Kerrang Contents Page

I will be analysing Kerrang magazine contents page. Kerrang focuses on rock, which is clearly seen from the pictures on the contents page. The first thing that the reader notices is the variety of colour presented on the page. Kerrang, in the same way as Q, sticks to a colour theme (of Yellow, Black and White) but also has incorporated other colours onto the page, making it appear more lively and eye-catching. The main image takes up most of the page and is very effective due to the British flag being held by members of the band. This also suggests who the target audience are people in Britain. All the people in the image are making direct contact with the readers, making it more personal and relatable. Both the words 'Contents' and 'This Week' have been highlighted in yellow, adding a pop of colour to the magazine, and abiding to the colour scheme. The top half of the page also contains pieces such as a double page spread from within the magazine. Page references have also been placed by these to indicate where they are located. This has been done so readers receive a glimpse of the magazine so they know what they will be reading.

The bottom half of the magazine contains an editorial. This is something that I would like to use in my magazine as I feel that it adds a more personal touch to the magazine as there is some interaction between the editor and reader. This is a typical convention of a magazine, which is very appealing to the readers. The headlines are all in a bold font, with black and yellow contrast so that they stand out. There are also more pictures such as Henry Rollins. This makes the contents page more alive and more visually appealing to the reader. Unlike the previous contents page that I have analysed, Q magazine, this one is less wordy and more visual, therefore catering to a target audience who may prefer images to words.

The words ‘5 posters’ has been highlighted and outlined in a red colour. This graphic work adds to the visual appearance of the page and makes the magazine seem less serious, catering to a younger target audience. There is also a competition on the right-hand side of the page. This captivates the reader’s attention and persuades them to purchase the magazine. In effect, this is a marketing method to convince people to buy the magazine, which has proven successful with many other magazines, and is therefore a common convention of a contents page. The competition is linked to the genre as readers have the chance to win a rock star's ‘bandana’. This is very important when including a competition on the contents page as it must show a clear link between the theme of the magazine and the prizes offered.

 Overall, the Kerrang contents page includes many codes and conventions that I will be incorporating into my contents page in order to produce a successful piece.