Comparing headlines

The headline for the Cheryl Cole double page spread is small and simple, it instantly names the pop artist ‘Cheryl Cole’ to make sure the magazine is straight to the point and tells the reader who the article is about. The headline does not reveal too much information which entices the viewer to read on and discover what the article is about. The headline is also situated in the top corner of the left page which does not grab our attention easily which causes us to look at the other features on the double page spread. ‘Cheryl’ has been printed in an black italic san serif font which initially portrays the artist as elegant and mainstream however ‘Cole’ has been printed in a black serif font which is completely capitalised and presents the artists bold and fierce side. The use of black also follows the house style of the Q magazine and is a professional colour, not only making the article seem sophisticated but Cheryl Cole as well. This appeals to older audiences as it could indicate that the article is going to include mature and sensible content.  The juxtaposition of the two fonts is an representation of the two sides which the Cheryl Cole has: One side being a member of the pop group ‘Girls Aloud’ and the other showing her individuality and originality as a solo artist. It also highlights her transition and highlights the artists development  from being a part of a girl group to discovering her style and developing on her own. This causes the target audience to be intrigued. The use of capitals for ‘Cole’ may also be because her last name is very iconic and easily catches the target audiences attention.

In contrast, the Nicki Minaj double page spread has the headline of ‘The Gospel According To Nicki Minaj’ which is similar to the Q magazine as it has named the artist yet provides additional information. The headline ‘The Gospel According To Nicki Minaj’ presents Nicki Minaj as holy and can be represented as a goddess figure and her fans ‘worship’ her. Nicki may also be trying to set a good example to her fans by seeming innocent and is portrayed as a role model. ‘The Gospel According To’ has been printed in a fancy, black capitalised serif font which contrasts well with the light pink candy floss background to follow the house style of white black and pink. We can associate with the colour black with authority and power however this is contrasted by the fancy font as it portrays the article and artist as more elegant, mature and sophisticated. Moreover, NME are a music magazine who are  largely associated with rock and indie music so they have had to manipulate the style of this article to appear more vibrant and colourful as they have included a pop/hip-hop artist who is known for her bubbly personality and appearance. On the other hand, ‘Nicki Minaj’ has been printed in a very large capitalised pink san serif font several shades darker than the background to stand out and could suggest that Nicki Minaj is a very controversial artist. This portrays this article as very girly and is symbolic of Nicki Minaj as she is associated with the colour pink and represents her iconic Barbie look. It also connotes a feminine and innocent style of the artist which is juxtaposed by the artists personality and the use of the colour pink will also help attract younger audiences as it is a very popular eye catching colour especially with younger girls. In addition, the use of pink may be a representation of her album ‘Pink Friday’ which will grab her fans attention. The word ‘Gospel’ has religious connotations so this could suggest that the article may be focusing around some sort of religion. The headline in the NME magazine is a lot larger than the Q Magazine headline and covers a quarter of the double spread. This instantly brings our attention to the artists name ‘Nicki Minaj’ and conveys her as quite a bold, powerful artist.

Comparing stand firsts
The double page spread of the Q magazine does not include a stand first as the artist has already been introduced through the headline ‘Cheryl Cole’. This may motivate the audience to read the main body of the article to discover what the article is about as the article is not giving much away.

In contrast, the NME double page spread has included a stand first which describes Nicki Minaj as the ‘Newly crowned Day-glo queen of hip hop’. The metaphor ‘Queen’ has been used to portray Nicki as a dominant and influential artist in the hip hop and pop industry. ‘The 10 commandments of our saviour’ is also another religious reference which may persuade and motivate the audience to read on and discover what the 10 commandments are.
 

Comparing columns of text
In the Q magazine, there are 3 columns of text on the left page of the double spread. The text is not aligned  which gives the article a disordered look and enhances the laidback and reckless feel of magazine which fits in with the rock theme of the article. The serif font used which has been used is small and simple which indicates that the article does not need to look too fancy as the content is the most important feature. There is a large red opaque capital C typed across the article standing for ‘Cheryl’ which gives the article a desirable and eye-catching look- this theme can be seen throughout many Q magazine articles as red is the magazines must iconic colour. Furthermore, a drop capital has been used on C which extends 5 lines into the text and is also another reference to Cheryl Cole and draws the audience into the article.

In contrast, the NME double page spread has 5 columns of text which spread between the two pages. Similar to the Q magazine, the text is not aligned and also suggests that Nicki Minaj is a rebellious carefree artist. A simple, serif font has also been used which is not too bold and keeps the emphasis on the image and headline. A drop capital has also been used on the letter W which also extends 5 lines into the article and adds an additional pop of the colour pink to the article and suits the house style of the article. There are bold, black headings used to separate certain sections in the columns and these are numbered 1-10 to separate the 10 sections into the commandments/guides to becoming a successful artist like Nicki. These help structure the article and give it a professional look.
 

