This is the research for the main task of my Media AS Level.

1. Research
Main Task – Media
Sarah – Louise Hurley

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Front Cover

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Audience Research
When asked “Which magazine do you think best suits it’s
genre?” My audience said…
Magazine Number Of People Total
Q – Cheryl Cole III 3
Kerrang – 100 Greatest IIII 4
Gigs Ever
Top Of The Pops – One III 3
Direction
Classical Rock - Aerosmith IIIIII 6
Vibe – Queen Mary I 1
Vanity Fair – Justin Bieber II 2
The Source – Chris Brown I 1
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.

8. 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.

9. Contents Page

10. Good Examples
Some good examples of contents pages are…
These are good examples because they are easy
to read and fit their genres.

11. 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.

12. Audience Research
When asked “Which contents page do you prefer?” My
audience said…
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
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.

13. 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.

14. Double Page Spread

15. 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.

16. 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.

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

18. 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.