Magazine Cover/Contents/DPS Analysis.

1. Magazine
Cover/Contents/DPS
Analysis
Oliver Brayshaw

2. Date & Price: This is a common convention
to have the date and price in the bottom
corner. It is written in a small font so it
doesn’t dissuade a potential customer.
Images: This image uses direct address
through some of the band members
looking into the camera; this creates a
sense of interaction with the audience.
Julian is in the foreground, highlighting his
importance in the image, the fact that he is
looking wide of the camera, gives the
impression that he is wise and in deep
thought. With Julian Casablancas on the
front, the magazine appeals to people who
are interested in him and his music. This
also increases the status of the magazine
with large feature artists.
Masthead: The font is Gotham Ultra,
which is bold, along with the white
text which stands out on the red
background, this draws the reader’s
attention to the magazine’s name.
This also makes it easily recognisable,
creating brand awareness.
The capitals of ‘NME’ give a sense of
authority to the masthead.
Barcode: A convention to have the barcode
in the bottom corner.
Layout: Most of the space is filled
with text and images. The faces on
the image are not covered by
anything to allow for direct address.
Sub-Heading: The text includes the
name of “Liam” and the band “Beady
Eye”, these are large names in the
music industry, intriguing potential
readers to buy the edition.
Composition: The colours on this
cover consist of red, white and
blue; this symbolises the British
nature and culture of this
magazine.

3. Images: Direct Address is present
with all of the people on the cover, in
the main image and the smaller
image (plug) in the top right corner.
The featured band, The Libertines,
are well-known in the music industry,
making the magazine appealing to
more people, this also increases the
status of the magazine. The main
image is in the foreground, covering
part of the ‘Q’, this suggests that the
artists are of high importance and it
looks as though the magazine
respects the band.
Masthead: The font used for the
‘Q’ makes it look intricate and
professional, suggesting that the
magazine is fairly formal for a
music magazine.
Sub-Heading: This cover has various
sub-headings that take the form of
plugs; they include the music industry’s
well-known names such as Taylor Swift
and Ed Sheeran. These names are
representative of pop music, whereas,
The Libertines represent alternative
rock, this gives this issue of Q magazine
a wider potential market.
Composition: The colours on this
cover consist of red, white and
blue; this symbolises the British
nature and culture of this
magazine.
Plug: This plug includes an image
of the band ‘The Jam’ and a
subheading suggesting that the
three featured people will reveal
something. ‘New Interviews!’
and ‘Unseen Photos!’ are
buzzwords to draw in readers
and make them feel as though
they are consuming exclusive
information.
Date & Price: As is common with
magazines, the date and price is in
the bottom corner. It is written in a
small font so it doesn’t dissuade a
potential customer.Barcode: Allows the consumer
to purchase the magazine.

4. Masthead: The font is rough,
which could represent the grungy
music style the magazine is
famous for featuring. The black
and white colours are a contrast
to the busy reds and yellows on
the cover, this could be to draw a
consumer towards the featured
stories as soon as they look at it.
Images: Direct Address is used to
connect to the audience and make
them feel as though they are being
invited to read the magazine. The
image of Haley Williams, a well-
known singer in the punk/rock
music scene, is used to appeal to
listeners of this style of music, it
also increases the status of the
magazine with large feature artists.
Buzzwords: The use of the word
“Exclusive!” will interest readers
who want to find out more about
the artist, this exclusivity can give
the reader the feeling that they
are of importance.
Composition: The colours on this
cover consist of red, white and
blue; this symbolises the British
nature and culture of this
magazine.

5. Columns: There are three main columns in this contents page, with
one column dividing into two, with a list of bands.
Fonts: The font sizes vary depending on the hierarchy of topic
significance, for example, the main headings are in a larger font,
with the sub-headings in a smaller font. Also the headings are
highlighted black and in a white font, this makes it stand out,
this makes for easier navigation for the reader, so they can find
the articles that might interest them.
Image: The only image in the contents page is of a
featured artist. This will draw the readers attention to
the article, exposing the artist to a wider audience.
Text: The text is kept to a minimum in the first column, this
means that nothing is revealed so the consumer must find the
article and read it. This also keeps the reader’s attention as they
are not having to process too much text, it makes their
navigation easier.
Composition: The colours on this cover consist of red, white and
blue; this symbolises the British nature and culture of this
magazine. This correlates to the cover, creating a brand identity.
Numbers: The page numbers are written next to the main headings
for easy navigation.

