Before starting my media magazine I analysed the front pages of 4 magazines, which allowed me to see the forms and conventions of the other magazines aimed at my target audience. From this I then looked at double page spreads and contents pages of some magazines, however I didn’t research it as much as the front page.
I found that one convention of a young teen magazine is the clear masthead which was shown on all magazines I analysed. The masthead was located at the top of the page, was usually included a white and pink colour scheme and was in much larger writing than the rest of the text. Another convention of magazines is to have a coloured stripe at the top of the front page, which was used in 3 of the 4 magazine front pages I looked at (top Of the Pops, Go Girl and Teen Now). I believe that the coloured strip is used as a way to fill the white space between the paper edge and the masthead and also as a way to attract people’s attention to the top of the page. By doing this it will allow people to see which magazine they are buying as well as a short piece of information on what is inside the magazine. From the magazines I looked at I found that the information in this strip was usually a short single sentence of information that is a little less important than the other information on the page. I found that the strip is usually in a blue or pink colour which appeals to the target audience. I used this convention in my magazine as I included a strip along the top of my page; however I developed it by changing the colour of it compared to those of other magazines in this genre. I used a black coloured strip with yellow text bullet pointing featured artists within the media. This developed the forms and conventions as the colour of the strip is very dark, which helps to make the information in the strip stand out much more than when it is on a very light pastel colour. I also bullet pointed artist names in the strip rather than putting a short sentence in which would help give a short overview on the magazine rather than specific information on one area of the magazine.
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| Front Page Example |
I also found that within the magazines the text is very similar through. All text has a mixture of serif fonts and sans serif fonts which allow a larger variety in appearance. By having this mixture it stops the reader getting bored of the same font text and it allows the magazine to appeal to a wider audience. The text also uses language that is very specific to the target audience. Al the magazines I analysed used slang terms such as ‘celebs’, ‘Omg’ and ‘lol’, which are common words young teens would use. It means that the magazine will appeal to them as they feel like they are being spoken to directly using language they would typically use. My magazine used these conventions as I used a variety of font types and I used language that would be used by the audience of my magazine.
One convention in most magazines was the use of bubbles to present text in. This was used on 3 of the 4 magazines I analysed (TOTP, Go Girl and We<3Pop) and was usually a circular bubble with a yellow background. This colour background with bright text helped to draw reader’s attention to these parts of the page. The information within was usually a few words explaining a headline/image. I used the conventions of having a circular bubble with information in, however I challenged the colour schemes of them. I used a purple coloured circular bubble on my front page and the information within was very limited and gave information on what page the story was on rather than extra detail. I did this as it would encourage readers to buy the magazine rather than just see the front page and only use the information on that page. I decided to use the purple as I thought it would appeal to the female target audience that I am aiming my magazine at as I haven’t used other conventions like the pink coloured strip to do this.
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| Contents Page Example |
Another convention of typical pop music magazines is related to the main image on the front page. The main images on magazines tend to be of both girls and boys, meaning I have used this convention as my front page includes both boys and girls, although it is mainly female orientated. However I have challenged the typical conventions of main images on the front page as they are typically in the centre or right hand third. I decided to place my main image on the left third of the magazine as this is usually where important articles are placed, suggesting that you are naturally attracted to this area. By putting the image here it will attract my audience as the main image is of a pop star most of them will aspire to be. This has meant that I have challenged the conventions of thirds in magazines by changing where information is places. I have also challenged the use of thirds as information is usually in sets of 3 together, whereas on my magazine it is single units f information. The text and images are located on different sides and is mixed with the images, which again challenges forms and conventions. I did this as I thought it would look better with the overall format of my magazines and that it would be easier for my target audience to read all information on the front page. The main image on my front page is of a girl dressed in more formal/dressy clothes with an over exaggerated pose and facial expression. This is a convention of typical magazines which I have decided to use to make the magazine look fun and appealing to my audience. The main image on magazines usually uses medium shots where the top part of the body is seen, meaning I have also used this convention.
Other images on the magazine tend to be in strips of many images on the bottom third of the magazine, which I have challenged. I don’t have a strip of images on my front page and instead have them randomly around the page in boxes. I chose to do this as i felt it would make my magazine look more attractive if images could clearly be seen, rather than be in groups and overlapping each other with no information as to what they are about. However on my contents page I have followed conventions of typical magazines by using a larger image on the right third, and then a smaller image of the editor. I have slightly challenged conventions of contents pages, as there are usually more than 2 images on the page, however I have included more text bubbles to substitute for this. The other images on the front page are usually smaller, which I have used, however they are usually straight with no tilt. I have developed this convention by including some images that are straight, combined with some that have a tilt in order to make the page look more interesting.
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| Double Page Spread Example |
One convention of teen magazines is the use of bright colours throughout the magazine, with pink and yellow being used the most often, especially on the front page. Blue and green is also a colour scheme used frequently with magazines, both within the magazine pages and on front pages. I have developed this convention as I have used bright colours and pinks/yellow/blue/green but I have also used the bright purple on both my front page and contents page. I chose to use this colour as it is a colour that is associated with spiritual fulfilment and of peace of mind, meaning it helps link to the use of my magazine with regard to Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratifications Theory, where my magazine is used predominantly as a form of escapism. On my double page spread I have continued to develop the typical colour schemes within teen magazines by using pastel shades of blue and pink, combined with the rich purple and yellow. I chose to do this as I felt pastel colours feel much more feminine and also link with escapism and spirituality.
On the contents page on most magazine a coloured background is used, with a small section using a pattern. I have developed and challenged this convention as I have used a patterned background through my magazine. This challenges the conventions of front pages and the double page spread, but develops that of the contents page. I decided to do this as I felt it make the pages look more interesting even if it is only a subtle pattern. I felt that it would tie together my uses of circular bubbles as the background is of pastel blue dots.
Overall I feel as though I have used many conventions of typical teen pop magazines but also developed them in my own way to make my magazine slightly more unique and appealing. I have challenged conventions of magazines mainly to make mine slightly more quirky in order for it to stand out among large numbers of other magazines as it is a mainstream market.
