NME Contents Page analysis

The purpose of this contents page analysis was to gain an understanding of how a magazine of a similar target audience lays out their contents page, how they build a relationship between the front cover and contents page and how they make it accessible for the reader.

The magazine uses several images on its contents page, in total there are 7 images which includes a main central image which is the largest, positioned towards the top in the centre with slightly smaller pictures located all around them. The main image of the contents page features an artist from the Ramones who are one of the main puffs on the front cover of the magazine. The magazine has been constructed in such a way in order to give out useful information about the magazine and its articles and make it easier for its audience to follow. In addition the style and format supports some other ideas found on the front cover. Despite a newspaper not having a contents page, this contents page has been laid out much organised and very original and easy to read the font is not the same as the one on the front cover however it is similar as it is very basic and the main parts of the text in the contents page have been written in bold, furthermore this is further support of the audience that this magazine appeal to as the bands featured on here, we all know that these particular bands all fall under the category of Indie, new wave alternative music. Also the advertisement for subscription of the magazine is a further implication that the age group the magazine is targeting students aged around 16-20 as students tend to be low on income therefore an offer like this would appeal to them.

The information on the contents page is organised in a quite neat and organised manner, which makes it more accessible for the reader. The images have all been placed neatly and each one of them have a caption to go with them and each of these captions include a line from the article, all quoted from what the artist. This makes the reader interested in reading the article and as this interest is gained, the page number is highlighted imposing the image very clearly and boldly which makes it easier for the reader to find their desired article to read, making it more accessible

The different sections of the magazine have been displayed in a small box underneath the main image at the bottom of the contents page. Although it is quite tightly fitted between all the other text and images of the contents page, it is easy to read and accessible. Some of the sections included in the magazine are features, reviews, live, gig guide and fan mail. This tells us that the magazine is all about music and massively includes the readers in the things they include inside the magazine. For example ‘fan mail’ has a whole section in the magazine – targeting all types of audience as you can contact NME magazine through these different forms of social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace which shows that NME are technology aware, this is also supportive of the idea that the audience targeted are students as all students use at least one form of social networking.

The only promotional feature on the magazines contents page is the advertisement which promotes the subscription of the magazine.