6. Fonts: The font sizes vary depending on the
significance, for example, the main
headings, such as “also in this issue”, are in
a larger font, with the sub-headings/the
artists’ names in a smaller font. This makes
the articles’ topics obvious, meaning easier
navigation for the reader, so they can find
the artists that interest them.
Numbers: The
page numbers
are written next
to the main
headings for
easy navigation.
Composition: The colours on this
contents page consist of red, white
and blue; this symbolises the British
nature and culture of this magazine.
This correlates to the cover, creating a
brand identity.
Layout: There is no consistent structure to this
contents page. You have to separate the two
pages for the page numbers to be in order.
Image: Each heading is accompanied by a relevant
image, almost all of the images use direct address to
grab the reader’s attention.
Text: Each heading is followed by a brief synopsis of
the article, not too much is revealed so the consumer
must find the article and read it. This also keeps the
reader’s attention as they are not having to process
too much text. It makes their navigation easier.

7. Fonts: The font sizes vary depending on the
significance, for example, the main headings, such as
“REVIEWS”, are in a larger, bolder font. The sub-
headings, such as “On the Cover” and the artists’
names are in a smaller font; this makes the articles’
topics obvious, meaning easier navigation for the
reader, so they can find the artists that interest
them.
Column: There is one column on this contents
page, acting as a list which is, for the majority, in
chronological order. This makes it easier for the
reader to navigate the magazine.
Image: The main image uses direct address to
grab the reader’s attention and engage them. The
first picture in the column features a major artist,
making the magazine look credible and exclusive.
The last picture gives an insight into what the
reader might expect from that section of the
magazine.
Text: Each heading is followed by a list of
what will feature in the articles, nothing is
revealed so the consumer must find the
article and read it. This also keeps the
reader’s attention as they are not having to
process too much text. It makes their
navigation easier.
Numbers: The page numbers are written next to
the artists’ names for easy navigation.
Composition: The colours on this contents
page consist of red, white, yellow and black
which are consistent with the cover, creating
a strong brand identity.

8. Colour: The colours
are all mild and easy
on the eye, this makes
it easier to read
without being
distracted by harsh
contrasts and bright
colours.
Point of Focus: The author
makes the letter form of
the ‘S’ large, this is to
attract the reader’s
attention to the beginning
of the article. The start of
the text is not in the top
left, which would make the
beginning obvious, but
because it resides below
an image, the letter form
indicates where to start.
Balance: Around 80%
text to 20% image.
White Space: There is little
white space on this double
paged spread, however, an
effective use of it is the
border between image and
text. The white space is
minimal, but clearly separates
the text and images. This is
also evident with the
separation between
paragraphs.
Images: The images in this
article don’t have borders, this
makes them seem to fit in with
the text, it allows the reader to
look at the images while
reading without having to cross
over a border. This is also
achieved through cropping
images to fit around the text
and not the other way around.

9. Composition: The
colours on this cover
consist of red, white
and blue; this
symbolises the British
nature and culture of
this magazine. This
correlates to the cover,
creating a brand
identity.
Point of Focus: The
author makes the
letter form of ’Into
The Wild’ large, this
is to attract the
reader’s attention to
the beginning of the
article. This also
means that the first
thing the reader
sees after the image,
is the artist’s name,
exposing the artist
to a larger audience.
White Space: There is
white space
surrounding the title,
‘Into the Wild’; this
makes tells the
reader who the
article is about and
also exposes the
artist’s name. There
is also the effective
use of white space
between image and text. The white space is minimal, but clearly separates the text and images.
This is also evident with the separation between paragraphs.
Balance: Around 50%
text to 50% image.
Image: The main
image takes up the
centre of the
double page
spread, making it
the first thing scene
by the reader,
making the artist
identifiable.

10. Point of Focus: The author
makes the letter form of
‘The Big Story’ large, this is
to attract the reader’s
attention if they are
flicking through the
magazine. The questions
in the article are written in
a bolder font, making
them easily
distinguishable, so a
reader can look for the
questions/answers they
are interested in.
White Space: The white
space in the photograph is
used to place a quote, this
means less of the page is
wasted and also brings the
reader’s attention to it.
Other than this, the white
space is minimal, wasting no
space on the page.
Composition: The colours
on this cover consist of
yellow, black and white;
this correlates to the
cover, creating a strong
and recognisable brand
identity.
Balance: Around 50% text
to 50% image.
Images: The images are
relevant and add context
to the text in the article;
they work to tell a story
with what is written. All
of the images feature the
artist, making them
identifiable to the reader,
while also showing their
personality.