Analysis of 2 Contents Pages

Kerrang! Magazine - Contents Page

As you can see on the Kerrang! magazine contents page, there are a lot of visual features (pictures), much like the front cover. This attracts their target audience because it helps them identify who each artist/band is. The image of Marilyn Manson is noticeably much bigger than all of the other images, which implies that he is the main feature in this particular issue. Some of the things that are listed in the magazine have little 'icons' which say that they are featured on the front cover, which means that they are the key things in this particular issue. An extra feature which Kerrang! have used is separating the posters from everything else in the magazine, and overlapped each image, which makes the page look more attractive. 

Another aspect which makes this contents page more attractive to its audience is how there's a brief introductory paragraph in the bottom left corner from the editor of Kerrang! magazine. This helps the audience know what's in the issue and gives them a 'warm welcome'. Plus, the signature at the bottom gives the magazine a more formal impression. It's also helpful that there's a small photo of the editor just above, as it shows who they are, and the small black border makes them stand out and makes the page just that little bit more attractive.

With each of the headings that are used, that separate all of the information from each other, they are all in the same colour and same font as used on the front cover. Again, this is to go with the colour scheme and to avoid any clashes of style or colour. The block capital letters for each section helps any readers with a visual impairment, by making it easier for them to read and understand more. They are also there because they are part of the style of the magazine itself. As Kerrang! is more of an informal music magazine, compared to something like NME or even Rock Sound, they would naturally appeal primarily to a younger target audience.

At the bottom right hand corner of the contents page, there's a small feature which advertises deliveries of the magazine, and the way it's presented is effective and helpful for the reader as well as being attractive, visual and interesting for the target audience. This is by making the covers of other issues 'overlap'. So like the front cover of Kerrang! magazine, the visuals continue inside as well.

Q Magazine - Contents Page

As you can see on the contents page for 'Q' magazine, compared with the Kerrang! contents page you see above, it's remarkably different in a whole variety of ways. The first thing that's noticeably different about this contents page in particular is the lack of visuals that are included. The only image that's been included is one of James Blunt, implying that he's the main feature in this issue of the magazine. However this is actually very effective because the way that he's been positioned. It's as if he's addressing the target audience directly and convincing them to buy the issue.

Another difference in the way that this is presented is where the contents page is. 'Q' have chosen to have it running down the side of the page, which is suitable in this case because there had to be room to include the image of James Blunt in the first place. Another reason why they have presented it in this way is simply to try and make sure that it's more formalized. It's also helpful that they have made the word 'Contents' appear in capital letters, because they want to try and catch the audience's attention.

As you can see in the image above, main categories have been used to split up the list of new features and usual aspects of the magazine. Plus, they often add a little caption after each feature, as to give the target audience more information into what and/or who the feature is about. If you also notice on the contents page above, you discover that large text is often used for the smaller titles. This is to help the visually impaired audience identify where they are in the magazine. Smaller text is used for the caption, to give you a brief bit of information.

The other aspect of this contents page in particular which I think is impressive, is how there is a small graphic in the bottom right hand corner of the page. This is a visual which tells the reader to turn the page and keep reading on with the magazine, and it can also be interpreted as a 'hookline'. It also saves valuable space for more information, without needing any other writing. This really gets the audience attracted because they would naturally know what the arrow means. But on the other hand, an older member of the 'outside' target audience probably wouldn't know what it meant, or could have trouble seeing it.