Summary of contents page analysis

• The title is usually tucked away in the left hand corner giving more room to list features, usually a small font taking up half the page width roughly
• The page is crammed wit information to give off the sense the magazine is jam packed
• Images are seperate from one another to show they belong to different features
• Page numbers beside the features to relate to the number they feature on
• A boxed out features section that usually runs down the left hand side underneath the contents title and features short hand listings of the features of the magazine

3) Contents - 

A contents page is just as important as the Front Cover. It works with the same principles, that being it needs to be eye catching and hopes to "pull in" readers. The main traits that can be seen throughout many publically popular magazine brands is a clear masthead of the contents, showing to readers that the following on the page can be found within the magazine. This basically works in the same way as a magazine title should, ey

e catching and bold in order for readers to view it. 

A contents page has many thumbnail pictures

 of images that can be found within the pages of the magazine in order to work as a title in a sense to attract an audience. These thumbnail images usually have a number next to them stating the page number that that particular feature can be found on. Many usually have a medium sized subtitle beside them to act as a guide to help readers identify the picture. With larger fonts be

ing used not for readers to identify the image, but to attract readers due to it being a big feature as such. A Feature section is usually run down

 the side alongside these images acting as a key for the pictures by matching up the number to find out more about the feature and also showing readers other smaller features that can be found in the magazine. Many publications opt for a crammed fit in a sense to give off to the readers that there is alot in the magazine, leaving the readers feeling pleased with their buy. Its basically a visual representation of what the magazine entails, if the contents page was bare then the reader may feel displeased as he would believe that the magazine would be bare also.

This is the front cover of an NME Music Magazine, a very popular cult British genre that mainly focusses on British bands. The title is layered with an off red to make the "contents" title stand out. This works also with NME's branding logo as the colours are predominantely red and white. The date is cleary visible and is a trademark in a sense of NME's production, showcasing that its a monthly magazine. 

Thumbnail images are used with great effect throughout the page, using smaller to larger images to represent the scale of the feature. By doing so it allows for more images and text to take up the size of the page producing more information for the readers to digest. All the images follow the same stylistic layout in that they are all roundly cournered off at the left hand side giving a sense of hose style to the magazine. This is also a stylistic way of interpreting the page number for the features. The largest

 thumbnail image is backed up by a large title sizing up bigger than the contents title itself, giving it that special feature effect, attracting readers to view that page. These thumbnails run all the way along to the corners of the magazine leaving no space to waste, creating less blandness which works well to showcase the magazines features.

The Features section is cleary headed with a medium sized subtitle matching the colour coordinates with the masthead producing a flow throughout the page. This is used with the page numbers also and the "Regulars" section, 

giving the title more emphasis as the red and white stands out more due to it being backed up in other areas on the page. The features section is ran down alongside the page, only taking up a third of the page, showing to us that the images are the better at attracting readers. The subtitles and information are short and sweet, giving the readers a taste of what the articles about. The subtitles are mainly made up of the bands featued or artists as they would be household names that would attract readers so they know who features where instead of them having to find out themselves. This effectively spoon feeds the readers giving them what they want to know. Another common trai

t of a contexts page is the + sign used extensively throughout the printing world, with the likes of FHM using it as an almost house style effect on every front page. This adds effectiveness to the contexts page, almost trying to wow the audience as the sign acts like they are recieving bonus material in the magazine.

Here is a contents page for a monthly music magazine called "The Brass Herald", a magazine influenced by brass music. A different genre to what the mainstream audience would be attracted to. This is a very selective topic and therefore wouldnt follow suit to the likes of magazines such as FHM, Empire and NME. Although it would hold the characteristics of a contents page and therefore will have a similiar layout. 

The oage can be clearly seen as split into two, seen by the different colour contrasts. The contents title is similiar in the simpleness to NME's above yet isnt used to the same effect. The background layer of the masthead spreads out right across the page where the contents title itself only takes up around a half of the page. Whereas NME has pounced on the free space to fill more features in the empty space. This title isnt used to great effect as its too simplistic and doesnt offer any attractiveness to its readers. The font is simple and also its colourways too whereas at least NME has pushed the boat out and used a different shade of red to the primary standard and used a bolder more brighter font.

It uses thumbnails also yet not to great effect giving it no sense of house style or any type of style. Most are the same size and are placed in the same place giving a sense of order yet comes off dull. The page numbers of the feature are listed down the images but are used in different colours and sometimes cannot be depicted well enough due to the background nature of the picture. The features of the magazine are clearly listed down the side of the page in the same red as the title. Some are too prolonged for sub titles, unlike NME's that are short and to the point allowing more room for pictures which are more effective at attracting readers. Not all the subtitles have information given beneath the title therefore creating a distortion in the layout as each thing differs from the next therefore not letting it flow toghether. Some have no information, others a line or even a paragraph giving no layout format, proving distasteful on the eye. One plus is that there is a competition advertisement feature which would attract an audience and it stands out from the norm of the contents page giving it some credability.

All in all the contents page doesnt rate too highly on the attractiveness scale although it does its job of telling readers whats in the magazine. Yet this isnt enough to attract a new audience, something that ive learnt when i start my project is that pictures prove more attractive and insightful that paragraphs telling what the features about.

 

Q Magazine is a long running rock culture music that focusses on global bands. Its a well known publication and widely recognisable to any non-musical fan. Their contents page has a smart and sophisticated layout that resembles the audience they attract (middle aged music fans, middle/upper class). They use a banner type masthead similiar to "Brass herald" yet they effectively fill up the space to make it less bland by having their titles on the left and the date on the right side. A large image is used of The Courteeners used to put that feature on a bigger scale than the others, letting the audience know its importance in the magazine. A subtitle is used below cutting into the image, running suit in colours to the features section to the left of it still producing the smart outlook by using squaring off information instead of cramming it in. Many magazine use this technique of including one large image just like a front cover to produce more style and just to mix things up abit to the norm of their usual layout. FHM is a prime example of this as they usually use their centerfold model to attract their audience showing them that its one of their attractions of the magazine. 

The features section is neatly placed down the left hand side, very much similiar to NME as analysed earlier. It also follows suit to the colourways of Q's branding title to give off a stronger outline as it relates to the title itself. Red is often used in print publications as its a strikingly bold colour that attracts people and is associated with exciting things such as sex and danger. The white background proves modern as the colour is used in small context on the page giving it a modern feel. 

The feature strip is broken down by an Oasis Special, being sectioned off to show its feature as being more important than the others. This works well and in effect just like an image would do as it segregates it from the norm layout. It is also cut off by an "every month" feature box similiar to NME's "Regulars" feature that it holds. This title gives off to new readers that these features are exciting and a good read as they carry on to be in the magazine each month giving its own advertisement in a way. Its also given a red banner type title making the red predominantely bolder and gives it that extra character and importance throughout the page. The Q review section at the bottom, although it isn't red it still matches the title banner giving the page a nice colour transaction throughout making it an overall neat page. The inside of the section is held in grey which resembles "The Courteeners" image as a band member is depicted in grey and there is little colour involved making the grey fit in with the colour flow. Yet again the features listed follow the same suit as the other magazines ive analysed, that having a small subtitle followed by a short description alongside a page number making it as easy as possible for readers to navigate the magaizne.