Research

Main Task – Media

Sarah – Louise Hurley

Text Platform Conventions

Text platform conventions are the characteristics which are associated with certain types of text, whether it be newspapers or in this case, magazines, more specifically music

magazines. These conventions include things such as headings, images, a masthead and also

the text used.

Genre Conventions

Each genre uses specific characteristics in order to portray a genre of choice. The most common

way to do this is through the use of colour. Whether it be in a cover of a magazine, a movie

poster or an advert on television these characteristics will be followed in order to

represent the genre that it fits.

Front Cover

Good Examples

Some good examples of magazines covers are…

These are good examples because the colours used on them fit the genre that they are in, darker colours used on the rock magazines and brighter colours used on the

pop magazine.

Bad Examples

Some bad examples of magazine covers are…

These are bad examples because the colours used on them do not fit the genre that they are in the use of red and white makes it seem neutral and therefore causes

the audience to question what genre it is.

Audience Research

Magazine Number Of People Total

Q – Cheryl Cole III 3

Kerrang – 100 Greatest Gigs Ever

IIII 4

Top Of The Pops – One Direction

III 3

Classical Rock - Aerosmith IIIIII 6

Vibe – Queen Mary I 1

Vanity Fair – Justin Bieber II 2

The Source – Chris Brown I 1

When asked “Which magazine do you think best suits it’s genre?” My audience said…

The highest voted one was Classical Rock featuring Aerosmith. When I asked some people who chose the classical rock magazine why they chose that one a majority said that the colours, font and photographic style suited its genre better than the others as

it came together to fit the rock genre, with Aerosmith showing a slightly dark, crazy side.

Conclusions

From my front cover research I have found that colour plays an important part in the genre conventions of a magazine therefore I need to be wary of the colour scheme I use in order to ensure that it fits my chosen genre. Also I have learnt that font style is also important. I have found that my audience like it when a magazine matches that of the genre and also that the articles featured on the front also need to appeal to the audience.

Contents Page

Good Examples

Some good examples of contents pages are…

These are good examples because they are easy to read and fit their genres.

Bad Examples

Some bad examples of contents pages are…

These are bad examples because the writing is too small and also they don’t have many photos

so they are less visual.

Audience Research

Magazine Number Of People Total

Q III 3

Kerrang IIIII 5

Top Of The Pop II 2

Classical Rock IIIII 5

Vibe II 2

Vanity Fair II 2

The Source I 1

When asked “Which contents page do you prefer?” My audience said…

The highest voted ones were Kerrang and also Classical Rock, when I asked my audience why they chose the ones they chose, they said that it was because they were easy to read and had nice layout’s and that

also the contents inside appealed to them more than others did.

Conclusions

From my contents page research, I have found that appealing to my audience is a major factor and also that a contents page should have visuals such as images and also that it must be easy to read and not too busy. I have also found that the band or artist who is featured in the magazine is also generally featured on the contents page as well and has a large picture on there as well in order to show the issue is mainly about them.

Double Page Spread

Good Examples

Some good examples of double page spreads are…

These are good examples because they are easy to read, fit their genres, are simple and also are presented in layouts that are easy on the readers eyes as well as fitting

in with their colour schemes.

Bad Examples

Some bad examples of double page spreads are…

These are bad examples because they do not have much of a layout and also they are quite

hard to read.

Audience Research

Magazine Number Of People Total

Q IIIIIII 7

Kerrang IIIII 5

Top Of The Pop II 2

Classical Rock II 2

Vibe III 3

The Source I 1

When asked “Which double page spread do you prefer?” My audience said…

The highest voted double page spread was the Q one, when I asked my audience why they had chosen their answer, they said that it had a good

layout and also it suited the magazine it was part of, they also like the way the picture took up one page and the text was on the other.

Conclusions

From my double page spread research, I have found that I need to keep my double page spread simple in order to not bore my audience and also that I may want to use one of my two pages for just the picture of the featuring artist or band as my audience liked this on the above magazines. I might also include negative space to make my double page spread more easy on my audiences eyes, as I found that my audience liked that as well.