First look: Chicago Tribune redesign prototype
Editor & Publisher’s Joe Strupp today posted a working prototype of the Chicago Tribune’s upcoming redesign.
Looks like a pretty radical change for the big blue:
E&P’s disclaimer (I’m adding italics for emphasis):
The redesign version, which is likely one of many being reviewed, is dated Aug. 4, 2008, with a Page One story about Barack Obama’s advisor and friend Valerie Jarrett, an investigation into the use of school computers, and a teaser to a Chicago Bears story inside.
To E&P’s credit, they go as far as to run this quote:
“I would caution you against accepting anything you have as anything other than a work in progress,” said Tribune Co. Senior Vice President/Corporate Relations Gary Weitman. When asked if the prototype was among those still being considered, he said: “We are just not talking about it until it is debuted.”
Therefore, actual mileage may vary. The Tribune redesign is scheduled to hit the streets Sunday, Sept. 28. The Hartford Courant kicks off its redesign that same day.
Read E&P’s story here.
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UPDATEÂ
Crain’s Chicago Business reports:
It appears that, contrary to a prototype leaked recently to an industry publication, the newspaper won’t splash its nickname — Trib — atop the front page.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Nice. Reminds me of a European paper.
I suspect on big news days only 2-3 news holes on the front isn’t going to be enough. Front-page meetings will get testy. Zell is going to have to run the front-page meeting and simply put his foot down on what’s what.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
A new motto: The Trib–by and for idiots
August 27th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Ouch. That’s kinda harsh, Susan. The look is one thing. It’s the content that counts, and it seems that’s the one thing that’s been more or less left behind in these redesigns. Wrapping the same old stuff in a shiny new box is still the same old stuff, and readers will see through that soon enough. Regardless of how good it looks — and I think this particular incarnation of the new Trib looks awesome — if you have crap content, you have a crap paper. I can’t judge quite so harshly without knowing what changes were made to the content.
One thing about these Trib redos — I like how they’re trending toward more European/Latin American stylings, which are always eye-catching. I wonder which U.S. paper will be the next to adopt the Berliner … isn’t there a Berliner format in Indiana?
And I’m still scared to death of what they’re going to do to Hartford.
Thanks!
August 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The Journal & Courier in Lafayette In runs the Berliner Format.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Dear Susan,
Thanks for the constructive criticism!
The idiots
August 27th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
So if the new boss hires the freesheet editor to be the big paper’s managing editor and they then repackage the broadsheet to look like their tabloid then what does that mean for either product’s future?
August 28th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Crain’s Chicago Business quotes Trib mouthpieces as saying this prototype may not reflect the final look.
“Neither Mr. Michaels nor the company’s spokesman would provide details of the redesign, but it appears that, contrary to a prototype leaked recently to an industry publication, the newspaper won’t splash its nickname — Trib — atop the front page.
More recent prototypes show the paper using the full name in its traditional gothic font but with “Chicago†and “Tribune†stacked on top of one another, creating a box that can be moved depending on the page’s design needs, according to one person who has seen the plans. With more than a month to go before launch, the design is still subject to change, the person says.”
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30772
September 4th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I love it! I can’t get enough. It’s the future of newspapers.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Call me conservative, but I really hope this is not the direction the paper is heading.
When hearing that the trib papers were going toward more a European design, I was hoping something along the lines of the Guardian, not the sensational tabloids. Is there no place for clean, traditional-style typography anymore? What about the amazing grids in European design? What about the tasteful use of color, rather than coloring everything?
The tribune was (is) a well designed — in the classic sense — newspaper.
I hope the Courant doesn’t follow in this same direction.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
(I know I’m commenting WAY AFTER THE FACT, but…)
I really like the boldness of this prototype. It’s clean and generous with images. But I agree that it’s at a dangerous point where impact trumps content. Not that I think A1 or any page should be filled to the brim with unbroken gray, but I think (just my two cents, no offense to anyone!) what the Trib is missing here are several more entry points on A1 to pull readers inside. Four or so just doesn’t seem enough.
The opportunity you have with a redesign is not just, as some people have mentioned, to add a design-y sheen to the same old long-format content. Again, that’s doesn’t mean no depth whatsoever, but I think section fronts can be very effective when they offer their readers options — to read just the tidbits or to continue with the in-depth coverage inside? Simply allowing readers to choose from a smattering of content inside is important. You want hard news? Political junk for the junkies? Lifestyle? Food? Sports? Football? Let them know it’s in there, and more importantly, why they should care.
This is where the Web has spoiled readers. You can glance over a page and have a million options. This obviously can’t be entirely replicated in print, but the idea is valuable if you think of readers as wanting what they want when they want it, and they don’t have time to hunt for it and they won’t bother unless they have a good reason.
The problem I have with this in particular is, though I enjoy the treatment of the large photo, someone’s face doesn’t (to me) sell the story. And that’s what it’s about. We have to learn how to sell it, or people won’t buy it. It is worth the effort though, because as we know, what we bring is important. But convincing readers why is the job of every person in the newsroom. Us v. Them attitudes are killing print. Really.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Sorry for the editorial. Eek. I didn’t realize how long that was!