Double Page Spread Analysis One

Conventions of double page spreads in pop magazines

•The artist/band that is featuring in the article is usually well- known in the pop industry, and their name is written in a bigger font compared to the article.

•An image of the artist/band is always featured usually taking up half of, or just less than half of, the double page; smaller pictures relating to the article may also be included. Direct address is made with the audience.

•If its an interview, a pull quote is enlarged to catch the readers attention, or is used as the title of the article.

•Usually written in columns.

•Each article usually sticks to no more than three main colours, to ensure its eye-catching, but doesn’t put its readership off of the article.

•Websites and information (e.g. new singles) written in a strip at the bottom of the page, as shown below.

This double page spread follows the general layout conventions of a double spread; the main image The Wanted who are big within the pop industry, and their name is bigger and bolder than the interview itself. The image also takes up all of the middle, and they’re showing direct address to the audience by making eye contact. The interview is written in columns, making it easy to read. Pink and purple are the two dominant colours on this double page spread, so it doesn’t look to over the top, but the colours do attract young girls – the readership. Pink and purple are very feminine colours, reflecting the youth and passion of the young; pink also reflects love, and some readers may have love for bands like The Wanted. Main quotes from the article are placed around the band, also following the conventions. This double page spread from ‘Top of the Pops’ is similar to others from this magazine, which reinforces the brand identity; double page spreads in ‘Top of the Pops’ all feature a quote or alliteration as the headline, and have the main artist or band on the right of the interview/article. The title of this double page spread is positioned in the top left corner and says ‘workout wonders!’ which suggests that the article is going to be about how the Wanted work out; it also suggests that the way they’re working out is working and is making them look good as the word ‘wonders’ is used. It also tells the reader that The wanted will be revealing the way they work out, and the readership could take their ideas to help themselves when working out. The idea of The Wanted working out would appeal to the target audience because they’re good looking boys. The exclamation mark at the end of the title gives a sense of excitement, drawing the reader in and making them want to read the article. The title is written in white with a purple background/outline which matches the colour scheme of the article and the magazine itself, reinforcing the brand identity. ‘Workout’ is written in capital letters in a display font to attract the audience, and direct their eyes to it. ‘Wonders’ is written in lower case in a more feminine and youthful font, which relates to the target audience. The script font for ‘wonders’ suggests that the magazine think the workout has done wonders, and so will readers.

The main image on the page is in the middle of the double page spread, drawing the attention of the reader, and making them look directly at it, and is of ‘The Wanted’ who are being interviewed in this article. They are all looking directly at the camera and smiling, showing direct address to the audience and making them look friendly; this also attracts the readership to reading the article. All of the band members are wearing gym clothes and holding gym equipment, which relates the interview and the title, which combined, gives the readership a sneak peek of what the interview will be about. Their clothes are also all black, white and grey; simple colours so it doesn’t take attention away from the article itself, or make the page too bright and over the top. Although their outfits are all different, they’re all the same colours showing that they are a band, even though they have their own personalities and styles.

This image would attract a female audience as girls like good-looking and healthy men, so this image helps to draw in the right target audience. The wanted are also a good looking band, meaning the target audience may have a ‘crush’ on them; this would make them want to read the article because it’s about a band they like, and are inspired by. There poses also seem to be laid back and relaxed, as if the gym is easy work for them.

An image of ‘Max’, a popular member from the band is placed in-between two columns of text which gives the reader a break from a big block of text, and he is shirtless which would draw the reader in. Max is also placed at the front of the group image, showing that he is dominant in The Wanted.

Another picture on the page is in the top right corner, and looks a lot like the main image. These images remind the audience of what the article is going to be about, and makes it more visually attractive for readers to look at; this would appeal to them because of there young age.

