Contents Page Analysis

1. How does the contents page follow general and layout conventions?
The contents pages maintain the general layout of a contents page. In the two Q you
can see some brand identity but they are issues from different years of being
published. This brand identity can be see by the way they have similar layouts and
house style used. The layout is the same by having the banner across the top of the
page and having the main content down the left hand side. Also the same house
styles are used with red, white and black being the prominent colours. However, all
three do have some of the same conventions in them. All of the contents pages
contain a features section on the page. With that all of the articles and stories
featured in the contents page have the page numbers next to it. Both of these things
are featured on the NME and Q contents pages. Also the pages you can see that
they have used the rule of thirds. This is clear because you can see that it has been
broken up into a grid of three. Magazines do this so it is clear in how they present the
page making it easy for the readers to follow.
The Analysis
At the top of the first contents page it has presented a title of ‘NME THIS WEEK’.
This helps the target audience know what will be the big features throughout this
issue of the magazine. It helps them understand that most of the content inside is
exclusive to this issue as it includes the date of release as well. The colours used in
this title are that they have used the same font and colour of the masthead from the
front cover for NME which shows brand identity. As they are using the same house
styles as the front cover. This title covers two thirds of the top of the page which
shows its significance to the page.
On the first Q front cover they have included a picture of the magazine front cover. It
makes the magazine contents relate together with the front cover and links the
features inside the magazine to the sellines on the front cover. This is done to in

2. order to make the readers know what the issue is about. Therefore, it allows the
magazine to be much more to the point as it is showing that what their sellines were
on the front are big features in the magazine.
All three contents pages follow a similar layout to how they are presented. Each
magazine displays their content in one column which is placed on the left hand side
in Q and on the right hand side in NME. These columns are divided into categories
for which the content is placed into depending on what it is. On the first issue of Q it
only contains one category of content which is ‘Features’. However, on the other Q
contents page it has three categories which are ‘Features’ (just like the other issue of
Q), ‘Every Month’ and ‘Q Review’. These categories have that issues relevant
content placed inside to help the readers find what they are looking for. The NME
contents page has the most categories of content. These are ‘News’, ‘Radar’,
‘Reviews’, ‘Live!’ and ‘Features’. The use of categories is to help the reader find what
they are looking for in the magazine. Especially if it is something that directly appeals
to them or if its is their favourite band. For instance the inclusion of an article on Biffy
Clyro in the first issue of Q. This would be intriguing to fans because in 2011 they
were not as well known to what they are now. So it would draw in people of who
want to find out more about the band from Scotland.
In the NME contents page they include a band index. A band index is a list of all of
the bands that are mentioned in the magazine and have the page number they are
on. This index is created for readers to be able to look straight at to find what page
their favourite band features on allowing them to save time instead of flicking through
all of the pages trying to find them. It is also there to show the vast amount of bands
and artists that feature in the magazine. With the vast amount it means that they are
most likely going to be appealing to most indie rock fans due to the variety of them.
Also on the NME contents page they have part of an article from their main selline of
the front cover. This is an insight of the article which is on Kasabian inside the
magazine. It does not give away the what is in the article but it does tell the reader
enough to know what the main article is on to see if they want to read it. All though
this passage is from the main article inside it does not reveal what page this article is
on. This makes the reader be curious and want to find out what the band were doing
so they read the magazine to find the article inside.
On the first Q magazine contents page it gives a preview on what the articles inside
look like. As they show two images of two double page spreads which are inside the
magazine. These images are too small for the reader to read but give them
something to look out for as they flick through the magazine. It allows them to know
what they are going to read and gives them a heads up about the article. This insight
to the article can make them want to read it so they would go straight there due to
their curiosity.

3. In the second Q contents page they include a caption for the main image. This image
is of the band ‘The Courteeners’ which takes up most of the contents page. The
caption tells what the page number of the article and gives them a short preview of
the article. However, on the the ‘Features’ category this page number does not come
up in this category. This means it is may not be one of the main articles in the
magazine but it is big enough to be the main image on the page. This means that
readers will want to know more.
On the NME contents page they feature an advertisement for subscription for the
magazine. This allows the readers to know straight away that this publication is able
to be subscribed to easily. The advertisement pulls in the reader as it says they can
save money by subscribing as each magazine is at a reduced price to the retail one.
Therefore, as they are reading the magazine it is their minds that they can subscribe
if they really enjoy the read. The use of this advertising is also a way to boost the
magazine's readership and circulation due to there being more subscribers.
All of these contents pages are very simple and do not have to many complications
on them. The colours of the pages are very simple and stick to the brand identity of
the magazine. All three of the magazines use red, white and black as their colour
scheme with only NME mixing it up by throwing a little bit of yellow on the page.
These colours allow simplicity to the readers and make it easy to read and find what
they want to look at. The fonts and styles on all three of the magazines are not really
contrasting. This has been done so it does not distract the reader when they are
looking at the pages. Causing them to be able to read the magazine without losing
where they are.
Overall, you can see why Q magazine may have changed the way the magazine has
looked over the years. This is because the issue in 2008 looks very similar to the
NME issue which could cause issues of confusion amongst the general reader. You
can see how they have changed it in the 2011 issue to make the contents page
predominately made up of images with just the main featured articles being listed. As
well as that they have used the colour red more. So that it looks completely different
to the NME issue meaning no more confusion.