How much attention do you pay to newspaper layout and design?

[CatWoman]

I don't normally buy a print newspaper, but did so today as I ate out and wanted something to read while I was eating.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution uses a five column layout.

On Page A5 there were two competing political stories.

The first, on the left hand side of the page, was about the Conyers forum.

It ran 2 columns (4.5 inches) wide, and 10 inches deep.

The headline was set in about 30 points, in 4 lines:

Democrats
blast Bush
on wiretap
program

Adjacent to the headline was a picture of John Conyers and an unidentified male.

That picture's dimensions was ONE colum wide (2.25 inches) and 1.75 inches deep.

On the right hand side of the page sits the story of Rove's speech.

This story is 3 columns wide, sitting under a banner headline set in 48 point type:

Stick to basic strategy,
Rove tells Republicans

The story is also 10 inches deep.

However, the accompanying picture is two columns wide (4.5 inches) and 4.5 inches deep.

Now, putting aside the reader's political affiliation, which would you deem to be the more prominent, relevant story?

Which story would your eyes immediately be drawn to?

[nofoil]

1. Shameful

Fair and balanced? Yea. Right.

[nofoil]

2. Shameful

Fair and balanced? Yea. Right.

[Hardrada]

3. You said the "Design" word!!

[Newsjock]

4. This is why I don't design news sections anymore

My profession (and love) is news design -- and I've got a regional first-place award from one of the industry groups that says I must be reasonably good at it.

And examples like this are why I won't do news design anymore. Even if I could stand the heat of working a news desk now, the pressure to do exactly what happened in Atlanta today is far too great. Just four years ago, showing such a lack of balance would've had every senior editor in the room on my case. But, apparently, no more.

Now, if I *had* to run stories like those described, I'd make darn sure to make the subhead on the Rove story reflect a Democratic response. In that case, then, I might be able to justify this story play.

Anyone want to hire a principled news designer who's currently hiding out in a dark corner of the newsroom at a top-100 metro daily??

[acmejack]

7. There certainly are enough papers that would benefit from your services!

It appears to the uninformed observer that the big chain papers have a generic front page with a spot or two for the most important local stories, a generic sports section with provisions for local sports coverage. A big chain paper looks the same no matter what city one is in, the format is inviolate. The Weather is always found in the same place!

[madokie]

5. Cat I give you a cyberhug

:hug:

[CatWoman]

6. awwwwwwwww

thanks :hi: