A contents page is usually 1/2 pages per mag and will act as a menu for what will appear in the rest of the magazine.
General Technical conventions of a contents page-
- Editors hello – May explain why things are where they are
- Page numbers – These tell the readers where to find the content in the magazine and can also show the most exciting pages e.g. competitions or exclusive content
- Images and word clues – Help with the feeling of the magazine.
- Cover lines – These are short and important to promote the content and that page. They should make you want to know more
- Insets and index – Tells you where everything is
- Hyperbole and superlatives in headlines (descriptive) – These will incise the reader and create interest they are the extraordinary or interesting terms alliteration and depth descriptions.
- Graphic illustrations and designs – These are not only appealing for the reader to view but also make the magazine come together and create even more interest.
- Reminder or prompt to the overall magazines name and mission statement – Its important they remember what you stand for and get invested in the magazine
- Photos that relate to the star, listed articles and features – This is important as a big part of why they may have brought the magazine might have been because of the cover star, therefore including them in pictures and articles will keep the reader reading on.
When I design my contents page I will make sure I remember to…
A – Attract
I – Create Interest
D – Create Desire
A – Call to action
I will also remember how to keep a reader and what’s important for a magazine to do, social interaction, personal identity, and to inform and educate.
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This mood board shows some different designs of contents pages in magazines I enjoy. For example I like the unique layouts, the clean intsisng look and the thought out use of color, and the use of lots of pictures to create interest.
These are some catchy headlines and cover lines and or words I have come up with that might work for my music magazine. Its important to use simple but powerful language. Numbers might be included in headlines as people are attracted to numbers. Making bold statements are also good in cover lines as they make you wan to keep reading.
Call to action – ‘try’ ‘click’ ‘YOU’ this involves the reader and make them feel included like they’re actually being spoken to. ‘shocking’ ‘exclusive’ ‘ inside now’ ‘chance to win’ ‘why’ – Question terms that create sense of urgency that might make the reader curious.
![](https://blogs.grammar.sch.gg/hannahking/files/2020/11/Untitled-presentation-1.jpg)
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Above is some handrawn examples of contents pages I enjoy and may use and take inspiration from for my own magazine