CONTENTS PAGE ANALYSIS

QThe contents title has been placed in the top centre of the page. There is a slight slanted motion as the symmetry is not entirely straight. The title consists of ‘Q Contents’ thus it includes the name of the magazine on the contents page as well. There is a black text background beneath the title. The ‘Q’ is conventionally in red as this is the symbolism for the magazine. ‘Contents’ in all block capitals is written in white which allows it to stand out. Above the title consists of the issue date of the magazine.

The first topic is about the ‘2014 Album Preview’ this accentuates the music aspect of the magazine. It also is a form of advertising different albums.

There are many different coloured shapes to convey the page numbers. The numbers stand out and the colours add a vibrant atmosphere. The number has been placed beside each article heading.

There are 6 different images in total on the contents page. Each image is placed beside the article it is related to. The images allow the reader to have an idea of what is in the contents of the magazine and it also is more interesting to look at. Some of the images are making direct eye contact whereas others are more ‘caught in the action’.

’25 page special’ has been written next to an image and in a yellow circle. There is almost a sticker effect added on to this for emphasis.

‘The 1975’ were also the group on the front cover. They have a slightly bigger portion size in terms of the contents space. However the title and placing is the same as all the other topics in the magazine. There is subsequently less information given about this particular group perhaps to lead interest and intrigue onto the double page spread. As you can see the lay out of the contents is in faint boxes, there is a slight outline for each image and feature.

At the bottom of the contents page it consists of ‘February 2014 Q 3’ which mentions the magazine issue date, the masthead of the magazine and the page number.

KERRANG

The Contents heading has been placed on the top right hand corner in side a cut off black circle. The house style is continued on as there are crackles in the shape. The word ‘Contents’ is written in white to ensure it stands out and in block capitals to connote a loud sounding atmosphere. Beneath the title there is a short slogan that compares the contents page to ‘like a TV guide but for music and stuff’. This colloquialism triggers a closeness between the magazine and the reader. The text has been written fairly inside the circle however has its own red text background to convey that it is a slogan and separates it from the title.

On the top left hand corner the issue number and cover date of the magazine is shown. The words ‘issue no’ and ‘Cover Date’ have been written in red where as the rest of the text is in black.

There is a big image displaying a group that is featured in the magazine. They are all looking directly into the camera. Beside the image on the left hand corner is the page number written quite noticeably big. There is a short description about the group that has been written in yellow to stand out against the murky dark image.

Half of the column on the right hand side consists of a comment made by the editor. The comment is personal and directed towards the reader. The editor has signed the comment off with a personalised signature. Above the comment is a picture of the editor. This adds a closeness between the magazine and it’s target audience.Beneath the editors comment section

there is a small half a column based on a recent quiz competition results.

There is a black text box that contains the subheadings of the contents. The text is of the subheading are in yellow which stand out and make it easily visible to the reader. The page numbers are allocated on the left hand side and in red. The features are in bold black capitals and beneath the text is a short colloquial comment conveying humour or satire.

There are 2 other images conveyed on the contents page.

NME

The title of the contents is ‘Inside NME’, so the name of the magazine has been carried onto the contents page. This has been placed across the first 2 of 3 columns. The fact that the title says ‘Inside NME’ conveys that the features are unique to NME only. There are gaps in the word ‘Inside’ and the title has been written in block capitals to portray an overpowering appearance.

On the right hand column there is a feature stating ‘The NME band list’. Again the ‘The’ conveys as though this feature is only found in NME magazine. The band list emphasises the musical aspect of the magazine. The feature consists of all the bands that are mentioned in the magazine and the page numbers beside the band.

There is a Christmas special offer for NME’s target audience to subscribe to the magazine at a much lower price than normal. This has been written in a normal text box however the red rectangle shapes places across each corner of the text box convey a tape like effect. The colour red also give is a festive feel.

At the very bottom of the contents page taking up two columns are comments made from the editor, writer and photographer. This essentially allows the reader to share a close bond with the magazine. An image has been place beside each comment.

Altogether there are 2 images of supposedly features in the magazine. Only their heads have been shown and they are making direct eye contact with the audience. The background of the contents page is white which means the text is black to allow the reader to view it clearly. To make text stand out the font colour is in white with a black text background.

The double page spread of the main image on the front cover has been placed beneath the features list. Where as the other double page spread articles do not have an image of them. The colour scheme of the contents matches the house style of the front cover. The colours consist of red, white and black.

Placed in the centre of the magazine is an advertisement. ‘Want to win the greatest prize ever?’ The rhetorical question would hook the readers and the fact it is place right in the centre column of the magazine gives it more appeal.

WHAT I’VE LEARNT Contents page has a white background. There are about 2 – 5 other images. The text writing is in black. The house style is continued on from the front cover. The title of the contents is not always placed in the

centre and the issue number & date are mentioned. The name of the magazine is usually mentioned next

to the contents and page number. There is usually a review of some sort to emphasise

the music aspect of the magazine. Images have the page number their featured on

beside them, big and visible. There could be a competition of some sort to allow the

audience to interact with the magazine.