Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Magazine Contents Pages?

Within the contents pages of magazines, there is always a main image which is the feature or main topic of what the magazine is trying to sell to its target audience. The main image is also always situated either directly in the middle of the page, easily draws the attention of the reader, or is slightly off centre but still takes up the majority of the page. With the main image there is also, most of the time, a cover line which anchors the subject of the magazine to the image. Due to the fact that magazines have a targeted audience and engaged readers it means by giving them an option to look at the contents page and read what topics are going to be covered, it makes it easier for them to decide if the magazine is something they are interested in buying. It also makes it easier for new buyers to see if they are interested in purchasing the magazine and becoming a subscriber. 

A lot of the time magazines also have advertising or show off free products that you can get with the first purchase for example the CD's in the RNR magazine. This is one way that magazine companies entice new buyers into becoming members. Which could be argued to be a trick to get people to buy the magazines and become invested with the contents and become a member, keeping them interested.