2. Many magazines feature a slogan –
it can be used under the header to
explain the magazine or make it
stand out in this case ‘The UK’s
Biggest Music Magazine’ is used to
make Q stand out from its rivals.
The Masthead – is most likely at the
top of the page, in this case – the top
left. The Masthead creates the ‘brand
image’ and helps the magazine
become more recognisable to its
audience.
Sometimes there is a variety of fonts
used on a front cover, usually 3 or 4 –
this makes the front cover of the
magazine more interesting but some
magazines such as Q use the same font
throughout, this can help make the
front cover more recognisable. Tag lines are the main text on the
front cover, they are used to
advertise the articles that are in the
magazine to the reader.
Most pages will have a colour palette, this is a
defined choice of colours which creates a
house style, and makes the brand easily
recognisable.
There is always a dominant image on a
front cover of a music magazine, in this
case it is of Cheryl Cole. An image on the
front cover is usually shot in a studio, and
sometimes uses direct address (like the
image on the front of Q magazine to the
right. This dominant image will link in with
the main feature article of that edition of
the magazine.
The feature article cover line is always bigger than the
rest and dominates the page, along with the dominant
image – this is the article that the producers hope will
sell the magazine.
Straplines usually go at the top or the bottom
of the magazine, these are used to highlight
stars in the magazine, or other articles of the
magazine, Q has not used these however.
Front Covers can sometimes include ‘Puffs’ these are
competitions that the magazines create to engage with
the audience.
3. Some content pages such as the
one I have used for this slide
include an Issue Number (usually
next to the magazine title, in the
right corner of the page) and an
Issue Date, usually positioned
with the Issue Number, shown on
the front cover as well as the
contents page.
The word ‘Contents’ is prominent,
it lets the audience know exactly
what page they are on, it is
usually written in bold, capitals
and also the colour of the text
usually contrasts with the
background, this makes it stand
out to the audience.
The Dominant Image on the contents page is
usually from the main, most important feature
article in the magazine. Most of the time it is
positioned in the middle or towards the side of the
page and is framed by the rest of the text.
The Magazine logo is usually in the top left hand
corner of the contents page.
Some magazines use Category Headings on their Contents
Page. This is usually subscriptions, puzzles, and competitions.
Sometimes on Content Pages, there is a ‘Specials’ section, like on
this Q content page. These are one off interviews or features. It is
separate from the other headings so it stands out, as this is an
important part of that issue of the magazine.
Page Numbers are always included on a content page.
Usually they start on the left, in this case they are a
different colour from the heading so they stand out. The
headings are only either one or a few words, this is
followed by a short sub-line explaining more about the
article.
Sometimes a Website is included on the
content page, typically next to the issue
number and issue date. It always the
audience to get more information about
the magazine and allows the magazine
to promote the company.
Sometimes content pages have
quotes from interviews they have
had done for that edition of the
magazine. Most of the time, they
are on the main image like this one.
They never cover the faces of the
bands or artists.
4. A Dominant Image is usually direct address. The model sometimes
looking directly at the audience through eye contact, or looking away.
The dominant image stands out the most on the double page spread.
A quote from this interview is sometimes
presented as the headline, or by the picture
and sometimes it is used in the text to break it
up. The quotes used are sometimes
controversial or shocking to grip the attention
of the reader and make them want to read
more.
Another convention that music magazines typically follow for
double page spreads is the celebrities name in bold writing
somewhere. This is to make them stand out more as celebrities and
the main feature of that page.
Sometimes they use a stand first, which is used as an introduction
to the celebrity that is included in the double page spread. Some
readers may not know who the celebrity is just from the image,
therefore introducing them would save some readers not knowing
who they were reading about.
All text on a double page spread is usually size 11pt and is usually aerial
font. However some magazines make the font connote the genre. All
double page spreads have a drop cap which shows the reader when to
start reading. The text is set into columns, usually 2-4 columns. This is to
make the text appear tidy and not all over the page. The page number,
magazine name and text throughout usually use the same font.
Double page spreads follow the same colour scheme that is ran
throughout the magazine, it is usually simple so it doesn’t
overpower the article. Often than not, the name of the celebrity is
highlighted by the colour scheme, like the double page spread
below. The colour schemes connote which genre the magazine is
e.g. black is used a lot in rock magazines.
