Contents page analysis

• At the top of the page it has the word

‘contents’ so the reader knows what is

on this page. This is a code and

convention of magazine contents

pages.

• The main title on this page is ‘inside your

mag…’ By using the word ‘your’ this

immediately makes the reader feel

special and that this magazine was

made for them. It gives a personal

touch also.

• The font used for the text is rounded and

girly which suggests the female target

audience and the final word ‘mag’ is

capitalised and in a different colour to

stand out.

• The font used for the text is rounded and

girly which suggests the female target

audience and the final word ‘mag’ is

capitalised and in a different colour to

stand out. The word ‘mag’ is an

abbreviation which is cool and will

appeal to the target audience.

• The main title is positioned in a shape

which directs your eye to the text

beneath which is clever as it tells the

reader what order they should read the

information.

• The cover is organised into columns and

sections to categorize the information

on the page. The ‘on the cover’ section

includes and image of the cover and

arrows pointing to different articles and

their page number which informs the

reader of where to find each article in

the magazine. As the articles on the

front cover are likely to be the main

reasons the reader bought the

magazine having a quick guide to show

where those articles can be found is a

good feature.

• There is a bold title saying ‘Hey girls!’

which shows the target audience is

mainly girls. Also the bold part at the

end of the letter is in a font which looks

handwritten and there is a kiss after her

name which makes it more personal for

the reader. Also it makes them feel as

though they are friends with her or that

the magazine was made for them.

• There are images of some magazine

staff with celebrities. They aren’t

professional images but it is evidence

that the stories are real and the staffs

meet the stars.

• The article information is organised into

three columns (with four main sections).

They each have a purple rectangular

shaped header with the text in white.

This enables the reader to go directly to

the section of articles they want.

• The page numbers are a different colour

to the article text and are slightly bigger

than the text so they stand out.

• Any images on the contents page that

• The logo is included on the contents

page and this is to ensure the reader

knows what they are reading. It also

adds professionalism and reliability to

this contents page as ‘Q’ are proud to

display their logo. The square shape

stands out as it is block red and is

different to other magazine mastheads

– this style is recognisable as Q

magazines masthead.

• The word ‘contents’ is included – this is

a code and convention of contents

pages. It is capitalised to make it stand

out and the size of it fills the height of

the black banner it is on top of. The

text is white which contrasts against

the black to grab the reader’s

attention. There is some issue

information included on the black

banner in a smaller font as it is less

significant to the reader.

• There is a column layout which makes

the page look organised. It also makes

it easier for the reader to find what

they are looking for on the page. Each

section has a large heading in a red

rectangular shape box. The writing is

capitalised and in white which

contrasts to the black article

information text.

• The page numbers are in red and to

the left of the article names. This gives

it an edge and also as they are red

they fit in with the magazine contents

colour scheme. The article information

is in a smaller text than the headings as

that is something that just gives the

reader more information if they want it.

• On this specific contents page there is

a gold outline shape highlighting

articles based on Oasis. It is gold and

this suggests royalty and something of

high status – the readers will

appreciate this as when this contents

page was released Oasis will have

• Below the oasis special section there is

a final section with the regular content

included. This is at the bottom of the

page as the regular content isn’t

usually the thing that makes the reader

buy the magazine so it is of less

importance and doesn’t need to be

something the readers see first on the

contents page.

• The image is positioned in the centre

and right third of the page and is very

large. It stands out and immediately

grabs the reader’s attention.

• The main image is of a four males

stood on a hill. The main focus in this

image is the male in the white t-shirt as

his t-shirt is bright and the other three

are wearing darker colours. This is

effect as Liam Fray is the front man in

the band and the picture shows this

just through the outfits. The positioning

of them also shows this as Liam Fray is

in front of the other three band

members and no parts of his body are

blocked out. He is also the only band

member wearing sun glasses which

suggests he is of a higher status than

the others.

• The clothing they are wearing suggests

they are an indie band which will

interest the readers.

• On the image there is a white box with

the article information on – this makes

it easier for the reader to find the

article in the magazine relating to the

image. The text in the caption is

humorous and also relates to the main

• This contents page is very different to

the two I have already looked at as the

genre of music is different. However

there are some features which are

similar as all three magazines have a

similar target audience.

• The title on this page is made very clear

by being in a black box. This makes it

stand out and look bold on the page.

The nme logo is included and following

is the text ‘this week’. This tells the reader

that this magazine is published weekly

and so if they like reading it they

immediately know they can buy it again

next week.

• Inside the black box is also the date of

publication which also adds to the text

above as the reader knows a week from

the 1st November is the 7th and so they

can buy the magazine then.

• The layout of the page is very busy and

full. This is a feature apparent to the

target audience range as magazines

aimed at the older audience are more

organised and structured.

• On first glances this contents page looks

very textual but the column layout

makes it easier to read. There is a clear

colour scheme of red, black and white

which suits the genre of music this

magazine is based on.

• The main image fits in with the

black, white, red colour scheme as the

clothing the actors are wearing all

match this theme and also the lighting in

the image is red. The image is positioned

in the centre of the page which

demands the reader’s attention and this

is a clever feature as below the image is

an extract from that story which if

interests the reader then leads them to

go to that page and read the whole

article.

• The caption for the image is the second

• On the left hand side of the page down

the full length of the page is a band

index. This is something individual to this

magazine and provides the reader with

a list of every band included in that

week’s edition of the magazine. It

makes it easy for the reader to find a

page that will interest them

immediately.

• As the list is the full length of the page it

suggests that this magazine is going to

be full to the brim of band information

which could lead the reader to buying

this magazine again. Also through the

text being red it makes this list stand out

on the page.

• The contents column on the right hand

side of the page is clearly organised into

five different sections. Each section has

a subheading in a black rectangular

shape which clearly marks the start of

the section.

• Within each section there are the

articles – each page has a mini

subheading in bold text then beneath a

small snippet of information on that

article. This helps the reader to find

something quickly and easily that

interests them.

• Some interesting graphical features

have been included such as arrows. This

gives the reader extra information if they

chose to read it.

• In the centre column of the page there

is a black box with yellow text in giving

information about the subscribing to this

magazine. This feature is to advertise

and so by introducing completely new

colours to the page it makes it stand

out.