This document analyzes the design elements of alternative indie genre magazines. It discusses how magazines use techniques like catchy mastheads, teaser headlines, central images, and pull quotes to attract readers and give them a sense of what types of articles and content they will find inside. The goal is to entice readers to choose that magazine by showing them content that appeals to their interests through visual elements on the cover and contents pages.

1. Analysis of alternative indie
genre magazines

2. Teasers: “ARE YOU BEING
Buzz words: this has CYPERSTALKED?” and
been used to catch the “WHAT MAKES U2
audiences eye to RUN?”. These are here to
believe this magazine tease the audience
offers more than what about what type of
other magazines offer. articles are within the
They have done this by magazine to get them to
using “special” and read them
making it a different Centre image: this
colour to stand out indicates that the main
from the magazine. article is about them
Masthead: the (U2) which also has a
masthead is “Spin” teaser next to it about
which is short and the article. The image
catchy. The masthead will interest the audience
is within a red box more so they know the
which makes it stand main story is about
out more to the them. The picture is a
readers. Red being dark image which makes
angry, danger and them stand out from the
fearful makes it catch magazine and black
your attention more connotes
and wonder what is dark/gloomy/scary which
inside. could give information
These elements target their about the article.
audience as it gives them an
insider of what is within the
magazine so they can choose
whether it appeals to them or not.

3. Centre image: the centre
image is a black and white Buzz words: “Free”
theme, which helps the text posters are within the
stand out more. Due to the magazine, this shows that
text being red this connotes they are offering more
danger and anger which could than other magazines.
be included within the quote Pull quotes: “What would
“id lick him from head to toe”. I do if I met lennon? Id lick
The bright red text is the him from head to toe” this
names of the bands which can makes the reader more
help the audience quickly find involved within the
out what sort of bands the magazine and gets the
magazine is including to help more interesting in the
them realise if it is appealing article due to the strange
to their genre of music. quote.
Skyline: This shows the
Masthead: The masthead is audience that it is big
bright red and stands out from news for the magazine,
the rest of the writing. It is a and trying to get the
bold big font so it makes it audience involved with
easier to point out from other gigs/festivals which they
magazines. may have no heard of
before.

4. Rocksound Magazine Front Cover
Masthead: the masthead Flash: a flash is used “WIN VIP
is the main thing that TICKETS” this stands out from
draws your eye to the the rest of the magazine and
magazine. Due to the
magazine being colourful
shows that there are
this helps the picture competition the readers may
stand out as it is dark be interested in. In the Bottom
colours (nearly black and right corner there is also some
white). The colours are teasers showing that there are
purple, yellow and blue free posters inside the
which are bright and magazine which will also help
using bold fonts. The
“DEFTONES”is in white
the readers see what music is
which is the main article within the magazine. The
which relates to the Cover lines stand out and let
picture. Having this cover the readers know what sort of
line in a different colour articles are within the
stands out and helps the magazine to see if they are
readers work out what interested or not.
the main article is about
so they have an idea
about what is in the
magazine.

5. Masthead: the mast Pull quote: “I FEEL SO
head is big and takes ALONE” this pull quote is
up a lot of room on in large font which will
the front cover. The attract the readers
colours stand out but attention and want to
also blend in with this find out more about the
issue. This will help quote.
Flash: The flash also has
the readers quickly
a pull quote within it.
find the magazine.
Around the edge is says
Cover lines: the cover “New Column” this
lines are interesting shows that it is new to
and make you want to the magazine.
read more into them The colours used on the
to find out what they front cover are red,
are actually on about. which stands for danger,
“16 page GIG blow white which stands for
out” this may be purity, and blue which is
something people are a calming colour. This
interested in. It picks makes the image seem
out the most firey but calming and
interesting articles pure at the same time so
people will like to the readers know it’s a
read for the cover mixture
lines

6. Mojo Magazine Front cover
Flash: a flash is used Masthead: The masthead
on the top left hand is bold and bright and
corner to include stands out which catches
information with the readers eye.
buzzwords to attract Skyline: there are two
a reader. The Flash Is
joined within the skylines on the top of this
colour scheme of the magazine. One of them is a
magazine which is quote about what is
black, white and red. thought about the
Pull quote: a pull magazine. The other is a
quote is used “There buzz word “PLUS” which
was nothing I makes it seem like it is only
wouldn’t try” this available within this
makes you want to magazine.
find out what is was
Bowie was trying
which makes the
reader want to read
into the magazine.

