Planning and Drafts

Hand drawn drafts

This contents page from NME is only slightly different from the others. It contains a title, although not called Contents but NME this week which obviously tells us that this magazine is weekly.

The contents are split into sections: News, Studio News, Reviews and Band Index. We have images of more important stories or articles featured on this page, just like in the other two contents pages.

The colour scheme is mainly green, white and navy with the exception of the red NME logo.

Kerrang! Contents Page Analysis

This contents page, taken from Kerrang! is much like the page from DRUMMER.
It has the obvious article page numbers and the title 'contents'.

Just like in DRUMMER, the page has a colour theme. This colour theme differs slightly with yellow, black and white. This keeps it simple and modern.

Again, just like with the other magazine, there are images which link to articles, and the bigger the image the more important the article.

The only significant difference in this magazine to the last is the quote from Corey Taylor from SlipKnot at the top and the editors note. However, the editors note is often seen in a magazine.

Thanks to http://amizzle69.blogspot.com/2008/11/production-task-research-analysis_07.html for the image.

Contents page analysis

This contents page, taken from DRUMMER magazine is set out, as I would expect most magazine contents pages.
Of course, all contents pages must provide the page number to each article, but it is not uncommon to find images linking to articles, and the features split up (there is a regular column).

This magazine keeps it simple with a theme or red-orange, white and black which is just like any page in a magazine; Each page or double page spread will have a colour theme.

The images in this contents page are also listed in the 'features' bit, so it seems that these articles are the most important or at least the most attractive. The bigger the picture, the more important.

Like you'd expect, the title is 'contents' but the date is not always shown on the contents page.

Thanks to http://beauchampcollegemedia.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/drummer20-20contents20-20jan2007.jpg for the contents page image.

Another double page spread from NME

This double page spread is very much like the one on the Artic Moneky's band member. It has the main image at the left side, which domiates the whole page.
The right page then has, again like in the other, a main title, which is big, bold and themed. The text is columned, and also has the brief sypnosis of the full article.
The title is also catchy and easily recognisable to a fan of the band. The main image is also trying to attract you and grab your attention.
It seems to me that even within the double page spread, the magazine wants you to read the article and will put a lot of effort into making you want to.
The theme is also important in the double page spread. Graphically, it has to look good and cool. Too many colours and it will look stupid, and too little will look boring. In this, they have used the simple black and white but revived it, to look retro and hip.

This double page spread, from NME again, is dominated by the image of MUSE

The WARNING has the two lines, one above and one below which is exactly what the Muse logo looks like. It looks effective and adds importance to Muse.

The large image of the Band shows them looking at the camera, maybe slightly looking down to show power too. The room shows many guitars, cables and normal touring equipment. The electric guitars are probably on show because one, they are a rock band, two, because two of band members are said to be fantastic guitarists and three, because it looks so cool! Which is what NME want to get across; Muse are cool, rock music (and alternative) is cool, and that's why they are featured in NME because that is their ideology - to make rock and alternative appear cool.

The text isn't in columns, but that could be because there is little text. The page number is present and so is a main title, picture and brief description which sums up the title.

Double Page Spreads

This double page spread is from NME magazine. The style, or theme of the page is like an old newspaper. Yorkshire is seen as old and still traditional and this could be emphasise that this Artic monkeys band member is from the small, old region of Yorkshire (actually sheffield). NME are trying to represent Alex Turner as a Yorkshire boy who has made it big (NewYork is seen to be a big place, big apple). The title also emphasises how big New York is, with the tall lettering and stand-out colour.

The double page spread has a rather large image of Alex Turner, which is eye catching and and the main focus point of the pages. The large image provides an instantaneous knowledge to the reader what the pages are about: Alex Turner. It also emphasises that he is important.

Most magazine content is presented in columns and this is no different. The title, as usual, is at the top too. There is also, underneath the title, a small description of the article which usually tries to get you to read it. All three of these things are so common in magazines, they are conventions.

Things are common within a double page spread:

• The first letter of the article to be big and bold.
• Page number is shown
• A brief description of the article is shown. Possibly to attract people to read it, especially if they are just 'flicking through'.
• The main title. This consists of something catchy, remorable and sometimes funny to make you want to read it.
• A main picture. This makes it easier to understand what the article is about and again it's used to attract you to read it. If it's someone you like, or a band you like, then you're more likely to read it.