Q Magazine Contents Page

Q magazine contents page:

At the top of this contents page is a big red bar – which fits the house style of red, black and white. These colours are very simple but also bold; they are also related to the rock genre as red connotates passion; and black connotates darkness and danger however white connotates purity which balances them all out. In this bar, on the left hand side is the Q logo that was on the fron cover, although it is uch smaller-this is used throughout the magazine so on every page the reader is reminded of what magazine they are reading. Then they have “Contents” so it is clear what the page is for and if the reader wants to find a certain article they can go to the contents page which they know will be at the front. Then on the right hand side it says “Issue 293” this shows the reader that there have been lots of issues so it must be a well established magazine. All the writing in this bar is very big with a simple font so it is easy to read. Next to this is a photograph of the front cover-this is so the reader can relate the issue number to the actual issue.

Underneath this on the left hand side is another red bar-although this one is much smaller-which says “FEATURES” It is in block capitals and again a simple font so it is easy to read, and it is white so it stands out against the red bar. It makes it clear that below it is listing all the feature articles and what page they are on. Below this is a picture of a Q shaped trophy saying award winners-this relates to the writing below which says that the article about the Q award winners are on page 47. Then is red it has a short description of what the article is about. This is clearly a very important article because t is slightly different to the others. It still has the page number then a little line and he article title however the writing is bigger than the others. Also it has a long title whereas the other articles are summed p in one or two words. Also the description is in red whereas it is black for the others but they are divided by red lines, this is divided by a black line. This happens again in the same format with the review on page 99; this is shown in the bottom right corner, so these were clearly chosen by the magazine as the most important articles.

On the left hand side of the second page are the “REGULARS” they are written in the same style as the features with the age number, title and description. All the writing is aligned to the left; however the bars under each page number create the equal column size. Not every page is mentioned in the contents page but all the important articles are divided into regulars and features and then put in number order again so it is easier to follow. At the bottom of the page is a big black line to show that it is finished, the only things underneath this are the information that is placed on the same page in every page-the Q logo, the page number and date.

Finally in the middle of the page are photographs which are related to the articles. There are seven photographs altogether. For example the biggest photograph is of take that with each photograph is a large number which tells the reader which page is the article-which is related to that picture- is on.

Word magazine double page spread

Word magazine double page spread analysis:

The Word magazine double page spread sticks with the same colour scheme as in the front cover and the contents page; these colours are red, black and white. These colours are very simple but also bold; they are also related to the rock genre as red connotates passion, blood and sex; and black connotates darkness and danger however white connotates purity which balances them all out. The whole layout of this double page is very clear and easy to follow.

At the top of the page is a thin black line, which is used throughout Word magazine to separate different articles, so this line shows us that this is a new section-there are also lines separating each column and at the end of the text so it is very clear to read. In the middle of this line is a red box (fits with the colour scheme) with “Word To The Wise” written inside it. This is important because it partially explains what the article will be about but it also begins with “Word” which is the title of the magazine so it will remind readers of the magazine they are reading and they will then relate that article to this magazine. Also it suggests that in this article the writer is giving the reader useful advice. The font for this writing is Handscript SF which is very elegant and sophisticated-this tells the reader that it isn’t like advice from other magazines as they tend to be for younger audiences however the target audience for Word magazine is older and more refined.

Underneath this is the main title of this article-“ALWAYS HAVE AN EXIT STRATEGY” this is in the centre of the page in big bold black writing so it is clear to see. It stands out in the page so the reader knows that this is the title of the article-it is also a quote from the article so it engages the reader and makes them want to read on. It is a plain font (possible Arial Bold) as it doesn’t need to be fussy it just needs to stand out as they want you to read the words rather than the font also because of tis reason it is all in block capitals.

Below the title is “Mark Radcliffe” this is again clear and bold but it isn’t quite as big because it isn’t so important, however it is quite important information that the reader needs to know so it is red to catch the reader’s eye. Then there is a sort description of him as if the reader knows who wrote the article they are more likely to engage and enjoy the article. For this reason also in the top right hand corner there is a large picture of Radcliffe. This takes up about 1/3 of the page so the reader cannot miss it. In the picture it shows him holding a guitar-this relates him to the rock genre of the magazine. In the background is a sign for BBC Radio so the reader relates him to this and knows what he does even if they didn’t read the description.

Back to the beginning of the article, under Radcliffe’s description is “Interview by Mark Ellen” however this is very small so if somebody wants to know who has written it they can find out, but if they aren’t looking for it, it will not necessarily catch their eye. Finally underneath this it goes on to the actual article. There are three columns on each page which are separated by thin lines. There are seven paragraph titles’s which are in bold and red-these are also quotes from the text and encourage the reader to read on. The font of the text is very simple as it has to be clear to read and not be too fussy. There is also a pull quote in the middle of the first page-this will probably be read by the reader before they start reading the article so must engage them-this is also in red to catch the reader’s eye. Finally at the bottom of the page is the page number and name of the magazine which is used throughout Word so the reader know what they are reading and can easily find things.

