First Print Sample

A print of the new size came into the newsroom a couple of days ago. This is the first time we were able to see the redesign on print. I was surprised at the level of reproduction. The Norman Transcript, our host printer, usually gives us inconsistent prints, but the resize and redesign looked good. The Transcript recently switched to 22-inch web, so this might account for the better reproduction quality. We're actually the only thing they now print on broadsheet, but that, of course, will change here in the next week. Our official run date for the resize is April 6, which is next Monday.

I have several things left on the to-do list for things to go smoothly on Sunday, April 5. Right now I am focusing on setting the formes for our staff to use on the redesigned format. The staff currently uses NewsEdit coupled with Adobe InCopy to submit and edit stories. In order for things to load correctly on the screen, I have to set formes (yes, formes with an "e") for the software to know which pieces of text to turn into which style. This makes everything consistent and easier for the staff to manage.

I also have to put final touches on the element library. The library will enable designers to simply drag and pull items of consistent design from a palette onto the page. This ensures that every sidebar, pull quote, line, etc. is exactly within style and remains consistent with the rest of the paper. This will be especially important to the staff as the semesters roll on and news pieces change. Style tends to change over time as the staff finds weaknesses in the design, so keeping a library that keeps them within a set box, so-to-speak, will help the paper remain consistent and clean.

My main concern now is trying to convince the editors of the new restrictions that must be set to make the design, as well as the content, work. There is literally no way to fit more than four starting stories on the front, a fact that the editors will have to adapt to since the usual plan is to try to cram as much on the front page as possible. My recommendation is to only have three stories, all of which flow to page 2. Pulling people into the paper is now in the hands of the news rail below the flag, which will have a short refer for every section.

Stories will also have to be cut by (at least by my recommendation) at least 25%. This will force the writers to be more clear and more concise in their writing and also make stories more appealing to read from a broad perspective.

One big thing that I will recommend is the need for alternative story forms. The Daily has traditionally been weak in print forms of this, however more opportunities are opening up with the online component of the paper. The usual plan with stories is to run a long block of text featuring everything that the story has to offer, with little or no pull-out pieces or extra information outside of the large copy text.

This is boring. No one wants to read that.

Let's face it, we're in the online world now, and if it's not short and sweet, no one cares. Yes, there is a place for long narrative story writing in newspapers, but not every story. My recommendation to The Daily is to require writers to not only write shorter pieces but to offer at least one piece of alternative information to use a pull-out-style element. This helps readers get closer to the story and draws attention to stories that might otherwise be overlooked by the typical college student.

All of these issues will be featured in my final presentation to the editors as part of my redesign project. I hope to have everything finished up a least by a week after the unveiling of the redesign. I'll update on my progress.

Thanks for reading!