Contents Page Overview

Each of these contents pages come from We Love Pop Magazine. The symbiotic link is clearly maintained over the four contents pages and it is clear that they are from the same magazine. They are produced with the hope that the look and layout of the contents page will attract the target audience to read it.

Each contents pages features ‘We Love This’ at the top of the page in the signature We Love Pop font. This title links to the Masthead and makes it clear what magazine it is from. It maintains the brand identity and allows the readers to identify it as a contents page from We Love Pop straight away. The masthead is also present in a smaller size in the top right corner. This again allows the contents page to be instantly recognisable as We Love Pop.

The layout of each contents page is exactly the same throughout the issues, with slight differences varying from issue to issue. There are expected features of a contents page such as articles featured and page numbers alongside it, images that relate to articles inside that feature the page number in the corner etc. Each contents page features a Letter From the Editor on the left hand side of the contents page. It features alongside an image of the main feature artist from the front cover with the editor. This is a common layout convention of pop contents pages as it makes the magazine seem more personal as the editor has taken the time to summarise the new issue. It also emphasises the feel of the magazine being a like a friend or sister to the target audience.

Each issue features 5 images on the contents page. The largest image is of the main feature artist who is on the front cover. This allows it to be the first thing that catches the readers eye when they open the magazine and can instantly find out where the double page spread is located in the magazine. The main feature article is usually one of the main things that attracts the reader to buy the magazine as they see their favourite artist on the screen, which is why this layout feature is so important. The other three images always feature in the same place on these contents pages, three alongside the main image going down the right hand side, and two underneath the main image, next to the ‘inside this month’. This creates a symbiotic link between each issue and also maintains the brand identity. These images will also attract the target audience as they will instantly recognise the artists and realise that they feature and want to read the articles. It also makes the contents page look more visually appealing.

Another layout feature of these contents pages is the ‘Inside This Month’ section. This is to inform the reader what articles feature and where they can find them. This in an extremely important feature of contents pages as the purpose of a contents page is to inform the reader where they can find the articles. The style of this section is the same in each issue, which maintains the brand identity. Each issue uses different colours for this section that contrast eachother, eg pink and black. This makes it stand out and catch the audiences attention easily.

Another feature of these contents pages is the puff ‘For your eyes only’. This instantly draws in the audience and creates a feel of the magazine being jam packed with fresh, top secret gossip. It also creates and intimate and personal feel for the reader, like the magazine is just for them and noone else. This will instantly draw in the reader and make them want to read the magazine.

Repeated patterns are shown in the colour scheme presented on each contents page. They all use a variety of bright, contrasting, eye catching colours. The most common colour scheme used is black with a bright colour like pink or blue. However, although the colour scheme varies, each issue seems to feature black font with a contrasting colour. This allows the brand identity to be shown throughout every issue, but still allow each individual issue to have its own uniqueness. By using a variety of colours, the magazine can appeal to a wider target audience, as their favourite colours would be featured on at least one issue. Generally, however, all colours featured will appeal to a bubbly young female and serve to successfully reflect the fun and lively personality of pop and the up beat style of the music itself.

Each contents page features smaller images at the bottom of the page to represent the posters available in that particular issue. The number of posters available tends to vary from issue to issue but by feature a smaller version at the bottom of the page, further entices the TA and makes them want to purchase the magazine. Also, by placing it at the bottom of the page,

the available posters will be the last thing that the audience see. This will enable it to act as the ‘cherry on top’ as it will be the last feature that further persuades the audience to buy the magazine.

Having carried out this overview, it is clear that ‘We Love Pop’ has its own brand identity and signature look that can be easily recognized by its target audience. This is maintained through the repetition of stylistic features in from issue to issue that feature in all aspects of the magazine, and is a great way of helping the magazine succeed and maintain a loyal fan base.