Kerrang Analysis

Front Cover (Kerrang, 26 February 2011)

This Kerrang front cover is an image dominated layout. The large main image on the front cover is covering the masthead of the magazine which is at the top of the page in bold capital white font to help it stand out from the rest of the text it is also styled in a, smashed up look, as this is what the genre of music is like for this magazine. This magazine must be well known to its target audience as it can afford to put the masthead slightly behind an image as it doesn't need the whole of the magazine title on show.

The Kerrang magazine uses a banner at the top and bottom of the front cover to show interesting stories without giving too much away so the reader wants to buy it and find out what the stories are about. The banner has a red background to help it stand out, as the text is white to help it catch the reader’s eye.

The colour scheme this magazine uses is four colours of red, white, yellow and black. The front cover of this magazine is very image dominated as the large image in the middle is surrounded by a number of smaller images so the target audience know what the articles are about inside the magazine.

The front cover also intrigues readers as they offer “free” items to be included with this magazine so it can beat competitors for reader’s sales. They also offer their audience the chance to win items and help the text stand out by putting a shape around the text in a yellow filling so it is bright and catches the reader’s eye to encourage them to buy the magazine so they have a chance of winning the prize. The text for the audience to win the prize is in larger text as “win” is in capital letters followed by an exclamation mark which shows that it is a rare chance of winning this prize.

Another key convention on the front cover of the magazine is the barcode. Next to the barcode is the price of the magazine, the date of the magazine which tells the target audience if the magazine is recent or old and the number issue.

The Kerrang Magazine uses text boxes which are shaped as rectangles, which catches the reader’s eye as the boxes have sharp edges, they are filled with a black filling as the text which is in yellow stands out better for the reader to see.

The sub headings on the front cover are in larger font than other font around it and also in a different colour so that they work well with the image that they are next to so the reader can spot and match them up easily, when viewing the magazine.

The large image which is the main story uses a quote to describe part of its story then is followed with more information about the article in a different font, this shows the separation between the normal text and the quote.

Front Cover

Contents (Kerrang, 26 February 2011)

The Masthead is at the top of the page indicating to the audience it is the contents page. The word Contents is in yellow font and also in bold and capital letters to help it stand out from the black text box which helps the colours work well together.

Another key convention on the contents page is the editor’s introduction which is on the page down the left hand side column as this gives their own opinion of the magazine and what it is about.

The contents page is very image dominated as nearly half the page is halved with a large image at the top with other little images around it. The other half of the contents page is structured as it has sub headings with other text underneath it. The subheadings are in a bold black font to separate it from the un-bold font. However, the articles are separated into sections to make it easier for the audience to read.

Next to each article, the article is paged numbered to tell the reader what topic each page is on. The number of the page is in red font to separate it from the black.

The heading “Kerrang” followed by “this week” is in large font to help it separate from the rest of the text. The font Kerrang is in white font which is its recognised colour then followed by this week to show the audience what is in the magazine to show its not part of the Kerrang masthead.

Contents

Double Page Spread (Kerrang, 26 February 2011)

The layout of the double page spread is set out in columns with the image over lapping the page so the page is filled and doesn't have any gaps. The large image is to do with the person who the article is about so the audience are aware what it is about. The double page spread opens up with a drop capital to give it a good effect. .

The colour scheme of the double page spread is grey and black and it reflects how the artist is feeling with his music.  The subheadings are in bold font which is separated with a line with the normal text to keep it organised and to make it look professional.

At the bottom of the page it has page numbers to relate with the contents page and has the name of the magazine “Kerrang” next to it so people remember the good articles from this magazine and they want to buy it again.

The large image of the artist has eye contact with the reader to try and intrigue him into reading the magazine as he has a very serious and focused.

The quote on the page with the artist is in grey and white font separating each sentence to give it a good effect it is also has a strip to separate the text and make it look fancier.

Double Page Spread