Contents Pages

1. Q Contents Page
2. Q contents has included two images but they have used a different way of presenting them. They have split the picture under where they feature, THE COURTEENERS is under the features heading because the page number is written in bold red and the picture of NICK CAVE is under the heading Q REVIEW and its been made into a contents of it’s own as it had the picture and then is had a load of pages a page number separate to the others, they have also included a small sub title saying ‘The world’s biggest and best music guide’ this makes Q’s contents really neat and easy for readers to navigate there interests as they can look under the headings a find what they want to go straight to and read of it helps them to pinpoint what the interview, review, story etc comes under. Q magazine haven’t gone for the usual layout of other magazines which have pages set out under many different headings, Q have stuck to just two; every month and features which makes this very simple for reader’s. Features are what’s on offer in that months issue and under every month are regular articles and pages which obviously appear each month and it’s separated so readers can easily find them because some readers who buy this regularly might have a favourite page and because it’s under Every Months heading then it’s easily navigated. Q magazine features a special each issue which draws in readers interest because Q magazine has a different ‘special’ each time other examples are that Q has had a section on the contents page with a box round it like the one on this issue, they have had ‘the Lennon issue’, and ‘100 greatest albums ever’ and this seems to be a regular thing in which they feature an extra for readers to look forward to each week. This link is an example that I’ve found

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/67483401_87cebc49b8.jpg?v=0

This contents comes across as being very organised and this fits with the house style of the magazine which is contempory because this is a very British indie magazine. The colour scheme is red, white and black which is also used for the logo.

Kerrang Contents Page

2. My overall impression is that it the layout and design is very cluttered, bold and loud. This is done purposely as it attracts their target market of rock music as a clean cut contents page would look out of place in the magazine. In the left hand corner there is a red box highlighting to the reader that they can get “K Delivered to their door” underneath this there is a number for readers to subscribe to this offer. The reason why they have used such a bright red is to attract readers to read and sign up to their exciting new offer.How are words used in the contents?As the contents is mainly imaged based there are few words, however they are used in clear, bold, block capitals to emphasise the angriness of the magazine as the target market is the genre of rock music. Also in a smaller font there is the issue number and cover date, this is to remind the reader what issue this is even though its been published on the front cover. Pose, style hair, make up There are a number of different images on the contents page, each display the image of rockers, this is connoted through the angry, threatening poses and the rebellious tattoos.On the right hand side of the page there is a long column that highlights the main features included in this week’s issue. The features are numbered which correspond to the number of the picture this is effective as it gives the reader a taste of what is to to come without giving to much away forcing the reader to read on. Small subheadings are used and these are shown in a bright yellow font, this is to show their importance by using subheadings and dividing the magazine up they have made it much easier for the reader to find exactly what they are looking for. This is an important convention for a contents page. Readers do not want to be wasting valuable reading time on finding out what page a specific article is on. Therefore by dividing it all up they are getting rid of the risk of confusion and time wasting. The images are dominant on this contents page, this is positive as it give the reader a lot to look at and take in whilst looking attractive and not dull by just having all text, however it can also look a little bit over done and messy. DesignLike many magazines, on the right hand corner there is a quick note from the Editor. This is alongside a picture of the front cover. In this short note the editor is talking about why Biffy Clyro (the main people on the cover) is included in this issue of the magazine. The type of language used is chatty and informal. “We Heart Biffy Clyro” they are using taboo words. This is effective as it relates to the target audience and offers a more personal approach to the reader as they feel they can connect and relate to how the editor is writing. It’s considered conventional if at the end the editor signs the note as it builds a friendship between the reader and editor. At the top of the page is a black box with a contrasting bold yellow font so as to make the page more noticeable to the reader and evidently shows them what the page is about. The colour scheme of this page is yellow, black and white. The yellow and black work in reverse of each other which makes the page look more artistic.

3. NME Contents Page

The title at the top of the magazine says ‘contents’ so the audience immediately recognise what the page tells them. The writing is in capital white letters against a dark background, there’s no mistaking what the page is about. The list of contents is displayed on the right hand side of the magazine, which are ‘News’, ‘Radar’, ‘Reviews’, ‘Live!’ and ‘Feature’. Its unusual for other magazine contents pages to do this, they only usually have ‘Regulars’ and ‘Features’. They then advertise a deal on the magazine where if you subscribe and pay less than the standard charge. On the left hand side is a letter from the editor with a kind of camouflaged lettering for the title ‘Touring Special’ in bold, like the list of contents and the masthead. The picture at the top reinforces the writing below it.

4. MixMag Contents Page

Mixmag have used a double page spread contents page. The contents is mainly picture led. Very image dominant. The pictures used are portraying a kind of youth scene, with only younger people shown on the contents pages, generally having a good time. The white writing against the black background gives the magazine a kind of cool underground style. The images are on the outer sides of the magazine rather than to the centre of the page. This is good as it is the first thing the eye sees when a person is looking through the magazine, so makes the magazine more appealing to its audience. The images themselves reinforce the theme of clubbing that this magazine creates. The list of contents include ‘VIP’, ‘features’, ‘fashion’, ‘tunes’, ‘tech, ‘Don’t stay in!’ and ‘Regulars’. The VIP line on the contents makes the magazine sound even more cooler as they have special access to something other people can’t get.

5 Spin Contents Page

I think this contents page has also kept with the magazine’s house style. I like how the image used covers the whole page and the writing is written over it. The photo itself is good because it shows the artist’s image as being fun and whimsical (holding a ukulele above her head as if to hit someone in front of her – the use of a pink ukulele and the smile on the artist’s face makes it seem less threatening). I also like how they’ve written a bit about the features under their titles and made things easy to find, such as the main article is highlighted in a box. They’ve also used a pull quote from the main article at the top of the page.