7. Spin Contents page
Masthead: The masthead Central image/teaser: The
is behind the central image image is of duffy. This is a
slightly. The colouring of warming photograph using
the masthead stands out pastel colours and high key
from the rest of the lighting which creates a
contents page. calm atmosphere. The pull
The articles are bold and quote in the right top hand
have information corner which is from the
underneath them saying articles about duffy helps
briefly what they are the reader get an idea of
about. This helps the what the mainarticle is
reader understand what about. The features also
sort of things are within include Duffy and give a
the magazine. The titles, little description of what
which are artists names, the article is about.
also vary, for example from All of these link to one
Duffy to My Bloody article so the reader can
Valentine, which shows get an idea about whats in
that there is a wide variety the main article.
of what music is within this
magazine.

8. There is a teaser in the
middle of the page which
also gives information
about the main article
within the magazine. It
stands out which catches
the readers eye. The
colour theme is black,
white and red which are
bold, outstanding
colours.
There is a flash at the
bottom which refers to
subscribing to the
magazine. This has yellow
text to make it stand out
from the rest of the
magazine. There is also a
flash in the arror reffering
to the “NO1 gig guide”
within the magazine
which the readers may be
interested in.

9. The colour theme is
red, black and white There is a teaser on
which are bold the right hand side of
outstanding colours the contents page
which attract the which relates to one
readers and is not a of the main articles
sexist colour. about the
“OASIS SPECIAL” Is a courteeners. There is
buzz word that an anchorage at the
shows there are bottom of the picture
certain oasis articles so the readers can
which are a special easily work out which
feature which you article the picture
cant get in other belongs to. This helps
magazines. the contents page
There is a review at look more visual for
the bottom of the the reader so it isnt
page with a graphic just text and they get
feature in. This is a bored. It draws them
review box which in to want to read
may get the readers more.
interesting into
reading the rest of
the magazine.

10. The articles are
Mojo has a pastel
in bold font
themed background.
which makes
This makes the teaser
them easy to
stand out due to its
read and stand
bright colouring.
out. The cover
There is a pull quote
story is titled
at the bottom which
separately at
relates to the
the bottom so
photograph. “My
the reader can
doctors tell me that
easily identify
this is brilliant for my
what the main
health”. Due to it
cover line was
saying “this” makes
on the front
the reader want to
cover.
know what “this” is
The issue
so it makes them
number and
read into the article.
date is also on
The colour scheme is
the contents
yellow and black
page so the
which are bright and
reader can
bold colours to catch
easily identify
the readers eye.
this.

11. The central image is of the vaccines so the reader can easily identify of who the article is
about. “The Vaccines” are in big bold writing which stands out so the customers can easily
know who the article is about. There are drop caps within the article which stand out, this
makes the layout look more appealing to read. There is a pull quote which is a bigger font
and different colour to the rest of the article so it stands out. If the reader was to flick
through the pages they may see the pull quote and want to know what its about which will
then attract them to the article.

12. There is a pull quote “Be there, be there now, be in it” this attracts the reader as it is in big
bold font with gold in it which stands out from the black and white colour scheme. There is a
bit of information about the article before the main article starts. This gives the reader a bit
of information about what to expect from the article. There is a drop caps at the start of the
article which makes the layout look more professional. The central image is of Neil Young
playing a guitar and singing, this shows that the article is about him. There is anchorage in
the bottom right hand corner telling you a bit about the image, when and where it was
taken.

13. The title of this article is clear and bold in a red box which stands out so the reader
can easily identify what the article is about. The central images also clearly show
Brandon Flowers in the studio, which is what the article is about. This makes it
clear for the reader. There is a pull quote “I don’t want people to think its
narcissistic” this is in red font with a red line above to make it stand out. This will
catch the readers eye to make them want to find out more about the pull quote.
There is a drop caps to break up the text to make it more visually interesting.

14. This double page spread is about the top 10 albums to buy. There are graphic features of the
albums to help the viewers know which album they are on about. Underneath each image
there is information about the album and reviews. The left hand side shows the number one
album, the picture is large so it stands out from the rest. It clearly states it is telling the
reader how to buy the album as it is in a white box with black and red font which stands out.
The title of number one band is in big bold font which stands out. There is a drop caps in a
different colour to make it visually interesting to read. There is a red panel saying “How to
buy..Your votes” this clearly states what the text below is telling the reader.