The document analyzes the contents pages of several regional magazines, identifying conventions and variations in design approaches. Generally, contents pages include the main sections and features, images, and headers. However, magazines take creative liberties, with some using more text and others taking a more minimal, image-focused approach. The research exposed minor conventions like links, subscriptions, and contact details that enhance the user experience.

1. MAIN TASK CODES AND
CONVENTIONS
CONTENTS PAGE

2. KENT LIFE
Contents Page is done over a double page
spread.
Attractions that would typically
be more appealing to a more
middle/upper class audience, as
well as people from an older
age group.
Different types of content separated
with sub headings. News, features,
places, attractions etc.
Information about the magazine in
general is available, That might not be
necessarily related to the content if this
edition.

3. BILLBOARD
This magazine features a list of the top songs in the charts right now
(since the magazine is heavily focused around music).
Main title/header not centred, contrasts the background. Quite a lot of
space around it? Previous magazine (Kent Life) didn’t use this overall.
The biggest contents of the magazine come with their own smaller
images. Main image of the page seems to be the biggest feature (in
this case the magazine is heavily focused around music).
The bigger features of the magazine get their own section separate
from the charts section.
General information section featured at the bottom of the page,
maybe comparable to the information section featured on the right
hand side of the kent Life magazine.
I am now aware that this isn’t specifically a regional magazine (for some reason it came up in a search for regional
magazines). Therefore I haven’t considered it specifically as part of regional magazine conventions, however have taken into
account its own conventions and ideas it has given me.

4. CORNWALL LIFE
Corner of the page gives the option for the reader to subscribe to
the magazine. Whilst a common convention for many magazines,
its an important feature to have. The font and colour scheme of
this particular area is different from the rest of the page, maybe to
disassociate.
Again we have various methods of the publishers keeping in contact
with their audience. In this case we have contact details as well as a
competition for the audience of this particular magazine.
We have recurring themes in the contents of the magazine. There are
the features, general news and information about the local area as
well as the out and about section to inform the reader on more local
attractions that people can go to as a more formal advert.
The main contents of the magazine once again are represented in a
more important light with images and larger text to accompany them
with page references.

5. BRISTOL MAGAZINE Unlike some of the previous examples, the contents page is headed by
the month the issue is released in (presumably a monthly release
magazine). Whilst not particularly a convention amongst regional
magazines, its an idea I like and one I feel fits well.
A common feature of magazines in general and constructed in a similar
fashion to my previous example, the main contents are represented in
image form. In this magazine however the images are accompanied with
little information other than the page reference, contrary to the previous
example in Cornwall life.
We have the typical lay out of the various contents of the magazine,
however this magazine seems to have taken it to a more basic level.
Simple headings with clean references that aren’t over encumbered
with paragraphs of information. Whilst not necessarily a convention
(arguably a counter convention considering the huge lengths of text
typically present) it makes for an easier and cleaner read.
Bottom right corner used as a form of advertisement
area/subscription area. In this case for its own magazine.

6. SUSSEX STYLE
It appears to have become a convention in itself to be a regional
fashion magazine. This magazine has notably decided to label its
contents page with a header, unlike some of the other magazines.
Contrary to other magazines that have decided to have headers
however, the overall style of this magazine tends to abandon the
idea of bolder text other than the subject heading for the contents
on the left hand side.
As spoken about in the previous example, this magazine has also
opted for displaying its main contents with images instead of text.
(most magazines have images present, but at first look these
contents are solely represented by an image and a page reference).
The rest of the contents are featured of the left hand side of the
page, with the main contents (ones that appear to the right in
image form) being highlighted/bolder in order to stand out, and
to provide more information on the images without encumbering
the images themselves.

7. SUMMARY
In general, more liberty and personal preference seems to be taken in regard to the contents
pages between magazines in contrast to how front covers are designed. There are some general
recurring conventions:
- Main contents
- Images
- Headers
- the different content sections available
However for the most part are done very much in their own unique, or at the very least personal
ways. Some have a lot of text and information, such as Kent life, whilst others go for a more
minimalistic approach such as Sussex Style.
I’m personally a fan of the more minimalistic style that’s approached by Sussex Style and Bristol
to a certain extent, specifically in the way that they have decided to display some of their contents
through images.
This research has allowed me to see and remind myself of other minor conventions that should
be present in a magazine as well, such as hyperlinks to web pages, subscription adverts, external