Task 1b: Analyse the contents page from NME

Rule of thirdsthe page is laid out using the rule of thirds, this follows the conventions of magazine contents page. It adds interest to the page and makes sure key elements are seen.

Boarders and imagesImages of magazines are used in the bottom right third to advertise the subscription and show the reader how good it looks.

Mast headBold big mast head which stands out from the busy page. It matches the front cover mast head which keeps the house style the same and enforces the well-known brand and gives the magazine an identity because it’s always positioned in the same place with the same font/colour. The word ‘contents’ is white against the black background. This makesit stand out while being connected with the mast head because its the same font. The use of black relates to the rock genre because fans of rock stereotypically wear black.

LayoutThe page is very busy and there are no empty spaces. A range of text size, images and colour is used which makes the page look interesting

Band indexInforms the reader of where the bands will be featured in the magazine. The colours used in the column conform to the colour scheme however white is the main background colour which helps this feature to stand out against the majority dark page. Not all magazines use a band index but it can be used reinforces their brand identity.

Main titleClear title of the article, it’s the same colour which keeps them connected. It catches your eye and gives you an insight to what the special issue is about.

Mode of addressThe language used in the contents page is colloquial and informal. This appeals to the teenage target audience and creates a connection between the reader and the magazine.

House stylethe contents page uses colloquial language which creates a friendship with the reader and appeals to the teenage target audience. The font used is consistent throughout. Its not very formal which suits the target audience of rock loving teenagers.

ColumnsThere are three columns on this page. Each column is a different size because the information in each column is more or less important than the other. The ‘Touring Special’ Column is the most important because it’s the largest and likely written by editor, it’s similar to an editorial.

Main ImageThe image is one of the main focal points; it gets the reader’s attention and is linked to the main article. A medium close up is used although the model is not in the centre of the image, this is to highlight the presence of the tour bus (mes) which relates to the main article. The image is also tilted which is unusual for magazine main images but it adds interest to the page.

DateThe date is a legal requirement for all magazines. It fits with the colour scheme and is in the same font as the rest of the text. Its not highlighted (grey against black instead of white against black) or made appealing to ensure it doesn’t draw attention away from the main features of the magazine.

EditorialThe editorial uses casual friendly language and tries to connect with the reader by using personal pronouns for instance; ‘we’. This invites the audience to buy and read the magazine. The style of the editorial appears faded and relates to the rock/grunge theme of the magazine genre.

The page numbers are in the third column. The black and white titles are clear which grabs the reader’s attention and informs them of the pages they should look at for certain features E.G. 12=news 48 =reviews.