Comparing main photos
On the right page of the double spread, there is a full page photo of Cheryl Cole which conveys the artist as feisty as she is taking up a lot of space and conveys how she cannot be taken out of the limelight. She appears to be photographed in a studio due to the white background and high key lighting. It is a medium long shot of the artist who is looking to her right towards the article on the left. This causes the audience to look at the article as Cheryl is directing us to read it. She is wearing black ripped leather trousers with a studded sequin tank top which represents Cheryl as punky and defiant portraying the artist in a different light showing us that she has a darker side. She is wearing dark eye makeup which portrays her as a sultry and can be seen as seductive to attract male audiences.

In the NME magazine, there is a medium close up of Nicki Minaj which spreads over the two pages and she is positioned just off centre

of the double page spread which shows that she is dominating the page but does not need to be in the center as her presence is powerful enough. The columns of text are located around the image which frames the artist. She has a very confident, sarcastic and sassy facial expression which conveys her as a very confident artist who may inspire people to be themselves and show that everyone has the freedom to express themselves as she is comfortable in her own skin. Her arm is positioned in an awkward position and covers the headline which proves how famous she already is as people do not need to see her name to know who she is. Her ring is also very significant as it says ‘Icon’ in bold letters which suggests she is an icon to her audience and her fans aspire to be like her. It also proves that she's a very confident individual that flaunts her popularity and fame as she is proud of her achievements. She is looking directly at the camera breaking the fourth wall which also portrays her self-confidence and honesty as her expression is blunt which could suggest that Nicki Minaj is an intimating opinionated artist yet truthful as she is not shying away from the camera. The artist is wearing a zebra print outfit which is very bold and wild which tells us that Nicki is a very outgoing artist who enjoys expressing herself. She is also wearing a colourful necklace which adds a pop of colour to pink, black and white style and portrays the artist and article as fun and mirrors the genre of pop. She is wearing her iconic pink lipstick which matches with the house style of the double page spread and gives Nicki a Barbie look which is also emphasised by her flawless airbrushed skin.
 

Byline

The two magazines have not included a byline on the double page spread articles.
 

Comparing secondary photos
On the left page of the double spread there is another medium close up of Cheryl Cole who appears to be in a photo shoot or music video. It is the smallest image on the double page yet is relatively large which shows her importance as it covers a quarter of the page. It has been placed within the article which is very conventional and gives the magazine a professional look. Within the image, it is evident that Cheryl is situated in a city due to the buildings and lights behind her. She is wearing a combination of leather and mesh and represents the genre of rock and also appears to be wearing a top hat which gives the artist status and dominance. She is looking directly at the camera however the shadow from her hat is obscuring her eyes giving Cheryl a mysterious yet seductive look which may appeal to the male audiences. It may also suggest that the audience are unaware of who Cheryl truly is as an artist and is covered up as we are expected to discover more about her in the article.
 

Unlike Q magazines double page spread, there are no secondary photos on the NME article as there is a large image of Nicki Minaj which dominates the two pages. Additional photos may also take our attention away from the main image on the double page spread so our attention only focuses on the large image of the artist.

 

Comparing pull quotes
On the Q magazine double spread, there is a pull quote ‘I don’t know what I look like anymore. Do you know what I mean?’ which is printed in a red capitalised serif font and it is located on the bottom left hand corner. The font is fairly large and is very eye-catching as the red contrasts with the white background. This pull quote may appeal to a range of audiences especially teenagers as they may be able to relate to Cheryl Cole if they feel as if they are not satisfied with their own appearance. The pull quote also relates to the fact that the magazine is presenting Cheryl in a different way as this article is portraying her as more of a violent and rebellious rock artist.

​

Similarly in the NME article, there is a pull quote which says ‘I really toned down the sexual stuff. There was no need for me to do it’. It has been printed in a bold, capitalised san serif font which switches between black and white. Reversed text has been used to emphasise and bring a lot of attention to the pull quote. This causes the audience to question why Nicki believes this and entices us to read the article to find out. It also portrays Nicki Minaj as a more mature individual and shows her in a more positive light as many of her songs are known to be very controversial.


The Articles Focus
The Q magazine article is focusing on Cheryl Cole as an artist and how she doesn’t recognise herself anymore. It is a real scenario and addresses how she has evolved as an artist and that her new music is not like Girls Aloud as she wants to feel more passionate about her own individual work that she is creating as a solo artist. The article creates a positive image of Cheryl Cole as it is showing the audience that everyone can develop their own style and you should only do what you want and to believe in yourself so you do not try to please others.
 

The NME article focuses on Nicki Minaj and her popularity as an artist. It is a real scenario which is addressing Nicki Minajs advice to everyone on how to be as successful as her and live a better life. Similar to the Q magazine, it is also addressing how she has evolved as an artist by toning down sexual references in her songs. This article also portrays the article in a positive light as the use of religious words portrays the artist as holy and a role model to her fans.