The document provides details about the contents pages of four different magazines: Q Magazine, Billboard, Vibe, and NME. Some key points: - Q Magazine uses columns, photo placements, and font sizes to grab attention and highlight important stories. Color schemes and short headings make articles easy to browse. - Billboard breaks conventions by placing the issue number discreetly and using non-traditional layouts. Photos feature a range of people to appeal to wide audiences. - Vibe has a minimalist single-page design that goes against typical formats. Modern mastheads promote the brand in an original way. - NME also takes an unconventional approach with its simple presentation and limited details about

1. Q magazines contents page consists of
columns giving it a professional look. The
page itself follow the order of importance
the things at the top of the hierarchy are at
the top of the page and are the largest this
is to grab the attention of audience and
influence them to read the main stories.
However, the sell lines are all the same font
size infering they’re all at a high standard
but at the same time it gives the page a
more professional look. The masthead:
’contents’ is very eye catching because of
the pictures surrounding it. This is appealing
first of all as it’s something unique which
adds to their brand name but in addition it
suggests that there’s a range of articles
inside the magazine which are exclusive.
There’s a clear and consistent colour
scheme presented throughout the
magazine. One of the main colours used is
red, which links into Q’s logo, it infers to
the reader that the information inside the
magazine is important and exclusive. All
the article headings are all short which is
convenient for the audience as they can
clearly see what articles interest them
with out it being time consuming. In
addition if a picture intrigues it’s easy to
see where you can follow up on the story.
To continue the sell lines are red just like
the masthead: ‘Q’ and as the magazine
has a stong brand image/ name for it’s
magazine it suggests to the audience the
stories inside are ones worth reading
because they are at a high quality.
The subscription details included is used
to try to increase the magazines
revenue. The contents page is one of
the highest viewed pages hence why
they’ve chosen to put it on this place
(a higher amount of people will see it).
The fact the information is in a blocked
grey box makes it visually stand out as
it’s the only dark feature on the page.
Cleaverly they’ve put the subscribe box
where you turn the page as this is
generally a reader would naturally be
drawn to look at.
Q Magazine
There’s a range of photo’s used from long
shots to close up used on the contents
page All the photos have their own colour
lighting shown in the picture showing
their originality. The artists on the
contents page are all well known but are
also different genders and ages indicating
the magazine’s target audience doesn’t
have a particular age and therefore the
stories inside aren’t to formal. Finally the
direct address in a few of the photos
directly engages the audience making the
audience feel like the magazine is aimed
at them and therefore they feel involved.
A cover story is to do with the main image on
the front cover. This is in order to promote
the main image and attract the biggest fan
base of the magazine. The use of the
’regulars’ section divides the page making it
easy to read but also it is easier for regulars
to follow the stories/ pages in the magazine
they enjoy.
The issue number is visible to help the
audience keep up to date. The fact there’s a
lot of issue exaggerates the fact the
magazine is a srtong brand and is one
worth buying.

2. The masthead: Billboard is in a very small font
however it’s still included and clear to read. This
purpose of this is to promote the brand so the
audience is likely to remember the name which is
likely to lead to a repeat purchase. The second
masthead: ‘Contents’ in a larger san serif font due
to it being at the top of the hierarchy. The fact it’s
in capital letters connotes strength of the
magazine suggesting it’s exclusive and not one to
miss.
This is consistent throughout the magazine
promoting the brand.
This section of the contents page doesn’t actually
follow the conventions of a ‘typical’ contents page
because firstly contents page are usually double
page spreads but secondly the ‘on the charts’
section is something only Billboard offers making
it easy for the audience to identify the fact it’s a
music magazine. This is separated from the rest of
the magazine because of the fact it has a grey
background and therefore it stands out to the
audience due to it being visually appealing.
The white background automatically draws
attention to the images/ text on the page. This is
beneficial because the audience is like to connect to
an article and therefore want to read or potentially
buy the magazine increasing the revenue and
potential profits for Billboard.
Billboard have used a range of photos to portray
that the magazine is suitable for everyone due to
the fact the photos contain different genders, age
and race inferring there’s no specific target
audience for the magazine but at the same time the
target audience is automatically increased.
Codes and conventions are continued to be broken
because usually an issue number is usually placed on
the front cover of a magazine however, in this case
it’s in a very small san serif font on the contents page
of the magazine. This could be seen as inconvenient
for the audience because if the issue number is
something they want to know they have to spend
time looking inside the magazine but also it makes
the magazine more unique and therefore
emphasises the fact that the stories inside are
exclusive. In addition it automatically engages the
audience with the magazine as they’re likely to
appeal to so9me of there pictures inside which could
lead to again potential revenue.
The page numbers are in a clear san serif font
making it easier for the audience to navigate their
self around the magazine quickly. The rest of the
fonts on the page are again san serif purely to make
the text easy to read.
Billboard
The sell lines are all the same font implying they’re
all at a high standard, there doesn’t appear to be an
order of importance apart from the photos are the
article which Billboard want their audience to
appeal to the most.
There’s a clear colour scheme: black and blue
which connotes that the magazine is aimed at the
older generation due to the fact they haven’t used
bright colours which would appeal to the younger
generation at the same time it infers that the
magazine is more formal. The use of blue also
connotes the magazine is potentially more
masculine.

3. This contents page doesn’t follow the usual codes
and conventions of a ‘typical’ contents page due to
the fact it’s a single page and only consists of one
image. I personally don’t like this look as to me it
looks like any other feature page. However this look
does look quite modern and unique.
To continue, the mastheads on the page are also
modern making vibe look original and appeal to
target audiences. The letter “v” standing for vibe is
shown behind the image on the page, this is
consistent throughout al vibes contents page
promoting the brand, making it something for the
audience to recognise and remember. The
masthead: contents is in three rows, in bold large
san serif font purely to appeal to the audience and
also its just a more original way of presenting the
text.
There’s a very dull colour scheme used suggesting
the magazine is either more mature or potentially
boring. The stories inside could even be seen as
dark in the sense theyr’e more gloom and doom/
negative.
Overall this magazine is very simple and therefore
excludes many of the typical codes and conventions
of a music magazine contents page for example a
more than one image or a subscription box. This
gives the magazine a smarter look. I don’t like the
look as I think it’s boring but as the magazine is
successful they can go against the rules of magazine
creating a unique look to the magazine.
Vibe The direct address of Kanye West creates a
personal relationship with the reader making
them feel involved with the magazine. The
image is used to indicate the narrative to the
reader. The image is again unique due to the fact
there’s a hand being him holding a read heart on
his heart. The red heart therefore stands out but
suggests this girl has taken over Kanye and is
beginning to give him life. The fact its grey
suggests there’s no gender that this magazine is
supposed to appeal to. The picture also infers the
genre the music magazine is despite the fact
there aren’t any instruments shown.
This contents page doesn’t show a lot of what’s
inside the magazine suggesting it’s a strong
magazine which doesn’t need to try to show off
what it includes to gain an audience. The fashion
section stands out as despite the fact it’s a music
magazine there’s also another genre included
expanding the target audience as there’s a bigger
range of things you can appeal to again the font is
serif suggesting this magazine is perhaps more
grown up as it’s formal. However the range of
fonts make the magazine make the magazine
more visually appealing and stylish.
The issue date is also included to ensure the
reader can keep up to date with the latest issue.
In addition in the long term this magazine could
potentially become a collectable so therefore the
date is essential. It also gives the magazine a
more professional look,