The document analyzes design elements of Rolling Stone magazine's cover and contents pages. It notes that the red masthead against a white background creates a professional, recognizable brand identity. The cover typically features a provocative full-body photo of a female musician wearing minimal clothing, in contrast to male-focused magazines. The contents pages include photos related to music and politics to appeal to an older demographic, along with page numbers, headings, and questions to guide readers through the magazine's articles and sections.

2. The red against the white background is
iconic and professional
Front Cover
Masthead: Rolling Stone is situated in
the typical position of a masthead of a
magazine of any genre or subject
Font: Red, white, and black colour
palette – use of colours that are perhaps
conventional to a male dominated
audience, however maintains a
professional look that could be aimed at
a variety of readers

3. Rolling Stone is titled with a bold, edgy
font. It works for recognisable brand
identity, consistent throughout the
entirety of their magazines and remains
formal which indicates an older
audience
Front Cover
Font: The bold, red lettering of the title
with black and white borders contrasts
with the light background, ensuring
easier read

4. Musicians take up the majority of the
space on the cover, this particular
magazine features musician Taylor Swift
in a provocative pose typical of females
represented in magazines and the
media in general
Conventional of female featured
magazine covers, the use of a full body-
shot is an element of most of their
magazines.
Choosing a photo in which she is
wearing a lack of clothing also adds to
the provocative nature of it. In contrast
to male featured magazines, this image
of the female singer displays limited
reflection of her as an artist
Front Cover
Pull Quote: Also provocative – ‘The
heart break kid’ is pulled out of context,
reflecting negatively on the artist and
making a reader curious

5. Front Cover
Statistical Figures: For persuasive
purposes ‘the 2012 hot list’
Pug: A generic feature of magazines,
pugs exist to advertise
Alliteration A literary technique for
emotional effect ‘Lennon’s Lost Letters’
Buzz Word: “Hot” sparks a readers
interest

6. Contents Page
Images: Features a photo from a concert,
and a musician playing an instrument
conventional to what you would expect
them to be doing. Also demonstrates an
involvement with politics with the
president featured in a contents image
Contents Menu: Headings are used to
organise content – sub-headings are more
specific and provide more information
Capital letters indicate importance and
make the contents stand out
The contents menu features page numbers
to navigate through the magazine
Consistent house style: The red and black
contrast well with each other and is
consistent with the cover

7. Contents Page
Main feature articles presented in black
bold font to draw your attention to them
The use of rhetorical questions are for
persuasive purposes and to generate
interest within a reader
Colloquialisms: To the point, perhaps more
formal than most music magazines with an
older demographic model
National affairs segment indicating older
audience than perhaps the likes of NME

8. Pages
Central Image: An image of Bowie in a concert or performance, the black and white makes it
look like an older image and gives it historic value and more meaning
Also features a full body shot in front of the text for creative purposes but also links with the
pull quote above

9. Pages
Drop Cap: Conventional of double page spreads, it indicates where the article starts and
where a significant quote is situated