Media Coursework AS
VOLUME MUSIC MAGAZINE
CONTENTS PAGE RESEARCH
On the contents pages of the magazines Q, the overall style and format of the contents page is the same, with a main image of the main artist used for that week, on the right of the page. Across the top of the page is the logo / name of the magazine as well as the title 'CONTENTS'. Down the left of the page are the features of what is in the magazine, for example: interviews with artists, reviews of concerts, giveaways, competitions etc. Across the bottom of the contents pages I found, there is a secondary image of one of the main reviews in the magazine. This shows the audience that there is a variety of artist’s reviews in the magazine and there is not just a review on the main artist for that week. The structure of these magazines contents pages are very organised with simple structure do it makes it easier for the audience to quickly find what story / page they’re looking for. The colours used on these contents pages are the same colours used on the whole magazine, which suggests to me that the overall colour of the magazine is black, white and red. The issue dates are also placed at the top right of the page which makes the magazine look more formal and organised. It would not make sense to keep changing the style of the contents page for each issue as the audience would get confused about where everything is which would show unprofessionalism and amateurism.
There are large category titles used to separate the long lists of contents into manageable parts and understandable parts without the audience getting confused about where to look. The category titles are also in red which link in with the overall colour of the magazine title which is also red.
The main photo / image used on the contents page links in with the front cover as he same artists are present on both pages. The image is shot on a hill in England which links in with the band as they are a British band. The photo used indicates that magazine is a British indie / rock magazine as this band is indie / rock.
On the contents pages of the magazine Blender, the overall style and format of the page looks like it differs from issue to issue. On all of the magazines, there is a main feature image used as the main story of the magazine. On the examples of the contents pages for blender that I found, the main feature article covers up the whole page and is the only image on the page too. The masthead used on the contents page also changes from issue to issue with the typeface colour and style changing on each contents page. Also the feature articles location on each of the contents pages changes with each issue which gives the magazine a sense of variety and change which indicates to the audience that the magazine is less structured / formal than other magazines like Q Magazine and NME. The images used on the examples that I found look like they have been shot on white screens which emphasis the image and makes the image look clearer and more dominant to the audience, which I believe is very effective. Overall I believe that the contents page is effective for the audience that they are aiming for, but the style of the contents page is quite unorganised and 'childlike' which is not the style I am trying to achieve with my music magazine.
The typeface used on the magazine front cover is the same font as used on the front cover. This shows me that this is the overall typeface for the magazine. The colours used for the typeface on the contents page are different colours, red for the page numbers and black for the page description / what’s on the page. This helps the audience into knowing where to look for the pages they are interested in without getting easily confused.
The main photo / image used on this contents page is of Katy Perry, which is in context to the main storyline in the magazine of Katy Perry. The front cover of this magazine also has the main feature article of Katy Perry which also shows that the popular / main story for that week is going to be about Katy Perry. The photo used in the contents page, uses direct address to engage the reader into the magazine. The photo is also a 'quirky' photo of Katy Perry which is in keeping with the overall style of the magazine Blender.
The title / logo of the magazine is still on the top of the page to remind you what magazine you are reading.
The layout of the contents page looks like it is split into two columns down the side of the page, which created a large space for the main image to be placed so the audience can see what the image is of.
The overall style and layout of the contents page immediately suggests to the reader that the magazine is professional and aimed at the younger generation, mainly older teens (17, 18, 19) to 25 years old. The reason it looks like it is aimed towards these ages is because the layout is structured and organised and this represents maturity and professionalism. Whereas if the magazine was aimed at the younger generation of teens they would use bright vibrant colours and have photos and images overlapping each other trying to stand of the page and force information onto them.
The overall style of this contents page is quite simple with little writing which represents the magazine as specific and basic. This also shows the audience that the magazine is quite confident in their approach as they are not fully filling the page with reviews and interviews and upcoming concerts etc. they are simply putting main stories into their contents page, hoping that these stories will be enough to intrigue the audience and keep them interested in the magazine.
The title 'CONTENTS' is in the same typeface as the front cover masthead which is effective as it stands out on the page and immediately informs the audience what page they are on.
I believe photoshop was used on Katy Perry to enhance the image and make her look more attractive to the audience. It looks like blemish enhancement was used as well as filters to create a 'better looking' Katy Perry for the audience to see.
The content page layout for this Blender Magazine is very formal and organised as there is all the features down the right side of the page with the main masthead across the top and the main feature article in the centre of the page. This makes the magazine look formal and organised and shows that it is aimed at the older / more mature generation of teenagers (17, 18, 19) to young adults.
Down the right side of the page, there are the main columns about the main features in the music magazine. The title of the features is in bold which stands out to the audience making it easier for them to find what they are looking for. The features mainly used in the contents page for blender is mainly reviews about popular artists like 'Katy Perry' 'David Cook' 'T-pain' etc.
On the examples of the contents pages for the magazine NME, the style and layout of the page is pretty similar for every issue. The content is obviously different with different artist’s reviews and news but the way it is set out is similar on every issue. Across the top of the contents page is the masthead / title which reads 'NME THIS WEEK'. The logo of NME is in red which is the main logo and name of the magazine. The date is placed just below the masthead which is easily found by the audience. On the examples that I found, the main features in the magazine are placed down the right of the page under the title / category that the story falls under, giving the magazine organisation and structure. In the centre of the contents page is the main story in the magazine, and this story stands out from the rest of the stories as it is placed in the centre of the page, with an image to go with it and the text is also much larger than the other stories text size. There is also an advertisement across the bottom of the contents page on the examples that I found, this advertisement stood out on all of the examples of the contents pages that I found, because the colour of the text is yellow which is different than the other texts on the page. Also the advertisement is on a black strip with a photo of other magazines on it, again standing out off the page and catching the reader’s eye. Finally, down the left of the NME's Contents pages for the examples I found, there is a band index which list the names of bands which are featured in the magazine. The names of the bands are printed in red and the page which they can be found on is in black which again gives the magazines structure and organisation.
There is another advertisement across the bottom of the contents page which stand out from the rest of the magazine as the colour of the text used is yellow and not black and the location of the advertisement is placed at the centre of the page.
The page numbers are shown in a different text colour than the text on the page, as the colour red. This makes it easier for the audience to see what page they need to go to and also this keeps the magazine contents page organised and structured, again showing off the magazines professionalism and structure.
Down the right of the contents page is the main features in the music magazine. The title of the categories stand out from the rest of the text as they have a bold black strip behind them making them stand out and these strips also split the categories between one another. This keeps the contents page organised and structured emphasising its professionalism and structure.
The main story in the magazine is placed in the centre of the contents page with the main feature image to go with it. It clearly stands out as the main story as the text is larger than the rest and also it is the first story that the audience will see as they turn onto the contents page.
Across the top of the contents page is the masthead which is very large and which stands off the page immediately indicating what page the reader is on. The colours used in the masthead are suiting to the overall magazine colour of red, black and white.
The overall structure and layout of this NME contents page is organised which looks like it is structured into boxes / columns making it easier for the audience to read. This is different compared to the contents page for the magazine Blender because the Blender magazine's contents page is more loose with the text being 'dotted' in different locations on every issue. Also the on the blender magazine, there is a much larger image which takes up the whole of the page which is different compared to this magazine which has 2 images that do not cover the whole page but which fit nicely around the main features / stories in the magazine.
