Genre Research: Magazine Conventions - Contents Page.

In this post I will be analysing other front covers, contents pages and double page spreads in order to know what I'm looking for, what I like and what I could possibly use for my own pages. Below are the common conventions of contents pages of music magazine.



The above is from an NME issue. I like this cover particularly as there are the page numbers in the form of a list, under usual sections, that the audience is familiar with. These sections usually include gig guides, album reviews, interviews etc. In the top centre area of the page is a photo of one of the main artists of the issue, breaking up the block of text, this is the main focus of the audience. Despite this looking effective, this breaks conventions as most music magazines feature a series of smaller photos on the page instead of one, main image.The masthead reappears through out the magazine, including on the contents page. Further more adverts are used in order to gain profit for the company and the magazine producers.


I like this one; the above image is from Q magazine. This page here breaks the typical conventions of a contents page as there is only one image present, which dominates the audiences attention. The page numbers are listed in the form of "Features" as previously seen in the first contents page.  A strapline is used on this page, instead of being placed on the front cover, this breaks conventions however may be more praticle for the layout team as there may not have been room on the cover. Next to the image of the main artist (James Blunt) a small tag line is placed in the house style, informing the audience of the interview. The image itself follows conventions as there is direct address to the audience, thus creating a relationship.



This is probably the more eye catching one of the three; the above image is from Karrang magazine. More pictures are displayed on this page, keeping with the conventions, however it only appears that two of the images aredirectly addressing the audience while the remaining artists in the other images are looking away, which breaks the conventions. The pages are listed in the same way as the other two examples. What is more, there are page numbers located with the pictures, telling the audience where they can find more information about them. Above, instead of a the masthead a small image of the front cover of the magazine is placed as well as the text displaying "Contents".