Underneath the title is a box of text which says ‘Who’s top of the PE class? And who’s got a sick note from their mum? We joined the wanted at the gym to find out!’. This reference to sick notes and gym class also links to school, almost as if it’s suggesting that the band go to school (even though they don’t). The target audience will still be in school, which strengthens how effectively they can relate to the article and the band, especially because some will be good at PE, and some will present excuses to get out of it. The bands name is written in capital letters and in big bold writing as this is the first place their name appears. It is written in bold and black so it stands out from the other text, and if you’re flicking through the magazine and are a fan of this band, you will immediately stop and read this page. The use of rhetorical questions also draws the readership in as it makes them feel like they too are part of it, and lets them guess which band member they think it was; they then have to read the article to find out if there guess was right or not. This piece of text is used to make the article more digestible, as after the title it is the first thing they will read, and it gives an insight into the interview. ‘We’ is used, showing that workers from the magazine itself found this information out first hand, so its accurate, and it also gives the magazine a more friendly feel. The writing is in pink, matching the brand identity of the magazine, and appealing to the target audience of young girls.

Pink and purple are the two colours that dominate this page, both feminine colours which relate to the target audience. These are also soft and light colours, which makes the article seem more friendly and direct towards its readership. The colours have been fairly muted so the masculinity of the band isn’t compromised too much, and it compliments the content of the article; however, this tells the readers that The Wanted have a more female-based fanbase.

The main body copy within the article is an interview with the Wanted; the question is written in purple and the name of the boy giving the answer is white in a pink box. The article is written in columns, making it easier to direct your way around the page, and making it seem slightly more formal.

Pull quotes are used around the article, which gives the readers a snippet of the article before they actually read it themselves. The pull quote at the bottom of the page in purple is a quote from Nathan and says ‘I’ll do anything to not work out’; this could relate to the target audience because young girls would probably not work out, making Nathan seem like one of them in a sense. The next one was Max who said ‘I’d pig out in front the TV’, also relating to the target audience. The top left pull quote says ‘We don’t try to be anything were not’ which reassures readers that they are a trustworthy band to listen to, and aspire to be like. Siva’s pull quote says ‘I look like this lanky, skinny guy’ which gives the readers an insight of what the band think of themselves; it could also help boost their confidence as it shows that even celebrities have flaws and confidence issues. The quote on the top right of the main image was Jay, and says ‘I was really chubby and had no motivation’. The fact that each band member has their own pull quote suggests that they’re all equally important in the band, and they all have their own opinions.

In the top right corner of this article is the words ‘EXCLUSIVE their view’; this shows that you can’t get this interview anywhere else, which encourages sales. The word exclusive is capitalised and written in bold, making it stand out and making the readership want to read this article as they know that this is the only place that they will be able to find it. It also suggests that this magazine has access to getting these interviews because they are ‘friends’ with the Wanted, which would appeal to the young target audience, and suggest that all the information is legit.

At the bottom of the page underneath the main image is a pink line with black and white text which says ‘SINGLE lose my mind is out now’ followed by websites and radio stations/times at which they can find this new single. This reminds us that the article is about promoting the band and their music. This would interest the reader because if they’re reading this article they are most probably a fan of the Wanted, and so this would help them to get the song.

A mini article related to the wanted is placed on the right hand side, and is titled ‘you’re gorgeous too!’. This direct address sounds like its talking to the reader, making them feel special and drawing them in, which could boost their confidence, and make them want to buy the magazine more, as Maslow’s theory says. This may also make them feel like the Wanted really think they’re gorgeous. The use of the exclamation mark makes it seem more exciting, and the something that readers ‘must read’ because they’ll find out more about the band. Under this, in blue text it says ‘They’ve talked about their hot bods, but what do the boys first notice in girls?’. Firstly, ‘hot bods’ is the language young girls would use, meaning they are able to relate to the article more. ‘Hot bods’ would also lure in the reader, as they’d like to see this on a boy. This section would interest the young readership because they would be able to find out what the Wanted would first notice in girls, and they could apply this to real life with their ‘crushes’, or if they met The Wanted.

Pink and purple are used in this section also, and the same technique (band members name in pink) is used, making it easy to read, and helpful in maintaining the brand identity.