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

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Cover Advert and Contents Double page spread

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Research• From doing research into music magazines, I have found that there are four elements in the convention of magazines, these are layout, image, text, and audience profile. From looking at the magazine ‘Classic Rock’, which is a music magazine that is very successful at the moment and has the genre Rock, I have been able to see how my magazine uses, develops and challenges conventions of their front covers.

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Linking• From looking at the text used in Classic Rock magazine I was able to find an alternative font that mimicked the one it used. The font that’s used for the title has sharp, crisp lines which helps give the magazine a stylish/neat look. The text used throughout the cover links in well with the style of the magazine because the same font is used throughout the magazine to keep a good house style which suits the genre.

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AnalysisMasthead covers from left to

right

Punch text above the masthead

Cover lines

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Front cover• The masthead ‘LuciD’ conforms to the conventions of music magazines and

general magazines alike. It uses two colours: Black and white which helps to make the text clear. Also with the text being very distinct from the background I believe it helps to attract the reader’s attention very well. From developing my magazine I added the white outline to the black text ‘LuciD’ as I feel it helps make it bold and sharp. Looking at the Classic Rock front cover we can see that they have used the colours white to write the masthead. I used this first as my first cover photo was dark but as my cover developed I changed the cover photo and change the main colour to black to make it more readable. The crisp, sharp lines are also displayed here and this clearly shows that my magazine cover conforms to the conventions used here.

• The text, ‘MUSIC MAGAZINE’ which is placed above the masthead in a smaller size can help draw the attention of the reader and then make them purchase it as they will notice it’s a music magazine which will interest them more if its what they’re looking for.

• The cover lines that are positioned on the left hand side and the right hand side of my magazine cover conform to the conventions of music magazines and general magazines. By looking at the cover of ’Classic Rock’ you can see that there are cover lines positioned in the same areas as mine. This is the most effective positioning as it will attract the readers to my magazine ‘LuciD’. The cover lines are expected to be there and having them there will make it easy for the reader to view them.

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Front cover• The image of my model falls in the conventions of a music magazine as you

can see clearly when looking at both my cover and ‘Classic Rock’ cover. The model is standing with open eyes gazing at the camera which will help to grad the eye of a consumer as they feel there is eye contact. This is a typical convention and most music and general magazine follow this idea.

• In the magazine cover for ‘Classic Rock’ you can see that the background Is all one colour –grey. I decided to follow this convention as I believe that magazines with a background that isn’t broken up and involves some sort of pattern work worst as it may confuse the viewer or make it harder to read.

• My image is of a young male. The text is black, white, and red and the background is of a neutral grey. This makes my magazine cover mainly appeal to the male audience however the genre of music that my magazine is intended for also follows this sort of style so I believe it won’t put females off from purchasing this magazine as the music that they would be reading about would follow this.

• My magazine cover also includes a barcode which is a convention that most magazines follow and so did ‘Classic Rock’ cover which I was using for inspiration. I also added a QR code which ‘Classic Rock’ didn’t use to show I’m not dependant on this magazine and can think of my own ideas.

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Contents• I have decided to use the name of my magazine ‘LuciD’

in the contents title, ‘LuciD Content’ as I believe this allows the name of my magazine to stay in peoples minds for longer and become more recognisable as its short and simple. This will also help my magazine establish a brand name. This is following a convention of music and other magazines out there at the moment.

• But I decided to not base my contents page around another magazines because I felt I wanted to show off my own skills and design eye.

• I placed the images around the text in an orderly fashion so their eyes are drawn to the text. It makes it stand out more. I also added red text and capitals to focus on the main point to draw them into the full story.

Double Page Spread• I placed my image so that it covered the whole page. The size of the image is of the same size that most

music magazines used. I have followed conventions as most of the time the background of the picture is the background that is used to cover the whole of the 2 pages. I feel that it works well the way I laid mine out.

• I have kept my text in two columns which is commonly done and I didn’t want to challenge that as I feel it works well and if you changed it around too much then the text could become quite difficult to read.

• I have also used the text wrap feature on InDesign to ‘wrap’ around the models arm which shows off technology skills and it also gives the page a stylish yet sharp look. I felt I had to do this because it could make it hard for the reader to read the text. I feel it makes the model become more important/relevant to the text as it is a part of it.

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Double Page Spread• The font used for the title is the same font used for the cover and contents page

mastheads. In keeping the font the same the reader won’t get confused with what magazine they are reading and it will help create an image on font that people will remember with my magazine.

• My double page spread is typical of a music as it is an interview of the cover image model who is also on my contents and is the same model as used in the double page spread. This shows importance of them and may make the viewer feel more like they know him or understand the interview better.

• I used the image of the model because it has a plain background behind it to make the text easier to read and clear. This is a convention which most magazines used and I followed this because I believe it works best for a double page spread.