Evaluation Question 1

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

The cover

Masthead takes up almost a quarter of the page as well as standing out on top of the picture and having the colour theme linked to the cover artist and the DPS. The cover photo is a close shot with the artist's head and shoulders showing. It has been touched up, edited and resized to fit an a4 page. The artist is looking straight into the camera with a dreamy expression as if she were looking into the readers eyes.

I have added kickers and teasers but not so much that it looks cluttered. I've styled my cover after a Q magazine cover which has the artist name large off centre with the 'exclusive interview' and a kicker above the name. The word 'exclusive' suggests that the fan is part of an exclusive club.
I've styled the headlines and story insights along the bottom after the same Q magazine cover.
 I have included a barcode on the bottom right hand side with the correct date, price and a website for the magazine.
The purpose of a magazine cover is to build a relationship between the text, the product and the reader. It promotes the artist featured on the cover and the magazine brand. The font, images and mode of address create a triangular relation between the reader, the product and the text.

Contents

Have included a range of medium shots and long shots. Included an photo for the cover story and made it the largest to show it dominates the magazine since it is the cover story. Edited them to the front cover standard yet included a B&W photo to show the daring side to my magazine. Each photo is linked to a page number and story and are various sizes.

The contents page show there are atleast 62 pages of material in the magazine.

The contents page has the same date as the cover.

The contents page is organised by a theme, I chose to do columns with the same number design for each one. The boxed numbers stand out and show the reader the variety of content inside. I made red the theme colour on my contents page to contrast from my cover which was blue.
The content page uses the same fonts that are on the cover.
Each item has a strapline that indicates what the article is about.
The contents page shows that the magazine has music reviews, gig guides, exclusive interviews, new acts and opinions on musical taste.

DPS

Text is arranged in columns.

Have included a shot distance photograph. There is a photo credit for the photographer.

There is a by-line for the writer of the article.

There is a heading which is the 'Feature of the Month' and a sub-heading which is the name of the aritst. The colour theme of the contents page, especially the 'Valentina Rose' relates back to the cover.

Have included a stand first paragraph.

There is a dropped capital at the start of the first paragraph and it is blue to match the theme.

There is a expanded quote to intrigue the reader and engage them into the article.

I have included a smaller element in the form of a timeline of photos that summarise the artists past images.

The writing is informal and it makes it seem like the artist is a friend and talking to the reader personally. The writing suggests that the reader is finding out things that only the artist's inner circle would know. This makes the reader feel special.

The journalist gives their own opinion and the writing reflects the genre of the magazine which is rock chic, by discussing stereotypically heavy topics such as drinking and depression.