Out with the old...

We've revamped the front page of the JR again. This time, with a little thought and reason. As of Oct 1 the front page rail of ads on the left side were done away with, leaving with a more open news hole. All done with a blink of an eye, but our Masthead still needed to be brought back in line... My friends at Ed Henninger's blog were kind enough to dice the front page on the left. The results that came from that appear on the right. This time around I was allowed quite a bit of input on design elements and fonts- white space etc.

I'm pretty pleased with the results. So is the publisher! I'm just waiting see what the gang at Ed's place think of the news.

20th century Reliance proof press

This really cool old hand press sits in the lobby of our newspaper office. Unused for decades, the leather return belt has finally gone, but the rest of it still looks as complete and solid as the day it was last used.
I want to take up letter press printing for some special projects... Wonder if they would notice me up there using this beast???

:)

Gov't Bailout for newspapers?

Recent post by CNN's Jack Cafferty regarding the idea of bailing out the nation's newspapers.

Inserts and Advertising

I work for a newspaper.
I can remember the days when each person did one job, and did it well. Today, however, Each person is multi-talented and is expected to perform multiple functions in the newspaper office. Feature writers cover sporting events, Page designers handle Business news, Advertising designers (like me) are creating special section magazine page layouts and broadsheet page design, and even, well, INSERTS!

two of my favorites so far have been for a local gym. See their examples below.

making a plain ad, better

How do you go about your creative design process? I usually sketch mine out in tiny squares and headlines. Here's how I've taken an ad that's been running for a few weeks and updated it.
The OLD ad.




The SKETCH




The FINAL look

small space advertising

Ads. Big. Small. Effective.
I realize that most design submissions are for full page ads, full page/ front page designs, or total special section submission and when you look at the 'big picture' you get a much better reader response. But what about all of the small space ads? These are the meat of your advertising core. These are your local mom & pop businesses that need you as a designer to really make a difference. These are your career and life long connections in your community newspapers... You can make a box with words, or, you can make these shine. What are some of the best small space ads you've seen? Are they cluttered? Do they follow the 3 question rule? (What are they selling? Where can I get it? and Why should I get it?) Do they have a good, relevant graphic? Did they use text as art? Things to think about.

A perfect argument for imperfect newspapers

Please visit Ed Henninger's Blog to read his wonderful statement in regards to design. What it means to a newspaper, it's readers, and it's staff. Please. You won't regret it.

A New Link

My goodness. A Place for people like me!
Visual Editors

No HSPA awards this year...

There will be no advertising awards for my design group this year. Not due to any lack of wonderfulness on my part, but I've found out that our upper management has neglected to tell me of the WAY over deadline of June 12, 2009 for entry submissions.
I realize that I should have kept better track of such things... But I know for a fact that they get those entry submission packages WAY in advance. For the record... I would have sent my own money in to enter.. the darn tightwads wouldn't have even had to put up the lousy $100 bucks....

Here's a link to the last 2 years standings- Just to prove that I MIGHT have won a few more this year had been given the opportunity...

Awards are Fascinating!

Free form newspaper advertising

While reading Ed Henninger's blog, he recently posted a newspage submission that featured a free form ad on it. It was very well done. As I was browsing through my on-line portfolio today, I found a page with a similar concept of free form advertising that I had done in January. This is the result. I like it, but it was hard to work the text around. I had to pick and choose the articles that would flow nicely around the odd shape, and redesign some of the regular features that are normaly in a big box on the page, or are over 2 col wide. I would expect that the every day joe in the newsroom that's doing his own pages wouldn't know how to proceed with such a puzzle.
I liked this effort. I don't think I'd like to see this sort of thing everday in my daily community paper.

Ed Henninger: Newspaper Design Guru

Ok, I don't often brag about other people, But Ed Henninger is an amazing newspaper design consultant who's personal style I really like, and would try to emulate.
He has started his own blog now, not just his consulting site. (I have conveniently added a link to his blog on my *Inspiration* section) I recommend you look him up and see what he has to say about YOUR newspaper's design. http://edhenninger.wordpress.com/

Newspaper inserts

Indy star production center insert machine in their warehouse.

Indy star production warehouse

Storage racks in the Indianapolis Star production facility.

CTP- computer to plate

Plates coming out of the CTP machine at the Indy star production facility.

Small press run

A small run on the 'yellow press' at the indy star production facility.

Overhead conveyor

A shot of the small press run after comes off of the yellow press at the indy star production facility. This conveyor takes the print job directly to the production ware house in the same building. Automating the process of inserting the product into their daily paper.

Geoman Press at Indy Star

This is the front of the press stack at the Indy Star. This press is about 3 stories tall, and at least 2-3 football lengths long. Amazing!

Newspaper rolls 3 stories high

You're looking at the top of 3 stories of newspaper stacked in the printing warehouse of the Indy Star.

A judging we will go...

AM on the way to Indy to help judge the virginia state press associations advertising tear sheet competition. I was excited by the opportunity to see how this proccess works. After arriving, there were several who seemed to be dreading the job. I know what items I want to send for our state competition this year!!!