HEATHER SUBMITS A FRONT with a note that’s short and sweet. Ed’s take follows the page.
FROM HEATHER:
Your opinion please on our newest layout. Thanks!
FROM ED:
1. This was the second straight week I’ve seen a lead headline with one of the words in red. So, I thought I might have missed something. I did a tour of Newseum pages and other sides and I don’t think I’m missing anything. It’s just that someone used red in this headline, just like last week. Then I thought: ” I don’t get it.” Know what: I still don’t get it. Sheeesh! What do we do for the Second Coming? This is just way, way, way overdone.
2. And…I also don’t get the green in the pullout in the lead story. Also, the pullout is too wide, making the adjacent text just harder to read.
3. I have problem with the “burglars” headline. These two are just charged…no proof yet that they are burglars.
4. Lead photo is too small. Should be at least four columns on the front page.
5. Nameplate/teaser area at the top just takes up too much space. And even with all that size., the nameplate doesn’t have the impact it should. The pine cone appears impaled on the cap “E.” This entire area needs redesigning.
6. Would like to se some additional options for headline fonts. These all are black. Try some in light, medium condensed and other fonts of the same typeface.
7. Widow at the top of the third leg in the lead story. Ed. Does. Not. Like. Widows.
Perhaps I’m being a bit too harsh. On second thought…nahhh.
This page is confusing to me…I agree with Ed about the top…and, from a visual standpoint, is there any reason why the black rull under the nameplate doesn’t extend all the way left to be even with the gray rule under the “Your Hometown Newspaper…” line?
The most disturbing part to me about this page is what Ed pointed out in his point #3…it is a standing rule of journalism not to accuse until proven guilty. Ed’s right, those two aren’t burglars yet (unless they have previously been convicted of that crime)…they are suspects and were simply arrested. I would doubt this was done in a malicious manner, just an irresponsible manner…and that, in and of itself, might save your paper from a libel lawsuit. It is truly that serious in my eyes.
Agree with Scott.
Not sure I’d go with the green jump lines, but that may be my color bias for black type. The DUI story’s uneven bottom bugs me, but I know that can depend on individual paper’s style on that one, I just like them flush.
Centered headlines don’t seem right to me. Just a bias.
I may be old school but would never set text or heads in color. What if the press goes off register? Then you have a mucky, illegible mess.