Choked

Here is the nerd in me: following a major upset by No. 11 VCU over No. 1 KU in the NCAA March Madness tournament, I couldn't wait to see the front page for VCU's hometown newspaper the next day.

While Virginia Commonwealth University bested the University of Kansas by 10 points to move on to the Final Four; KU's hometown newspaper, the Lawrence Journal-World, was the winner in journalism the next day.Normally, I'm not a big fan of the Lawrence Journal World's front pages, but the headlines and photos - all above the fold - told the entire story. What's more, the story on the front page told the local story - beyond the stats of a disappointing game with quotes from tearful players.
The front page is a marketing piece and I have two philosophies on putting together front pages that sell. One is to inform - use the news that affects the most people and break the news in an eye-catching manner. The other is to create a reflection of the community - capture the sentiment of news most already probably know about. The LJW took the latter (and appropriate) approach here.What turns me off the most about the Richmond Times-Dispatch is the headline. "Houston, here we come" is so generic and ran so small. The photo mediocre at best, too. I don't have a problem with a trophy-holding team photo, but in this case I think there was more to shoot at this game. Watching the game on TV, I saw fans with signs like "You're not in Kansas anymore." It was also a very fast-paced, physical game with much emotion on both sides. This photo does not do it justice.

Richmond, Va., has a population of about 200,000 and two universities. KU beat the town's other school - Richmond - two days prior to VCU's upset. I just don't think "Houston, here we come" tells a story, reflects the community's emotion or delivers news.

So the Rock Chalk choke goes to the KU basketball team, but the Richmond news team threw an air ball at the buzzer.

Blog explanation

I've had this blog idea in the back of my head for some time.

I do not come from a design background. While I've had experience in newspaper layout and design since college, it has not been the focal point of my career. Writing has been first and foremost for me and photography has been a frequent necessary task.

I can't say I think writing or photography is more important. I can't argue headlines or design trumps all in the newsroom. To say that one of these elements of the newspaper is more important than another is ignorant. All are vital components to a good newspaper.

That said, the idea behind this blog is that, I believe, some newspapers are trying so hard for the best design, they are actually failing in this category.

This brings me to the namesake of the blog. It is believed by many that the "newspaper" as we know it today is a "dinosaur" on its way to extinction. This doesn't have to be true. Many people are spending more on lattes or other fancy "coffee" drinks per week than on news. Why are they not picking up a newspaper. People used to walk to the newsstand and gladly shell out 25 to 75 cents for a newspaper. Now, many demand it online for free. While this is one reason for the demise of the print edition, I do not believe it is the only reason.

There are many newspapers that feel a unique, modern design trumps the old rules of newspaper layout. In an age when it has become increasingly difficult to sell newspapers from the rack, let alone subscriptions, the design is more important than ever.

The newspaper should be designed with as many entry points on the front page as possible. Newspapers should revert back to a sell-it-at-the-rack style.

When I took over as editor for a small town weekly nearly three years ago, at best we had five entry points above the fold on the front page. All the while, residents complained there was not enough local content (there was nothing but local content).

Through the use of sky boxes and a list of "newsmakers" about the flag each issue and my push to get three headlines above the fold each week, we have created a newspaper with 10 to 13 entry points above the fold of the front page each week. The result has been steady circulation.

One day, I watched someone putting his money in the metro daily rack at a restaurant, but stared at our local front page the entire time.

So this blog - analyzing and comparing newspaper front pages in hopes to learn how we can make it better.