Conventions of a contents page

The masthead
The masthead is usually located at the top of the page so it seen as the title of the magazine and is often followed by the word 'contents'. The masthead is the same for each particular brand of magazine, for example Q magazine always has the same letter Q in the same location of every issue, this is to create audience identification.

Main image
The main image is usually very big and the takes up the majority of the page, and is normally a well known singer and band to attract the particular genre that the magazine is representing. It also will link to the type of information that is on the contents page and is of the same music genre.

Column structure
There are commonly 3 or 4 columns on a contents page and this is to make the information easy to read and seems like less text then one big paragraph across the page. Each particular issue will keep the same column structure throughout all their issues to create audience identification.

Articles
Articles are normally organised into regular and feature. Regular being the articles that are there in every issue and feature articles are ones that are only usually only in there as a one off or not regular. The articles relate to the music genre portrayed by the main image and the genre of the particular magazine.

Page numbers

The page number are commonly pretty large and sometimes in a different font and colour so that it is easy for the reader to locate the particular page that they want, and these are next to the specific article that the page is on.

Subheadings
These are a few words and are in big bold font to make it stand out to the audience and they briefly explain the article.

Design and layout
The design and layout is the same for each particular magazines contents pages, this is to create audience identification and make it easy for the reader to locate things.