Task 2: Research and Planning: Case study 1 – NME Magazine

Front cover:

• The main cover image is of Florence and it is a close up, I think this picture was use as a way to connect with the audience as a way of persuading the reader to buy it. Also the cover star is wearing white in this image and this matches the white text which is use quite a lot all over the cover page. 
• The masthead of this issue of NME has been made white because it stands out against the red background of  Florence’s hair. Although it stands out against the red it also matches with the white top that Florence is wearing. The colour of the masthead also contrasts with the main cover line helping it to stand out even more which it is supposed to because the masthead of a magazine is meant to stand and be remembered.
•  On the right  side of the magazine cover there are a few other cover lines, which gives the reader an idea of the kind of different articles that will be feature in this issue of the magazine without them having to open the magazine. The colour is white just like the masthead but of course these cover lines do not stand out as much as any other important features of a magazine front cover such as the masthead or the main cover line
•  The main cover line is also a feature of a magazine that should stand out to the reader and in this magazine it does. The cover line was made black and is this only black text on the front cover, also its colour stands out against the white and red background.  In addition to this the cover line is very big in comparison to any of the other texts on the cover which makes it catch the reader’s attention easily which helps to persuade them to buy the magazine.
• At the top of this issue of NME magazine there is another cover line telling the reader that this is a special edition. Not only is this informative but it also as advertisement because seeing that there is something new about the magazine or in the magazine will attract more buyers. Here a pull quote that refers to the main cover line and the cover star is used which is effective as it is a basic way to give the reader of the magazine more of an idea as to what the article of the cover star will be about.
• Underneath the masthead of the magazine there is a slogan that quite simply just tells the reader what NME stand for.
• Like on most magazines there is a barcode which allows the reader to buy the magazine.

Contents Page:

• Just like in every magazine, the contents page tends to have some kind of title, in NME the contents page title is NME THIS WEEK and just like on the front cover, the title does not take up the whole of the top of the page. Also for a new reader they would be able to know from the title of the contents page that NME publishes a new issue of their magazine every week. In addition to this, the title is the biggest and most obvious piece of text on the contents page so the reader’s attention will instantly be drawn to it as soon as they open the magazine to this page
• NME Magazine lists the names of bands on the left side of most of their contents pages. Next to these band names are page numbers so that the reader can easily find where the band they would like to read about is, this is effective because it saves the reader a lot of time as they won’t have to go through the whole magazine to find who they would like to read about.
• NME uses subtitles going down the right side of the contents page such as, News, Features, Live and others. This is effective because readers are easily able to locate part of the magazine that they are or would be most interested in.
• An extract has been taken from an article and used in the contents page, this is effective as it is a way of drawing the readers attention to this particular article making them find it as they would want to continue on reading it.
• At the bottom of this NME contents page is a big, bold red arrow. Immediately when looking at this page your attention gets drawn to this arrow. This how been done to show a very important part pof the magazine or to show something that most people would be interested in.
• This magazine issues date has been places underneath the contents page title which gives the reader knowledge of its publication date and when the next publication will be,

Double Page Spread:

• From the way Florence is looking straight at the camera gives the audience the impression that she is in control and confident.
• This is a very uncluttered double page spread as it doesn't have a lot of text or a lot going on in the background which keeps all the attention on the main image of Florence.
• The main image is long shot of Florence in which she is dressed in all black enabling the reader to see her more aggressive side, In addition to this the way that she positioned in this photo shows her femininity and this links with the type of font that have been used for the title of this article and the drop cap as well. The font would be recognized by most as a "girly" font. Having said this, they do contradict each other in a way which that the femininity that is shown through the picture of Florence is a more fierce type of femininity whereas the type of femininity shown though the font of the title and drop cap is more of a gently and soft type of femininity.  the bright red colour that is her hair to pop out really well against the background. Speaking of the colours, the colour scheme has been kept consistent from the front cover, red, white and black. 
• In the background in big letters is written "USA" and this could mean to the reader that Florence has become big in the USA as she is British.  The fact that the letters are so big could be just to emphasize how big she has become in the USA and her achievements there as well. In the image Florence is sitting on some cloth that has the British flag on it showing that she originally Great Britain.
• The small amount of text that is in the double page spread is well organised into three clear columns making it more appealing to the reader and also encouraging them to read it.