Conventions of a magazine contents page

1. Contents Page Generic
Conventions
Heather Johnson

2. Masthead
 Biggest text on the page
 Includes logo/name and page name
 Capitalized and bold
 Central top of the page

3. Images
 Accompany main stories
 Overlapped by page number or short summary
 1-5 images used depending on page layout
 Photographer is credited

4. Colour Scheme
 Matches the rest of the magazine
 Brightest colour used for most exciting information
 Background usually plain because there tends to be a
lot of text on this page so to not overcrowd it, its basic

5. Text/List of Contents
 Usually organized depending on style/subgenre such
as healthy food choices vs. exercise
 Chronological order based on page number
 Presented in column format
 Small font used as it should not look more important
than headings
 Main stories have bold font
 Normally 1-4 columns used

6. Essential information
 Page numbers
 Publishers
 Company address/contact info
 Website
 Issue Date
 Name of the magazine

7. Language and Register
 Humor/Puns
 Short and snappy
 Upbeat to match style of magazine and target audience
 Direct mode of address
 Rhetorical questions/Informal language, sounding witty
but intriguing

8. Layout
 Masthead at top of page
 Text either down side or below images at bottom of page
 Dominant image centered on page
 Editors notes and subscriptions will be found at the bottom
of the page
 Crowded compared to other pages
 Layouts can vary depending on style
 Text is important but is heavily supported by images to keep
readers attention

9. Extras
 Editor’s note- Usually an image and a signature, honest
opinions from the editor
 Subscription Box- Discounts for readers and advertises
magazine for future profit
 Acknowledgments- Includes people such as the
publishers and photographers to give them credit for
their work
 Advertisements

10. Conventions I want to include
 Masthead
 Images
 Colour scheme
 List of contents
 Website
 Acknowledgments
 Publishers
 Issue number
 Topical and witty humor with sarcastic puns
 advertisements