The document analyzes the codes and conventions used in contents pages and double page spreads across four magazines: NME, Q, Mojo, and The Fly. It describes common elements like logos, issue dates, images, titles, and fonts used and how they guide the reader. However, it also notes variations between the magazines, such as Clash using a double-page contents spread instead of a single page and splitting pages into multiple columns. The goal of these design choices is to effectively organize information and draw readers in using visual elements like prominent images and titles.

1. Analysis of contents pages and
double page spreads

2. NME
Contents Page - The name of the page and name of the magazine
are in large bold letters at the top of the page as this is the most
important part of the page, so will stick out more. The issue date
is on this page so people know what date it was released. There is
a band index on this page so the readers can find their favourite
band, easier to navigate. The subheadings are on the page to
provide the reader about the articles in the magazine. The
extract from the story is there because it is the feature article and
the most interesting. Subscriptions are a different colour so it
stands off the page, this is important because they want people to
subscribe to their magazine.
Double Page spread - One page of the double page spread is filled
by a large image that is relevant to the article, usually the band
that the article is about. The name of the (title) article is usually in
a large font that will catch the eye of a reader. The title is typically
the name of the band. The first letter on the contents of the
article is usually bigger and bolder than the rest; this is to make
sure the reader knows where to start reading. The font is usually a
serif text as this makes the reader read across the columns of text.
The colours on the page are simple basic colours such a black and
white, but then the picture that is used includes bright red which
stand off the page. There is a page number at the bottom of the
page which is a basic feature in a magazine. When the artist is
named in the text, her name is a different colour, and this is done
because it makes the reader notice it, and if they are their
favourite artist, they will start to read straight away.

3. Q
Contents Page - The logo is at the top of the page as it the
name of a magazine. The name of the page a typical feature as
the readers will then know what page that is. The subheadings
and smaller subheadings are on this page as it explains what
will be in the magazine. These smaller headings include feature
and regular articles. The main image is there to fill the room on
the page and to interest people in the main article. Just like the
large, main image, the quote will try to interest the reader in
the main article in the magazine. There is no real template to
this contents page, there is only one column over a large
picture.
Double Page Spread – On one of the pages of the double page
spread, it contains a large image of the artist being interviewed
with an interesting quote from the interview, this is because it
is relevant to what the article is about and would be too boring
with all text and no pictures. Unlike the NME double page
spread, there is no large title, but it does contain a large letter
over the whole page, often the first letter of the artist, this is
because it makes the page look more interesting. The start of a
new section of the article starts with a bold capital letter to
signal that it is moving onto a new section. The title of the
article is at the top of the page in a different font so the reader
knows it’s the title of the page.

4. MOJO
Contents Page – The name of the magazine is the largest text on
this contents page and is at the top of the magazine. The issue
date and issue number is underneath this, this is information that
is needed by the reader. The subheadings are on one side of the
page and contain what will be in the magazine, including feature
articles and regular content. There is also a large main image on
the page, this is usually from the main cover story, and will attract
the reader’s attention. The image is taken from a high angle shot,
which is more interesting than a mid shot. The artist featured in
the article, is wearing a red outfit which stands of the simple
colour background. The quote is there to do the same thing; an
interesting quote is picked to make the reader think the whole
article is interesting.
Double page spread - Again, one of the pages on the double page
spread is filled by a picture of the artists the article is based on.
There is an overview of the interview at the top of the page, used
as a title of the article; this is to make people interested in the
article so that they will read it. The colour scheme for this page is
basic, using colours such as black, white and light blue; this makes
it easier to read. The picture is a darker colour to the rest of the
page, this makes it eye catching as it stand off the page. There is a
page number at the bottom of the page which is a basic thing in a
magazine. There is also the name of the interviewer on the page.
A serif font is used as it makes the reader read across the columns
easier.

5. The Fly
Contents page – This contents page is split into 4 columns, this
makes it easier in the designing process to lay everything out. The
issue date is also in large writing at the top of the page, this is so
the reader knows which date/issue it is. Under this, there is one
large picture which is not a usual feature of contents pages as
there is usually more than one picture all relating to different
articles within the magazine. The picture would be related to the
main feature article in the magazine. The contents include both
feature articles and regular contents. They are separated using
bold letters for the page number, then underneath that, what the
article is. A feature section in the magazine is in the colour
orange, this will stand out to the reader and make them go to that
article.
Double page spread – On this double page spread, one of the
pages is filled by a large image from a side view, this image is
relevant to the article and has a blue tint over it. This is done
because the title of the article is in a large, bold, blue font. So it
fits in with the colour scheme of white, black and blue. On this
contents page, one of the page is split up into two columns, this is
so the writing can then fit into two columns. The page number is
at the bottom and is a standard feature in a magazine; the website
address is also at the bottom of the page. This is there so that
more people will access their website. Underneath the title of the
article, there is a little overview of the interview, this is there so
that readers can read that and then decide if they want to read
the whole article.

6. Clash
Contents page – In this magazine, the contents page in this
magazine is double paged, this is not what many other
magazines uses, so this deviates from the codes and
conventions of a typical contents page. The pictures on this
contents page are all pictures relevant to the articles in the
magazine, and the page numbers anchor the images. There is
no main image on the page, they all are around the same size
and no picture dominates the page. The page numbers are
also in a large font so that the reader knows what page to go
to if they are interested in that certain article. The articles on
this page are split into sections and this is done using different
colours. Then the subsections are split by using larger texts
and bold fonts. This page is split into five column sections; this
makes it easier to layout.
Double page spread – One page of the double page spread is
filled by a large image that is relevant to the article, usually the
band that the article is about. The top of the page is telling the
reader what section/chapter of the magazine they’re in. The
title of the page is quite disjointed, as the words are quite
spaced apart in different fonts and different sizes. There is no
page number on this magazine, which does not follow the
conventions of a typical double page spread. One of the pages
is split into three columns, this makes it easier to read for the
reader and easier to design and make. Also, information such
as the interviewer, photographer ect. are in a green box in
white writing, this makes it stand out the to reader. On the
side of the page is the website address, this is there because
they want as many people as possible going onto the website.