The Word Contents Page

The Word Contents Page:

The contents page of Word magazine has a bright red mast head which says the name of the magazine, that it is a contents page, the issue number and the date. On the front cover the title-The Word- is in bold with a white outline and red on the inside, however on this page it is smaller so it doesn’t need to be so detailed; the masthead background is red-this relates it to the original display but the whiting is pure white. This makes it easier to read because as it is smaller, if it was to detailed then it may look cluttered and jumbled but it still uses the same font and layout as that is classic to Word magazine and the audience would relate that layout to the magazine. The word ‘Contents’ is in block capitals and also a fairly basic font so it is easy and clear to read.

It is in black, this means he top of the page uses the colours: black, red and white-which is the colour scheme of the magazine as the connotates rock and roll which is the magazines genre. The issue number and date are in a much smaller font size as they are not that important, and also another font for that matter. The font is far more elegant and far less ‘in your face’ in addition they are in white so they seem softer and easier to read against the red background. There is a line between the issue number, date and the word ‘Contents’ this separates the important information and the extra information.

Underneath this is details on what articles are in the magazine and on what page they are on, that is on the right hand side of the page. Then on the other side of the page is a letter from the editor. The letter from the editor takes up most of the page as it is interesting and lots of people want to read it, however the contents is normally only looked at when people want to find a certain page. The first line of the editor’s letter –“Dearly beloved…” is n very big font, this is because it makes it clear that it is a letter as it is a standard opening line of a letter. The font is the same as the headings of articles on the front cover; this would be a similarity throughout the magazine. Next, is a photo of the editor (Mark Ellen) this makes the letter more personal because the audience can see what he looks like and know who wrote the letter. The photo is in black and white so it fits in with the colour scheme, in addition it makes him seem more friendly and down to earth because it would remind the audience of an old family photo.

In the letter Ellen makes 5 main points so these are numbered and in bold so it makes it clear what he is saying, it also means that if you don’t want to read the whole latter you can just read the main points and understand what he is trying to say. Finally at the end of the letter he has signed it-which again makes it seem more personal, then his email address is underneath it, this makes readers feel that they can contact him and he is interested in their opinions. The email address is also at the bottom of the page, along with the date and page number; these are on most pages of the magazine. Also at the bottom of the page is a bright yellow pug, s it is very eye catching. This pug is encouraging people to subscribe to the magazine-which is what the magazine want you to do as their main purpose is to sell magazines. It offers a free CD and a lower price per issue to attract people to subscribing.

Then the page is divided by a thick black line, to make it clear that part is something completely different. Then there are the main article headings with the page number next to it, this is in red to make it stand out so the reader doesn’t have to go searching for it. Also in red are signs which say which are the articles that were mentioned on the front cover-as these are usually the articles the audience most want to read. In beige coloured boxes are the articles that are regular features-as often people who buy the magazine every week will like that they are always there and want to read them.

There are two of these boxes – the ‘Word columns’ and the ‘Last Word’-which is a play on the magazines title. At the bottom of this column is a comical cartoon of some previous monarchs this will interest readers and make them want to know which article they are related to.
There is also a old photograph of Bob Marley as there is an article about him, this means that even if people don’t read the contents page, if they just glance at it they will still know that there is an article about him in the magazine.

Word Magazine Front Cover

Analysing Word Magazine

This magazine is called The Word; this makes it sound like the best music magazine as their word is final, so audiences should read this magazine to find the best and most relevant information. It also makes audience think of the phrase ‘The word on the street’ so this makes them think that this magazine tells the audience what they want to hear and they know gossip about artists that they will pass on to their readers. The masthead is the biggest writing on the page so it is the most important information as it’s the name of the magazine. It is well known magazine so that in itself is a large selling point. The main aim for the producers of the magazine is to promote artists and sell magazines so they want the audiences to know what they are reading. The heading is red so it stand out and catch peoples eye, it also connotates danger which relates to the rock genre that the magazine is.

The magazine is promoting Kate Bush so she is on the front page. It is in black and white because it is an old photo-this means it will appeal to an older generation and it still fits in with the genre because rock music is often dark and depressing which is represented by the black. Plus it gives the magazine a softer, classic and genuine feel so it would appeal to more of a older, mature audience. The photo is a close up as it is promoting the artist so audiences need to be able to clearly see her, and she is looking directly into the camera so t is more personal for the reader and they want to read the magazine and find out about her. The photo is quite sophisticated as she is looking quite demure and is not wearing revealing clothes so again it would appeal to an older audience.
Another way you can tell it is targeted to an older audience is by the cover lines, such as “Historical Portrait!” so this makes people think it is old photo’s that were classic when they were younger, so they will be intrigued to look at them so they can reminisce. Another one is “Oasis? Pass” this is an older band so will appeal to their fans and also people of that generation. It suggests that somebody passed on the opportunity to do something with Oasis which may mean people’s entire experience of them and their teen years would have been different, so they would want to read on and find out how.

