This document analyzes the layout and design elements of a music magazine contents page and double page spread (DPS) interview feature. It describes the purpose and design of various elements like subheadings, page numbers, images, and pull quotes. It notes how these elements are used effectively in Q Magazine. The writer intends to replicate several of these design elements in their own eclectic music magazine, such as using one page for a large image and fitting the article onto the other page for the DPS, and featuring the artist's name prominently in the background or masthead. The goal is to create an engaging layout while also competing with the design of Q Magazine.

1. Music Magazine –
Contents Page and DPS
Textual Analysis
Name: Claire Olney
Candidate Number: 1186
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Advanced Portfolio

2. Issue details
Page number
Sub Headings
Subline
Content Title
Main Image
The sub headings are like a small
title for the article in the magazine
which gives reader an idea about
what the theme of the article is or
who it is about. Here, it is in all
capitals and bold writing to stand out
against the subline.
The sublines are an overview of the
content within each article on the
pages without giving too much
information away. It is in smaller
writing that isn’t bold so that the sub
headings can stand out.
This simply just informs the reader
on what issue this particular
magazine is. This is written in a white
coloured font which is quite spread
out in each letter, and it is clearly
legible on the red background
without standing out too much.
The page numbers basically tell the
reader what page each article is on. On
all of the pictures, the page number is
very bold and large, to match the
pictures and to also stand out over
them. The page numbers next to the
article overviews are small, yet bold, so
they don’t overpower the importance of
the writing about the articles.
The main image is a way of having an
overview of an article without
writing, so the image is enough to
inform the reader what the article is
about. These images are most likely
of artists or bands featured in the
magazine. It is a good idea to do this
because it doesn’t give away what
the article is actually about.
The content title is just the title for
the contents page, it is different
for every magazine. For Q
magazine, their title for the
contents page isn’t very creative,
it is simplistic which fits in with the
theme of the magazine.

3. When I create my own eclectic music magazine, I intend to repeat (Steve Neale – 1980) the simplicity
of the title for the contents page. This is because I don’t believe that it really needs to be very
creative and I think it will be a good way to compete with Q magazine.
When I create my own eclectic music magazine, I intend to repeat (Steve Neale – 1980) how the
page numbers are bold over the images and they don’t stand out too much next to the article
overviews. This is because I think it is a very effective and good idea to use in general, and it will
again, also help me compete with Q magazine with their simple, yet effective ideas.
When I create my own eclectic music magazine, I intent to repeat (Steve Neale – 1980) the way
that they have a mixture of images and article overviews in order to inform the reader of what each
article includes or is based on. I am going to do this because I think it is a creative idea and it
doesn’t leave the page looking too boring. Also, it keeps the page simple, but it still helps the reader
engage with both images and writing. If I included this, it would again help me to compete with Q
magazine’s layout.
I want to repeat the
formal and simple
layout, which still has
a very big impact on
the reader.

4. Pull Quote
The pull quote provides an insight into the
interview/article to attract people to read it. The pull
quote is most likely going to be something interesting
or outrageous to encourage people to read/buy the
magazine. In this case, the pull quote is quite
interesting and inspiring by Jay Z which will make
readers want to know what he is talking about.
Main Image
The main image is split
slightly into two sides: red
and neutral. The red side
could relate to Q’s brand
identity because the colour
red it famously associated
with Q in this magazine. The
red also links to the name
they referred to this type of
interview ‘Rap Radar’ because
radars are normally red, so
they must have edited the
picture especially for that
purpose. For most Q
magazines, the main image
for the DPS normally takes up
a whole page and the other
page focuses purely on the
interview/article itself. Jay Z is
wearing sunglasses in the
image which could either
convey his image that he
wants to give off to people as
a rapper, or that he wants to
be genuine by wearing what
he likes to wear normally, and
this idea is supported by the
fact that he is also only
wearing a t-shirt.
Drop Capital
There are 2 normal drop capitals
in the interview on the DPS,
however, Q magazine always
seem to do the initial of the
artist/band very large in red
covering the entire single page.
They do tend to fade it out a bit
so you can read the writing
behind it though. I think it is a
very original and interesting way
to lay out their page and it
makes it stand out more instead
of there just being a bit of
writing.
Masthead
The masthead is very small at the top so it doesn’t take over the page. It
doesn’t need to be very big because it is easy to identify who the artist
that the interview is based on by the large image taking up the left page.
‘Jay-Z’ is written in red which again is brand identity for the magazine
and most of the time, the most important heading is written in red
which symbolizes how this double page spread is all focused on Jay-Z.
Page Number
The page number is put into a little
black box to make it stand out
more, and it links in with the front
cover masthead of ‘Q’ in a box, so
it is brand identity in a way. It is
unique in the sense that it has its
page numbers with 3 digits e.g. 052
or 001 etc.
Content
The content itself is an
interview with Jay-Z in this
case, but the interview is
more embedded into the text
compared with most other
music magazines where the
questions and answers are
more evidently placed on the
page so it is clear to tell.
However, the fact that the
questions and answers are
quite subtly placed into the
writing conveys how in depth
they do write about the
artist/band they are
interviewing.
Stand First
I’m not completely sure that there is an actual stand first in
this particular DPS. There is an introduction of some sort,
informing the reader of Jay-Z’s achievements and past
appearances etc. They also talk about the image of him that
they have used and how it is quite a signature look, but they
tend to let the reader know more about him through the
actual interview itself.
‘Q’ Masthead
Website Link

5. For the double page spread, when I create my own eclectic music magazine, I intend
to repeat (Steve Neale – 1980) the way that Q Magazine take up one page with an
image. I want to do this because I think that it draws equal attention to both the
article and the photograph of the person itself and it is a good way of showcasing a
clear image. I think that if I do this, it will be a good way to compete with Q
magazine.
For the double page spread, when I create my own eclectic music magazine, I
intend to repeat (Steve Neale – 1980) the large faded letter in the background of
the article to symbolise the person’s name. I want to repeat this because I think it
is a very original and creative idea which I have never seen another magazine do
before. Therefore, I want to use this for my own and maybe change it slightly
according to however my colour scheme and font will be, in order to compete with
Q magazine.
For the double page spread, when I create my own eclectic music magazine, I intend to
repeat (Steve Neale – 1980 the way that Q magazine have put the person’s name in the
header of the magazine page. I like this idea because again, it is unique and creative and I
think it would look very good on my own magazine too. I also would potentially like to make
the name in red for brand identity, and it stands out but not too much that it stands out
over the entire page.