IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

Question 1

FrontCover

Masthead

Tag Line

Main Image

Features

Sell Line

Main Cover Line

Puff and Buzz

Anchor text

Tag Line

This convention isn’t commonly used by magazines in the country genre. I chose this convention to assist in the introduction of the magazine to the audience and as further promotion (uses and grat).

Other Magazines

Maverick Magazine

MastheadLarge, bold, centered and contrasts the background. Placed in the upper quarter of the page which is common easily recognisable due to off-placed ‘VI’

Other Magazines

Main ImageClose up shot of two people but edited to the size of one individual person. Very unusual for the Country genre but it makes the magazine stand out from the rest of the magazines in this genre. Covers the main body and uses direct mode of address, connects to the audience (uses and grat)

Other Magazines

Maverick Billboard

Nash Country Weekly

FeaturesInsight into the features of the magazine for entertainment, informative, commonly used either side of the magazine in the country genre and continues house style/colour scheme contrasting the background

Other Magazines

Maverick Nash Country WeeklyBillboard

Sell Line‘Exclusive’ engages the audience to the ‘exclusivity’.Informs the audience of the unknown (uses and grat requires model)

Other Magazines

Nash country weekly

Maverick

Anchor Text Name – anchors to image – relates to the main story, centered and contrasts background to make it stand out. Links to house style with colour scheme

Other Magazines

Maverick BillboardNash Country Weekly

Other Magazines

Main Cover LineCommon convention often linking to the anchor text and main image. Not as prolific in comparison to other genres (Nash Country Weekly an exception) Not always contrasting but usually fits in with house style and color scheme. Creates a hermeneutic question, want to know what ‘Colorblind means’

Nash Country Weekly

Maverick

Billboard

Puff and Buzz(Puff) the reader may be able to win a free gift by buying the magazine (buzz) are used to entice them in as they don’t want to miss out. Commonly used occasionally along with the sell line.

Other Magazines

MaverickNash Country Weekly

House StyleBlack/White/Dark Red. These colour’s contrast well against each other and are very gender neutral to appeal to the entire target audience. Black and White are common colour’s used by mainstream country magazines such as Nash and Maverick. I suited the mise en scene by dressing the models in these colours and making the images black and white. The Masthead and the majority of text is red to contrast and occasional white text to separate these.

Contents Page

Social Networking

LayoutNumbering

Features

Images

Issue

Page Number

Social NetworkingIn my research I did not come across a contents page with social media links on it, however I decided to use it as my target audience is quite ranged mainly targeting young adults and so social media seems like a good way to involve the audience. It’s an effective way to market the magazine as well as a way to keep the audience updated.

ImagesFor my contents page I took a variety of photos with the main photo being a medium shot of two models with their body language and facial expressions clearly visual. I also took photos of a guitar and a setting to break up the images and to not have them looking so similar. The guitar also solidifies the fact that this is a music magazine along with the concert photo. They are presented similar to thumbnails to make it look professional.Other Magazines

Billboard

Country Weekly

NumberingNumbers contrast backgrounds to stand out – easy navigation and creates shortcuts. Informs audience as to what each article includes (uses and grat) with links. Keeps in with house style and Other Magazines

Billboard

Country Weekly

Features (Interviews)

Other Magazines

Bold, contrasting title to the background, short and eye catching which breaks down the magazine. Short descriptions of individual interviews informing the audience (uses and grat). Consistent colours and layout to not. Numbers co-ordinate to relevant pictures for easy reading.

Billboard

Country Weekly

IssueRecent information to keep readers up to date – informative (uses and grat) – smaller text due to it being additional information that isn’t necessary

Other Magazines

Page NumberPage number with the magazine name alongside it – informative – professional consistency and increases brand awareness

Other Magazines

Double Page Spread

Image

Anchor TextDrop Cap

Pull quote

Page Numbers

Text

Columns

LayoutFor the country music genre there is no typical way to have the images and text layout. I took inspiration from a Nash country weekly double page contents page and a Sam Hunt article for my image layout. My main image is on the right with a text heavy left hand side to make it a professional layout.

Nash Country Weekly

CountryWeekly

ImageDue to the wide variety of shots used for double page spreads I decided to use a long shot of the models offset to one side for it to cover the entirety of the page. I decided to have them looking away from the camera to entice the reader into finding out what the article’s about. Generally this challenges the generic codes and conventions but may intrigue the younger target audience.

Other Magazines

Billboard

Country Weekly Maverick

Text & ColumnsThe text on the double page spread contrast the background and keeps in with the house style and colour scheme. A common convention is to use columns to layout the text. So, I decided to incorporate this as it gives it a professional look.

Billboard

Country Weekly Maverick

Other Magazines

Pull QuotePull quote gives an insight into the rest of the story as well as giving engagement to the audience while creating questions. Larger font than the rest of the page – not universally used by all magazines in the genre

Other Magazines

BillboardMaverick

Page Number & Drop CapPage Number – informative – The magazine name and issue next to it to create brand awareness

Drop cap – Introduction to text – Bold – grabs attention

Other Magazines

Country Weekly Billboard