Whatzit? A whoozit? No…a whatzit!

HAVE YOU ANY IDEA what this is? No? None?

Then…you’re not keeping up.

Better find out fast…because it’s coming your way, like it or not.

Pages from: Karen Geary | Paris Post-Intelligencer

KAREN WAS GIVEN A SHOT at designing a recent special section. Ed thinks she did a pretty good job of it. Take a look at the following pages, then see Ed’s note at the bottom.

FROM KAREN:

I was given free rein on the project but I was pressed for time.  Wished I had a week to do a proper layout; not three days.

I know you’re busy – I’m not in a hurry, but I would like to hear your thoughts.

FROM ED:

Karen seemed a bit timid about submitting the section for Ed Henninger’s Blog—until Ed told her he thought she had done a pretty good job with it, and her work might inspire others.

1. The cover is clean and simple, with good typography. The best part: no clutter.

2. The vertical “section headers” inside are a good idea…and they reflect the simplicity of the cover.

3. Love the bugs!

How would you improve on this? Give us your thoughts!

Page from: Marcus Fitzsimmons | The Daily Times

SOMETIMES OPPORTUNITY DOESN’T JUST KNOCK—it falls on our desks with a thump! This page from Marcus is an example.

FROM MARCUS:

I thought I might toughen the skin and see if you’d put this one up. It was a page classified threw to us from a miscount on copy about 8 pm for the 11:30 deadline, so it was on the fly to put it together. Besides the center art not quite getting the size I wanted, was looking for some scathing to do it better next time.

FROM ED:

1. Well, you’re right about the lead art not being large enough. The page is heavy on type.

2. But…I like that you let the elbow come out of the right side of the photo.

3. You might have used a mug shot or logo or two in the Tournament Guide along the left side—or maybe a photo at the top or bottom of the package…or all of the above

4. I like the use of the QR code in the top right corner to bring readers to the web.

5. Good use of the bracket teaser art.

In general, I want to see more and larger visuals…and less type.

Thoughts from the rest of you?

Page from: Marcus Fitzsimmons | The Daily Times

“ALL YA GOTTA DO IS ASK!” It’s a mantra I repeat whenever I do workshops—especially when mentioning photos, charts and other visual elements. If you need a road map to show your readers a detour due to a bridge repair…all ya gotta do is ask the county highway superintendent. If you need a graphic to show your readers what that new high school gym is gonna look like…all ya gotta do is ask the architect. Or the contractor. If you need a pie chart to show the county’s budget projections for the coming year…all ya gotta do is ask.

All. Ya. Gotta. Do. Is. Ask. And in most cases, you’ll get a timely and positive response. That architect, for example, will be happy to supply you with his schematics and drawings, provided you just carry a small credit line. For him, it’s just good business—and great advertising!

All. Ya. Gotta. Do. Is. Ask.

Here’s proof that it works, from designer Marcus Fitzsimmons at The Daily Times in Maryville, TN.

FROM MARCUS:

Ed,

Just wanted to say thanks for that “ask for it” nugget you shared.

Came in today to find that our Racing centerpiece (from AP) for Friday  had been accidentally run after I left last night as a cut-down 10 inch story to fill today’s sports section.

So I decided why not try, looked up the PR contact at Bristol Motor Speedway and left a message requesting logos, graphics and a great photo they had in an online gallery of last year’s race.

I honestly thought it was too late and they’d be too busy to even get the message before I needed it, but 15 minutes later I had it all in email plus a story and enough breakout material to choke a horse.

You’re right again :)

Marcus

PS: Since this was a once-a-week section page we didn’t really get to in prototype, I’m attaching it for your perusal. Ideally I think it will be a two story page with the info rail on side, but will take any suggestions you have for me.

FROM ED:

I like the page…a lot. Only one change I’d have considered: placing the logos at the top of the second leg in the “Song” story down in the story, in a vertical setup between the two columns of type. That would have broken up the gray in that package.

Otherwise, I think it’s fine.

Marcus submitted another page for review, but due to press of business I’m holding onto that one until next week.

What do you think of this page? Works for you? Doesn’t work? Why? Why not? Jump in with your comments!

Updated page from: Scott M. Brings Plenty | Cherokee One Feather

AFTER READING THE SUGGESTIONS offered on this blog, Scott made some substantive changes to his double-truck for last week. The update and the original follow Scott’s note.

What are your thoughts? Anything else you’d have changed?

