Contents Page Sketch Drafts

Similarly to the front cover, with my contents page I originally sketched up a layout I would use for my contents page. Within this layout I included the name of the page (contents)/masthead at the top, covering the whole width of the page. I then decided to place the list of pages and features that would be included in my magazine along the left hand side, covering the whole length of the page. An editors letter would then be placed opposite the navigation section. However, this would not take up the length of the page as under the editors letter would be a selection of images from the main feature.

I then planned my contents page in depth and drafted what my features would be called. I decided to include both features that were on the cover and also what would be regular in the magazine. The 'on the cover' section will be at the top of this column as it will be the first thing the readers will want to look at as the features on the cover would have been the main reason people have bought the magazine.

When deciding what to write about in the 'editors letter' section I chose to write about what this issue would feature and the reasoning for choosing these particular features this month. When planning what images I would feature on the contents page I decided to choose some from 'behind the scenes' of the main feature to give the reader more of an insight into the shoot and make them feel more involved in the magazine.

Front Cover Sketch Drafts

When planning my front cover I started by making a sketch draft of the layout I was going to use and then made a second sketch draft when included the masthead name, cover lines and image etc.

When planning my layout I decided to stick with the typical music magazine conventions and place the masthead in the top left of the splash. I then decided to place the main image along the right hand side, taking up the majority of the splash, ensuring it stands out and is the first thing people notice. The main cover line was placed on top of the main image to distance it away from the other covers lines and making sure it is linked with the main image/feature. The main image will be shown in a close up as it will make the reader feel engaged due to strong eye-contact, making them want to buy the magazine and read on further.

The caption to the main cover line will make the story featured seem as though this is breaking news and has never been seen anywhere else due to the use of words such as 'finally' and 'reveales'.

The masthead will be shown fully and will not be covered by the main image as my magazine is a new one and therefore the public will be unaware of it, meaning that if the main image covers the masthead the audience will not know what the magazine is called.

I then decided to place the remaining cover lines down the left hand side of the image and make them smaller than the main cover line and also in a different font and colour so it is clear to the reader that they are not linked and do not relate to the main image.

Finally I decided to include a banner along the top of the splash to relate the magazine to music completely and make the magazine seem more realistic as, when carrying out research, noticed most magazine covers included a banner along either the top of bottom.

Second Double Page Spread IT Draft

After trying to complete my double page spread I had originally planned it became clear that it would look unprofessional and therefore I was unhappy with what would have been the finished product and so decided to re draft my ideas and create a new spread that would look a more realistic version of a music magazines double page spread.

Instead of placing it in the top right of the right hand page, the masthead will be in the top left of the left hand page. The caption will still be placed under the masthead and the article under that. Ensureing that these will be the main focal points i have decided to make the font larger and more clear.

However, the article will continue on the right hand side of the double page spread and there will only be one image on the first page, making sure the attention will not be taken away from the main article but ensuring that there is enough attention on the image to show that this is the feature linking with the main story featured on the front cover.

Target Audience

Through researching existing magazines i realised that most have a clear idea of who their target audience will be and so, before constructing any planning or ideas i thought of who my target audience would be and then worked my way around what would be the best things to feature to fit in with the specified audience.

When planning my magazine I had a clear idea of what my target audience would be. As my magazine features young stars and artists that younger people would be interested in I decided to aim my magazine at people aged between 15 and 25, which is similar to popular and well known existing music magazines such as 'NME'. As my magazine is aiming to people that are quite young i will have to make the splash seem appealing through the use of colours, fonts and language, making it clear that the message being given out is the right one and also one that those of a young age can relate to and feel comfortable reading about.

For example, the main article is going to be about a new teen star in the music industry, therefore will relate to readers and give them inspiration if they are trying to do the same thing. This will contribute to the genre of people the magazine is targeting as the image will look quite 'rocky' and 'alternative'. However, the banner and cover lines featured will be targeting a more indie and r'n'b audience, giving my front cover a wide variety of genre's making it more easy to relate to and broadening my target audience further.


As my magazine will be covering most music genre's, e.g. indie, rock, alternate and parts of r'n'b, it will be targeting people who have an interest in all artists, broadening the target audience and making my magazine more popular which is important as my magazine will be a new one, therefore it will need the most publicity possible.

Most magazine's target a predominant audience of male's and therefore i decided to challenge the typical conventions and feature a female as my main cover line story and try and equal out the male to female ratio of who would buy and be interested in my magazine.

Double Page Spread IT Draft

When planning my double page spread I decided to feature three images covering the left hand page and a part of the right which balances out the ratio between text and image.

Taking up the majority of the right hand page is the masthead, caption and article. The masthead will take up about half of the page to make it noticeable to the reader so it catches their eye and they know that this is the main article in the magazine.

The caption will be placed underneath the masthead and be in a larger font than the article to give an outline of the story and let the reader know straight away what it is about.

The article will then be in a smaller font but large enough not to overcrowd the area and clear enough to read so the reader doesn't get bored or distracted from the small font and divert their attention somewhere other than the magazine.

Contents Page IT Draft

When planning my contents page i decided to place the masthead 'contents' along the top of the page in a large font to ensure it stands out from the rest. This is important as it is the title of the page and therefore needed so the reader knows what page they are on.

Down the left hand side of the splash is the editors letter and image of the editor. This will be smaller than the features section but still large enough so the reader will know about the magazine. Placed along the right and bottom of the page and taking up the majority of the splash are the 'features' which will let the reader know what will be featured in the magazine and where to find them. This is vital to the contents page as it is important for the reader to know where the features that are taking up the whole magazine will be.

Placed next to the features section running in the middle of the splash is an image relating to the main feature/double page spread. This is placed next to the 'features' section that mentions the main article, creating a link, however is large enough and predominant enough so the reader will not have to read the 'features' to know where to find it. Placed with the image is the page number it is featured on.

Front Cover IT Draft

When planning my front cover I chose to make the main image large, covering most of the page to make it stand out and make sure that it is the first thing the reader sees. It is important it is seen by the reader as it is the main feature in the magazine and therefore the thing the audience should see first. Featured on top of the main image is the main cover line, which will be large, covering the bottom half of the main image. This means it will not distract the reader's attention completely away from the main image as the attention will be shared, each feature taking up an equal part of the main convention.

Covering the second largest part of the magazine is the masthead which is important as it is the name of the magazine and therefore should also stand out and be clearly seen. Under the masthead is the selling line which will be smaller than the rest of the text featured but large enough for people to see.

Running down the left hand side of the splash are two cover lines. I chose to only put two cover lines on so it does not draw away the attention from the main cover line but there is enough to make the audience read without getting bored of everything featured.

Running across the top of the splash is the banner which will be a different colour to the cover line text to make it noticeable, despite being placed at the top.

Placed in the bottom left of the splash is the bar code, price, date and magazine issue number as these are the least important features and therefore are small and not taking the attention away from everything else on the front cover.