Front cover, contents page and double page spread analysis

1. Q magazine
analysis

2. FRONT COVER

3. Header
The header is a bright colour which contrasts
against the rest of the magazine, it advertises a
17-page special inside the magazine.
Masthead
The masthead is the ‘Q’ logo
and is the same on every Q
magazine which makes it easily
recognisable. The font is formal
and slightly sophisticated –
aiming it at older teenagers/
young adults, this does not look
like a childish masthead. The
masthead is presented in the
top left corner of the magazine,
it is placed here as this will be
the first thing the viewer will see,
it is also coloured red as red is a
prominent colour therefore it will
be the first colour noticed on
the magazine.
Anchorage text.
The anchorage text is the biggest boldest piece of information
(other than the masthead) on the magazine as it links to the main
image, the viewer would see the main image and instantly want
to know what it was about therefore its crucial that the anchorage
text is larger than the cover lines so the reader wouldn’t get
confused about which one linked to the main image. ‘Arctic
Monkeys’ are in bold letter to show the reader that this is the main
focus of the magazine.
Cover Lines.
The cover lines are situated
around the band members
and are in both bold and
not. This is to gain attention
on the more important
information to the readers,
these cover lines inform the
reader on any other artist
that will be featured within
the magazine – this will
influence whether the
reader will purchase the
magazine.
Date and Price
The date and price are
indicated near the barcode
in small print, this is usually as
the company doesn’t want
the price to stand out as it
doesn’t appeal to the
audience.

4. Q focuses on successful artists rather than new upcoming
artists. This means the target audience are more likely the
mature music appreciating people that are interested in
popular music rather than new ones.
Typography
The font is mainly in sans serif,
this makes the magazine look
mature and easy to read, the
masthead is in serif to make it
look more sophisticated and
the most important part of
information on the magazine
front cover.
Main Image
The main image consists of four
cover models, (Jamie Cook, Alex
Turner, Matt Helders & Nick
O’Malley) Alex is the lead singer
of Arctic Monkeys therefore is
situated more forward than the
others and only he is using direct
address to entice the reader in.
also, if all four band members
used direct address the viewer
would feel intimidated and may
get put off reading the
magazine, and the other three
band member reinforce Alex as
their frontman, as the attention is
focused upon him. Another
reason to why the other band
members are looking other ways
are to make the reader curious
about what their looking at and
will be intrigued to find out. They
are also wearing darker colours
which contrasts against the white
writing and the masthead, it also
makes the reader focus on the
masthead, cover lines,
anchorage text and the bands
faces.
Colour
The main colours used are
white, red and black yet
some grey and blue are used
to, the greys and red
indicate that Q is a mature,
traditional magazine that
takes itself more seriously.
Layout
The format of the magazine is neatly laid out. The information
is presented at the bottom of the magazine framing the
bottom of the cover models faces, the cover models are
situated almost symmetrically in the middle of the magazine
making a cross shape. The layout makes the magazine easy
to read and it doesn’t look to crowded or busy.

5. CONTENTS PAGE

6. ‘Issue 292’ is
indicated at the top
right corner which
helps the reader
identify the
magazine issue.
The name of the magazine ‘Q’ is located in the
top left hand of the page, this is to remind the
reader which magazine they are currently
looking at and it is also placed here as it will be
the first thing the reader sees. The title of the
magazine is then followed by the word
‘contents’ to highlight what the page is about.
A number of double
page spread articles
are advertised
throughout the
contents page. These
pictures show the
double page spread
itself. This is good as
its not false
advertisement and it
showing the
‘product’ how it is.
This will entice the
reader to purchase
the magazine to
read the double
page spreads
advertised.
A picture of the issue
and the different
varieties of front
covers is also situated
on the page to inform
readers the different
covers available.
Collectors would find
this extremely
informative as then
they can collect
each and every
version of the
magazine.
The date is situated at the bottom to let the reader
know what issue goes to which date. This also helps
collectors or usual customers file the magazines in order
or just to simply let them know which dates they have
and if they’ve missed any out. The date is in a small font
out the way on the bottom of the page as it is not as
important as the rest of the magazine.

7. Colours
The Q magazine
contents page,
double page spread
and front cover all
have the same colour
scheme all throughout
the magazine.
The contents page
is situated on a
double page to
make it bigger so its
easier to read and
to add more
information about
the magazine.
Typography
The typography is situated in serif which gives the
magazine a sophisticated feel and highlights that the
audience is a more mature age rather than younger
audiences. The largest piece of text on the contents page
is the number ‘47’ which is published on the front cover as
anchorage text and is the main article in the magazine.
A number of pictures
can be seen located
around the contents
page. This is to entice
the reader in to tread
the magazine and find
out more about the
articles in the
magazine. The main
image in the contents
page links to the front
cover and the
anchorage text on the
front cover.
The contents is split into two different categories ‘regulars’
and ‘features’. Regulars are what is usually seen in the
magazine and features is something which isn’t usually
seen in the magazine. The features are positioned on the
left as his will be the first thing the viewer reads, yet the
regulars have to be present on the magazine for those
who have never read the magazine before.

8. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

9. Main image
The main image is linked to the article.
Cheryl Cole (the model) isn't using
indirect address as she looks quite fierce
and could seem intimidating towards
the reader, she is also looking towards
the article making it more intriguing to
read it. She is also dressed in black with
studs and looks stereotypically punk rock
which links to the genre of the
magazine.
The header is just Cheryl’s name to make the
reader curious about the actual topic of the article
and will make them want to read on. The headline
also presents her name as ‘cheryl COLE’ which
may be because viewers may know her last name
more as it identifies her more as a celebrity.
The main image of Cheryl takes up the
right half of the double page this is to
signify how much of a great musician she
is, there is also another smaller image
embedded at the bottom of the article
which relates to the article.
Quote
This quote is presented in large bold red letters which stand out to the reader, the
reader will then read it and want to find out more about what is in the article. The quote
states that Cheryl doesn’t know what she looks like anymore, this can link in different
ways as she is usually presented on magazines from children's to rock and is presented in
many different ways which could also lure the reader in to read the article.

10. Most magazine double page
spreads are split into 2-4
columns, this is done to organise
the writing and making it look
neater and more appealing to
the eye rather than it being one
long paragraph.
A large red ‘C’ is shown in the
background of the article to stand for
Cheryl. Q magazine often use this
technique which is a unique thing about
their double page spread. The large red
‘C’ is eye catching to the reader yet also
follows the colour scheme of the rest of
the magazine. Red has connotations of
passion and love yet also connotes
danger and warning which could both
link to Cheryl’s article. The large ‘C’ also
makes Cheryl look more powerful and
makes her stand out more. She’s not just
a common person she’s a celebrity.
The colour scheme is
consistent throughout
the whole magazine,
red, white and black.
This is to keep the
magazine formal and
sophisticated.
The other slightly less large black
‘C’ signifies where the main article
starts and locates the reader to
the right place as they may get
confused. Therefore this letter ‘C’
acts as guidance for the reader.
Cheryl is wearing black clothing which links to the colour scheme, she wears this along side red lipstick
and stands against a white contrasting background. The small photograph under the article also
follows the colour guidelines as its mostly a dark grey and black. This photo is quite stylised in the way
that her hair looks as though its blowing in the wind yet she's had a photo-shoot for this photo. Her hair
is waved about like this to make her look more ‘rough’ and less neat which matches the gratifications
of the magazine and the music genre is publishes.