Research into Codes and

Conventions of Contents Page

Magazines logo in the corner; brand awareness.

Masthead; contents page is clearly indicated by this big bold black font.

Sub-headings; bold and black and different font from the rest to make it clear and stand out.

Short snippet of each article; interests reader and page number to help reader find them.

Secondary Images with page number; link the feature to the page and images are more eye catching.

Page number and issue date.

Main Image; cropped so just the women and the text shapes around her body.

Chat Billboard; ‘No.1’ bold and white to contrast with black background. Sub-headings to indicate songs and albums. Colour coded.

Online and Events; telling you more info online and of recent events happening.

House style; same colours through out magazine, professional consistency.

Billboard – Codes and Conventions of a Contents Page

• Magazine logo present – is placed at the top so seen first and is an example of brand awareness to get the reader more and more familiar with the brand.

• Main image – has been cropped so it only the model, also the image is placed so that the text fits around the models body. This is commonly used in many magazines as it allows more room for text and looks more artistic.

• ‘Chart Billboard’ – here billboard have used a chats column layout to show all the articles within the magazine. They have uses a colour code as well that not only looks appealing to the eye but makes it easy for the reader to find the article they wish to read. Each article also has the page number next to it in bold, again making it quicker and easier for the reader to find.

• Secondary images – makes it more visual for the reader, more known artists used for these as the audience can recognise them more and be drawn to images first. Also layered with bold white page number to help navigate reader.

• House style; the contents page follows the same house style as the front cover and this house style is continued through out the magazine. This shows professional consistency. I intend to use this in my own magazine.

Magazines logo with colours; brand awareness.

Issue date.

Main Image; long shot, commonly used for bands. Takes up majority of page, eye catching, shows main article. Slight low angle making the band seem important and superior on the hill.

House style; same colours through out magazine, professional consistency.

Masthead; simple font, bold and white to stand out.

Sub heading; are highlighted in red to contrast with white text, stands out and eye catching.

Section Heading; in white with black boarder accompanied again with logo, brand awareness, sticking with house style, eye catching and stands out.

Articles and page number; page number ned to stand out from title of article in bold black. Has a little synopsis of each article to give an insight to the reader. Clear Columns;

organises texts and makes it easier to read. Special; in different

font and colour to make it stand out, to show it’s a special feature to this issue.

Q – Codes and Conventions of a Contents Page

• House style; the contents page follows the same house style as the front cover and this house style is continued through out the magazine. This shows professional consistency as it makes the magazine look together and smarter and more appealing to the eye. I intend on using this in my own magazine.

• Main image; is a long shot which is a commonly used with bands to include all members in the image. It also takes up the majority of the page, this is another commonly used convention because it shows that these artists are the main feature in the magazine. Also uses a low angle shot to give the effect of superiority. It also is eye catching and naturally the first thing the eye is drawn to, showing it is the main feature to this issue of the magazine.

• Q magazine uses a very square, geometric type style contents page to organise and keep the page looking smart and tidy and is aesthetically pleasing. The text is also put into columns to organise it and make it easier for the audience to read. I intend to use this in my own magazine.

• Special Section; has featured an oasis special, this will attract both regular readers and fans of oasis to buy and read the magazine. The font is different to the rest and gold to make it stand out to the rest of the text as it is not part of the colour scheme.

Issue date‘Band Index’; shows all bands with page numbers, makes it quick and easy to fine to article they want. Bold heading in black with page numbers bold and black also. Red for the artist names to stand out as different colour as the rest. Keeps with house style.

Brand logo; part of masthead, brand awareness.

Masthead; bold simple font, white to contrast with black.

Main image; of the featured band. With a synopsis of their article in bold as the band is the selling point. Page number in red to help navigate the reader.

Sub-Headings; help the reader find the article they are looking for and help to navigate them to the page. Gives a little information about each article to entice the reader.

Subscription advert; bold stands out due to black box and bold yellow writing which stands out and catches readers attention. Information given to help reader get more info.

NME – Codes and Conventions of a Contents Page

• Subscription advert; bold stands out due to black box and bold yellow writing which stands out and catches readers attention. Information given to help reader get more info, e.g. website and phone number. ‘SAVE’ entices reader to subscribe as they will save money, but NME make more money as the audience will be buying more. Does not comply with the house style but on purpose as it makes it stand out from the rest of the text on the contents page.

• ‘Band Index’; shows all bands with page numbers, makes it quick and easy to fine to article they want. Bold heading in black with page numbers bold and black also. Red for the artist names to stand out as different colour as the rest. Keeps with house style.

• Sub-Headings; help the reader find the article they are looking for and help to navigate them to the page. Gives a little information about each article to entice the reader. Bold and simple font makes it easier for the reader to read.

• Main image; is of the featured band. Underneath it has a synopsis of their article in bold as the band is the selling point, and the synopsis entices audience to read it as the synopsis is short and enticing. Page number next to text, to help navigate the reader to the article, also in red to stand out from the other text.

COMMON Codes and Conventions of Contents Pages

Page Numbers; bold and clear, so they are eye catching. Next to or on picture or article title to show clearly to the reader where the article is in the magazine.

Magazines Logo; commonly place at the left top corner of the contents page, helps with brand awareness.

House Style; is continued onto the contents page which shows professional consistency, and creates a form or brand awareness for the magazine as the reader can recognise the magazine due to it house style.

Background; plain and usually white so both the pictures and text show up clearly.

Images; 1 main images and a number of secondary images. This makes the contents page look more appealing and visual for the reader. More popular and famous artists tend to have images to their articles as they are easier recognised by the audience.

Masthead; commonly ‘CONTENTS’ lets the reader know what page it is and is usually at the top left of the page or all across the top of the page.

Issue date; is always prominent on the contents page to let the reader know what issue it is. Usually at the top of the page, but billboard put theirs at the bottom.