FROM SCOTT:

Hey Ed, here’s the corrected version of the double truck.  I used as much of the advice from you and your fellow bloggees as I could with the time I had…I think it turned out well, and it seems to really look a lot better than the one I sent last week so thanks to you and everyone else that helped.  Scott

THE UPDATE

THE ORIGINAL

Page from: Scott M. Brings Plenty | Cherokee One Feather

SCOTT OFFERS US A PREVIEW of a double-truck page he’s planning to run this Thursday. So, if you wanna jump in on this one, please do so soon!

FROM SCOTT:

Here’s a double-truck page I designed today and wanted to get some feedback on before it runs next week.  Thanks, Scott.

FROM ED:

Overall, I like the spread a lot. Some reasons why:

1. Good use of negative space.

2. The pull quote.

3. The photos across the bottom of the page.

But you know me. I always have some nits to pick…and some suggestions for improvement:

1. When you do a cutout of someone wearing glasses, be sure to also cut out the background that is in the glasses. See the adjacent closeup.

2. Is the drop initial indented? If so, that’s a no-no.

3. When I run drop initials—especially in a format this large—
I try move the byline elsewhere so the drop initial is at the very beginning of the leg of type.

4. I’m not comfortable with the reversed captions in the bottom photo package.

5. I’d consider running the pull quote flush right and about a pica or two to the left of the text.

6. Did you think about running the drop head in italics? It might be worth a look.

So…enough from Ed. What are your thoughts? If you have some to offer, please get ’em in quickly so Scott can consider some changes.

“License to Print Money” going over big!

I RECENTLY PUT TOGETHER a new training presentation that seems to have struck a highly resonant chord with both publishers and designers. The session is labeled “A License to Print Money: 10 Design Strategies to Generate Revenue at Your Newspaper—Now!”

So far, I’ve offered the presentation to the Kentucky Press Assn., Tennessee Press Assn., Oklahoma Press Assn. and South Carolina Press Assn.

To a person, those publishers who attended at Louisville said the presentation would help them to add at least $5,000-$6,000 to their bottom line—in 2011 alone.

In Nashville, the feedback was similar—with one publisher telling me: “This workshop alone more than paid for me to bring all my people to this convention!”

At the South Carolina session just this past Saturday, one of those attending said he thought he could turn what he had learned into $10,000 in income for his weekly.

In Oklahoma City, the reaction from those attending was very positive. Their evaluations, presented below, were overwhelmingly positive. See or yourself:

Page from: Kristin Coker | The Times and Democrat

EVERY YEAR, Kristin has fun putting together an Oscar Awards page. She has submitted this year’s attempt for our review and comment.

FROM KRISTIN:

Hi Ed,

Thought I would drop off my annual Oscar page to place on the blog.  Let me hear it, what were your likes or dislikes? I’m always trying to top myself each year.

FROM ED:
Sorry, Kristin, but this one leaves me somewhat disappointed.

1. The gradient screen in the left column is a step backward for you. You’re usually more creative and your work is usually more refined. I could have accepted this from someone with lesser skills than you.

2. The envelope at the top of that column appears to be a computer-generated element. Such elements, because they are computer generated, offer readers something that isn’t realistic and can put a dent in our credibility. My advice: Don’t even bother with such elements, unless you can find a photo of the “real” thing.

3. The red outline of the Oscar isn’t as good as a photo.

4. I like the placement of the Franco/Hathaway photo.

5. Not sure about placing “THE” in the “O”—it feels out of place.

So…is Ed being too picky? What are your thoughts? Jump in!

Page from: Marah Pahl | Kanabec County Times

AN INTERESTING QUESTION comes our way, thanks to Marah. Her note follows…and Ed has some thoughts below the page.

FROM MARAH:

Hi Ed,
This is the front page from our Pine City paper. Just want your input on using different column widths in a paper. The 7 column on the bottom was an accident, since our paper is supposed to be 6 columns across. Thanks!

FROM ED:

1. I have a simple rule for column widths on a news page: only one package can vary from standard column width. Too many column widths on a page destroy the structure of the page and may give readers a sense that one package somehow accompanies another. Example: the Storm Lets Loose package may initially appear to go with the Steady as she grows story—because they are placed one above the other and they are a different measure than the packages in the left two columns. The rule, again: only one package can vary from standard column width.

2. Running the snow photo above and behind the folio information looks like a mistake.

3. Love the nameplate! I designed it about a dozen years ago.

4. Would rather see the UPC code placed elsewnere. It’s too close to the nameplate art.

5. Headlines are all sized about the same. This is boring—and offers no sense of headline hierarchy.

How about the rest of you? Your thoughts? Your suggestions?