Introducing: the Catholic News Herald

IN MID-JUNE, I SPENT A WEEK with Communications Director David Hains, Editor Patricia Guilfoyle and Designer Tim Faragher, working on a redesign of the Catholic News Herald, the newspaper of the Diocese of Charlotte.

The pages that follow are from the Oct. 1 issue, which marked the launch of the paper’s new design. They are:

• The front page.

* Pages 2 and 3.

* The center spread.

So…whaddaya think?

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We have winners…three of ‘em!

LOOKS LIKE A TRIFECTA! Just got word about three newspapers in Michigan named one, two, three in design in the latest state newspaper contest.

#1: Ludington Daily News: “Great use of white space to create a very clean paper. Uniquely-shaped flag pulls the reader in.”  | A Henninger Consulting client.

#2: The Petoskey News-Review: “Close call between 1st and 2nd. Nice, clean, easy-to-look-at page layouts. Good use of color–not over-done.” | Another Henninger Consulting client.

#1: The Sturgis Journal: “White space used effectively. Very easy on the eyes.” | Another Henninger Consulting client.

Congratulations to all!

And another winner!

FROM EDITOR JOE SHAW at The Southampton Press comes more good news!

“We won second place in general  excellence at NYPA (New York Press Assn.) our highest showing yet! And the judges’ comments specifically cited our design—which was, of course, our OLD design.”

We launched a new design for The Southampton Press in the spring.

From the judges: “What sets it apart—besides the old-school, Montana-sized page width—[narrowed in the recent redesign] is the exceptionally clean, sophisticated and somewhat understated design. This is a newspaper that knows its market, and is undoubtedly serving it well.”

Congratulations to you and all there, Joe! Can’t wait to see what they say next year!

Pages from: Jennifer Annis | The Greer Citizen

LAST WEEK WE SAW a couple of front pages sent by Jennifer. This week: two sports fronts and an inside sports page. A quick note from Jennifer follows, then the pages and some comments from Ed.

FROM JENNIFER: (The inside page) was a special page we created when a new business opened in the area. We thought it would be neat to feature a sport other than football. Of course, football received its due on the front page of the section!

FROM ED:

1. The ganged caption is a negative. It forces readers to go back and forth, each time having to find the next photo and then the next caption and then the next photo and then the…you get the idea. It’s an approach that may work well for us—but not for readers.

2. The big bubble in the middle means the photos (seems the me they need to dominate) have to be kept small. I think is is inverted thinking.

3. The story doglegs. Uggghhhhh.

4. The page feels overdesigned, like someone was just trying too hard.

FROM ED:

1. Really like the idea of running the heat chart. Makes the story more credible and more real for readers.

2. Very good lead photo.

3. “Young…” head is too close too caption, a bit too far from top of story. Spacing needs adjustment here.

FROM ED:

1. Overall a sound page. Clear and easy to follow.

2. Really bad orphan at the end of the caption on the lead photo.

 

So…Ed leaves only a few comments. But he’s also leaving the door wide open for others. What are your thoughts? Comments? Let fly!

 

 

Pages from: Lauri Shillings | Journal Review

LAURI TAKES US BOLDLY where we have not ventured before: Classifieds. She sends along a couple of pages for review. Her note follows, then her pages with Ed’s comments.

FROM LAURI:

“Ed,

A few of your DzynTweets on Twitter have focused on the front of classifieds.

I’m sending our classified front page and an inside page with a fading glimmer of hope that they won’t get shredded too badly.

I’m wondering if it is absolutely necessary to include the entire heading/subheading listing on our front page? I would love to have this appear as an adjustable sized ad inside somewhere so we can free up some space on the front and let it breathe.

Would love to hear some thoughts on the topic of classifieds.”

FROM ED:

No comments on the second page but I’m leaving it here in case others might want to offer some insights.

Thoughts on the front page:

1. Takes a while for me to find the phone number, which is the front door to your classifieds. Perhaps run it in red and give it more prominence. Put it at the beginning of the top teaser, not the end. It really needs to be easy and quick to find.

2. So…could we have made the D section letter any larger? OK, that’s sarcastic shot but I hope it makes the point.

3. All the material in the left yellow rail really needs typographic rework. It’s all cram-jammed together and difficult to read. Do your readers really pay attention to the “specials?”

4. I like the index on the front, rather than floating, as you suggest. Why would you make readers have to work to find it.?

That’s my wisdom. Let’s see what others have to say.