The other cover lines of magazine articles are positioned next to her so you can clearly see both the writing and her face. Her name is the second biggest font on the page so it is clear that she is the artist they are promoting and who is on the front cover. It has the same font as the masthead to show the link between her and the magazine, it is also in red for the same reasons as the masthead; to stand out and continue with the rock genre and house style. Headings of other articles are put in yellow to catch the readers eye and are more central than the masthead. They are in bold writing so they can easily be read but not nearly as big as the heading about Kate Bush’s article as it not as important.

Another essential item on a magazine front cover is a barcode, however this isn’t very fitting with the rest of the front page and isn’t important to the audience so it is put in very small in the bottom right hand corner so it least likely to catch the readers eye. The magazine also needs an issue number and a date, Word magazine didn’t feel the audience needed to know this information so they put is with the barcode in small in the corner. They also put the price there because they want people to decide to buy the magazine based on what they see and read on the front cover, not by the price.

Double Page Spread Analysis

Double Page Spread

This is a double page spread from the same Q magazine that I analysed earlier. This is clear as it is using the same picture of the artist that is on the front cover, but it also uses the same font in the headings-although it is in a different colour otherwise it would not have been readable. The colours are very simple, they are mostly black and white but with a few small bits of red, this is to relate it to the masthead on the front cover. Black, white and red are very typical of the rock genre which is what genre the magazine is.

The writing is massive so it is easily readable it also uses the same font as the “T” which shows the start of a new topic. The heading says “EARLY ON” which suggests that the article is about Florence’s early life, so it reveals her character which would make her fans want to read it to find out more about her. The font is Bodoni MT Black which is fairly classical and suggests that the article is more like a biography and less gossipy like many articles are as it the truth in black and white (literally). This would then mean it would appeal to an older more mature audience who want to know about the ‘real Florence’ rather than what people have made up. This suits the magazine as their main aim is to sell Florence and her music and it is quite a mature magazine unlike ones like ‘Top of the Pops’.

The photograph of Florence is very big, it fills up the whole of one page to show that the article is about her, and shows who she is to those people who might not know her. It stands out because the article is in black and white but the photo is very colourful and bright. Her face is obviously the main focus as it is framed by both her hair and her hands. In the photo Florence has quite heavy make-up, messy hair and dark nail polish; these things are all very typical of the rock genre so they have done this so audience of Q magazine can relate with her.

The writing is in three columns and aligned to the left which is typical of a magazine article and it makes it look neat so it is easy to read. It is also shaped round the heading as that is the most important part and the first part to be read. On the black bar at the top of the page it says Florence in white writing, to make sure the audience know the article is about her, in case the photo didn’t give it away. Also so it links with the heading as it would be ‘early on’ in Florence’s life or career; that part isn’t fully revealed, it is left as an enigma so the audience want to read on and find out. The lines at the top of the page and underneath the writing also appear on the front cover so they are continued throughout the magazine to relate it all and link it together so the audience then associates that style or font with the magazine. It would be the same with every Q magazine so there is a clear connection between them all.

Q magazine Front Cover

Q Magazine Analysis

The artist on the front cover of this magazine is Florence from Florence and the Machine. It is an extreme close up so you can clearly see who she is, this is important because the main reason for her being on the front cover is to sell the artist. She is looking directly at the camera to engage with the audience and make them interested. She is also framed by her hair as this is her USP that means many people would recognise her by. It also means the writing can be white and stand out and still frame her face. As her face is the main focus point of the front cover if the writing is placed to frame her face it means it is more likely to catch the audience’s eye. Plus it makes the audience look at the picture more as everything else on the page appears to point to it.

In big writing at the top of the page is the artist’s name and a quote by her, this makes people want to read the double page spread about her. Next to the writing in the top left hand is the masthead. This is the biggest item on the whole page and is bright red; this means it stands out so it is clear what magazine it is-as Q is a very well known music magazine. It also reveals a bit about the genre of the magazine as the red connotates danger of blood which are part of the rock genre. The Q is in white so it stands out against the red background and draws your eye to it. The artists name and quote is in the same writing and style as the masthead so they are easily relatable, also all other headings and writing on the front cover are the same font and all in white, this continuance shows that all these things are related and typical of the magazine-all other headings in the magazine are most likely the same writing as well.

Blue is also used in the front cover but a lot more subtly, there is a pug used which is bright blue-this stands out against the orange background but also matches Florence’s eye make-up. All of the other headings also have little bits of blue in them-whether it’s an underline or a bullet point but it just again means all the headings and the picture are linked and it looks coordinated.The writing is in lots of different sizes so your eye is drawn to various different headings; if they were all the same size then they would look boring and people are less likely to want to read them. The most important parts of the headings are in the biggest writing so they are read first, it also means even if people are scanning the page these things will catch their eye and interest them so they want to read on and find out about what they are about.

There are a few things that are needed on a front cover, but they are not important to the audience so they are placed to be as inconspicuous as possible. For example the barcode, date and issue number, in this case they are all put in the right hand corner as this is where the audience are least likely to look.