Analysis of published double page spreads.

1. Analysis of TV Listings double pages.
- By Andre Walters.

2. Title:
A fundamental convention to any piece of media, whether it be newspaper,
magazine, website, blog, app. This feature is used throughout TV listings,
whether it be in another language or not. The big font catches the readers eye
and the title gives an overview of the article usually within a couple of words.
The words usually either very simple, or put together to cleverly but both still
relating to the article.
Drop Cap:
Recognised widely as a popular
convention regarding most articles
not just TV listings, however it is
found across a range of TV listings as a
popular feature of an Article. The
Drop Cap clearly shows the start of an
article/paragraph.
Caption:
Follows the simple house
style used for this Double
page spread (Black and
White, with bold fonts). The
caption often tells a small
amount but additional
information about the
image. For example, this
caption reveals how Maxine
was drunk when she
audition for a film in the
past.
Date, broadcast time and channel:
These conventions used across a
range of TV listing Double page
spreads. For Radio Times especially,
it is often found at the beginning of
the article. The placement of this
convention tends to be the same
across a range of double page
articles. The information informs the
reader about the broadcast time, the
date it will be broadcasted on and
the broadcast channel.
By-line:
A simple but popular feature, often
the smallest text found across the
double page. This convention simply
credits the photographer, or often
who the article was written by.
Page number:
This convention makes for easier
reading for the reader, often out of
the way of any copy and found in
the bottom left/right corner OR the
top left/right corner of the pages.
Pull Quote:
Often a quote “pulled” from the article, or it may be something the actor has
spoken about in an interview etc relating to the written article. This smart
convention breaks up the often used column structure and brings the reader
attention to it. Placed below an image, the reader is more likely to look at the
image then the pull quote. The font often being bigger than the articles font itself.
Stand First:
a popular convention used
amongst TV listings as a way to
encourage the reader to read
on. Being the second largest
font after the masthead, it can
summarise the article or pose
an interesting questions
answered within the article.
Again, a method to engage the
reader.
Layout:
The layout of three columns
is often used when the
article only takes up one
Main Image:
side. The three column style
For this Double Page Spread the image takes makes for easy reading,
up the whole page on right, often the main
often looking very
image relates to the article. On this occasion professional and neat. The
it relates directly to the female actor involved article often is wrote using
in this programme. From the size of the
chatty language, the style of
image, the audiences attention is instantly
this article seems to be quite
grabbed, you may find yourself constantly
informal and conversational
glancing at the image when reading the
alot of speech marks being
article itself or reading this paragraph right
used throughout.
now.

3. Title:
The title here uses a custom font, different to the double page spread
on the page prior to this. The placement of the title is also different,
this may be influenced by the house style of this double page. The main
image taking up 75% of both pages. Nevertheless, the title almost sets
the house style (White, red and black).
Main Image:
The main image here takes up 75% of the double page spread, condensing the copy to the
lower third. The choice of image and placement also leads to a slight challenge of typical
conventions, most other conventions all being placed in the lower third of the page. The
main image features three characters from the new drama, all shown clearly. The size of
the image will attract the reader to this page and hold their attention.
Stand First:
Again here, the stand first is
in relation to the article,
being the second biggest
font on the page closely
followed by the pull quote.
The convention used to
encourage the reader to
continue reading the rest of
the article, the stand first
here giving an overview of
the drama , boasting the
cold war drama is new and
recreates a period in history,
telling readers what they can
expect.
Caption:
The caption refers to the
main image and often
acknowledges actors in
the image. For this double
page, each actor is named
and there character role
told to the audience.
Broadcast time, date and
channel:
A simple feature used to let
the reader know when they
can they view this
programme, often placed
before the beginning of the
article as was shown in the
double page prior to this.
Drop Cap:
As mentioned, a very widely used basic
industry technique used to introduce the
start of an article or paragraph. Reader have
become used to this technique and can
acknowledge that that is where they should
begin reading the article from. The drop cap
is capitalised and in a bold custom font,
linking to the house style and title.
Page Numbers:
This convention makes for
easier reading for the
reader, often out of the
way of any copy and
found in the bottom
left/right corner OR the
top left/right corner of
the pages.
Layout:
This layout uses short , but many columns. The
short columns however may work in favour of Radio
Times attracting readers as some of them may not
want to always read over powering text heavy
articles. Many publishers I think try to have a
balance of image and text to ensure the reader does
not feel the need to ignore/skip a double page at a
glance. The house style is maintained throughout,
and the short columns make for easy reading.
Pull Quote:
the pull quote is nicely positioned, placed centrally below the
main image, but in between the short columns along the
bottom. This pull quote acts a break in the article, again to the
eye reducing the amount of reading a reader may feel they
have to do. The pull quote is taken from something Alan Judd
said in relation to the topic SPIES R US is based on, being the
Cold War. The use of the smaller image is smartly used, the
readers can see who is saying the quote as he is not part of
the main image.

4. Conclusion!!
To summarise,
The double pages shown are a couple analysed by myself, with other
group members also analysing other double pages. I feel this has
successfully developed my knowledge further of double pages, many
features being similar to what we learnt in AS Media. However, it was
important to not assume the styles were exactly the same as magazine
double page spreads. The group will now discuss the appropriate style
we will go for to suit our Documentary based on Violent Crime.
We look forward to putting our double page together, possibly
challenging a few conventions to suit our target audience being
younger than my assumption of a TV Listings like Radio Times target
audience.
I did try to found out the Target audience for Radio Times, but
information was scarce, but I believe my assumption may be correct, as I
feel readers of TV Listings would be of a much older age.