
genres. magazine to the larger
numbers at the back.

7. Contents page- Text
Convention My Product
Contents pages have the main The main heading of each
sub-heading of the page or
article and then either a little article/page is a size 9 serif
or no information about what font which connotes an older
is on those pages, along with style which will attract an
the page number. older audience. Furthermore
the text underneath is
significantly smaller and as i
a targeting class B people,
then I am sure they will
consider reading this before
they carry on throughout the
magazine to engage in what
is going to be in this issue.

8. Double page- Images
Convention My product
Double pages usually have
images to illustrate the text Within my double page spread I have used two
which has been written, images of my model Matt. The first one is of
whether it is of the artists or the side of his face with him looking straight
into the distance wearing a wool hat. This is
albums which they have been on a white background with the words ‘My
promoting. Sometimes, Moment,’ which is promoting an album cover.’
magazines may have little The fact that he is looking straight into the
distance connotes the seriousness of the
images of the writer who music which he creates and that he is aiming
wrote the article which is a for a higher-class audience to enjoy his
good technique to use for music. Although he is male, he is not gender
recognition and if the audience specific. The pieces he creates attract both
males and females and are liked by both
like the piece then they will go genders. The second image is of Matt sat
back to them to read more of down holding the instrument which the article
their work. is about. The look on his face is very
concentrated which further connotes how
serious he is taking his music business. He is
sat with his legs crossed which shows a
relaxed approach and independent which
connotes that it is what he likes to do and the
way he is dressed also shows his
independence as he does not like to follow
the crowd.

9. Double page- Columns and language
Convention My Product
Usually in magazines and I have written my article in
particularly in newspapers four columns spreading
the text is written in across the two pages
columns across either the which shows a more
professional look as it
one or two pages. The looks more neat and
font is rather small which easier to read. The
allows the writers to write language i have used is of
significant amounts of a higher standard which
text. The language used connotes a more
in magazines varies from sophisticated, higher-class
the type of magazine and audience who will be able
the audience it is aimed to follow the more mature
language which is suitable
at. for this type of magazine.

10. How does my cover look like a
real magazine?
My magazine cover of ‘Optimiste’ Looks like a real
magazine in many ways. I feel there is a gap in the
market for an upper-class music magazine for this genre
as alot of them are mainstream and look cheaply sold
with a price below £2.50. The use of a saturated image
shows a more sophisticated cover which will appeal to
my target audience as it looks more mature and
connotes a more upmarket audience. The price of which i
have chosen also furthers the ideology of a higher-class
audience as they will be able and more willing to pay the
higher price as they potentially will have the money too.
Furthermore the use of cover-stories on the front give
the audience an idea of what is in the magazine which
may influence then to buy the magazine.

11. How does my Contents look like
a real magazine?
As a typical magazine would I have also included one main
feature, my magazine has a list picture, so it is easy to look at
of all the aspects in which my and read. As I aim to target
magazine features, such as more higher-classed people, I
articles with artists, and felt that one picture was
festival tours. The contents sufficient as then they could
which I decided to write about read the rest of the page with
are from research into the ease, rather than it being too
genre and similar magazines to busy and filled with pictures
the one I have created. Many and them not able to know
mainstream and individual what is inside the magazine
music magazines have a large which is what my target
amount of articles, reviews and audience would rather look at
interviews on artists which i and read. I have also included
have included and furthermore the page numbers so it is easy
festival dates of the less to locate where each feature is
popular festivals which would easily. This connotes an
only appeal to these types of organised feel which is easy to
people. use and to locate the different
articles and pages within the
magazine.

12. How does my Double page look
like a real magazine?
I have arranged my double page Buy the album. Typically in a
spread in columns, with text at higher-class audience aimed
8pt which is typically found in magazine, you would normally
magazines as it allows more find the older generation
writing and information to be artists featured in there. I
placed on the pages. I have have challenged this
included two images, one of convention by writing about a
which is an album cover of the 14 year old boy. The article
artist I am writing about which shows that it is not about your
is illustrating a new album age which should prevent your
which he is bring out. Normally target audience for the music
in a magazine an article is you are creating come after
either about the artist or your age. The type of music
promoting their new album. I the artist i wrote about shows
have challenged these that he is alot more mature for
conventions by writing about his age and knows what he is
both the artist and the album doing and who he is targeting,
which works well as because he which is something who many
is young, people may want to artists do not know.
know about him before they

13. How is it recognisable as belonging to
my Jazz sub-genre?
The main aspect which allows my magazine to
be recognised as a Jazz genre is the use of
the stereotypical instrument of the
saxophone, used by my model in my front
cover boost picture, and as a prop for my
contents page image. The fact that the article
for my double page spread is about a ukulele
which is often thought to be associated with
Folk music, challenged the stereotypical view
on this genre i have chosen. It is allowing
new people to come up with new ideas to
involve other instruments in other genres.

14. Have you done anything to challenge
the conventions of a existing Jazz
Magazines?
I have challenged a few of the conventions of my researched
existing magazines. The first convention which I have challenged
is the amount of cover-stories on the cover. Existing magazine
covers are filled with cover-stories to try and engage the
audience. I have taken a different approach with this convention,
I have opposed the traditionalist of cramming the cover with all
the good stories which are inside my magazine and replaced
them with a few names/simple statements such as ‘Music Study.’
as I have mentioned before, this is because the audience who I
am targeting are not really interested in what information is on
the front, but it is what is in the magazine and the written
information which will really interest them. Furthermore I have
challenged the convention of using a unfamiliar instrument for
this particular genre in my magazine. The usual instrument you
would expect to see is the traditional saxophone which is widely
associated with the genre of Jazz. I have challenged this by
writing about a Ukulele in my double page spread which is a
musical instrument you would not expect to find in a magazine
like this. I have told the story about a boy who has used this
instrument and incorporated it into his own compositions to crate
jazz which is well liked by the audience.

15. This quote works well with my magazine as
I have incorporated a new idea into my
magazine by writing about something
which has not yet been brought forward
into the music business. No artist in the
genre of Jazz has used a Ukulele in a Jazz
composition, and with Matt doing so have
evolved the Jazz genre more and made it
more broad with it using new instruments
to create its sounds.
“Genres are not static but shifting
and slippery, evolving over time”