Billings (Mont.) Gazette launches redesign
The Gazette of Billings, Montana — a Lee Enterprises paper with an average daily circulation of about 44,700 — launched a redesign today.
Editor Steve Prosinski writes in a page one story today:
The goal of our redesign? Gazette design editor Rob McDonald, the architect of our new look, said it best in his 45-page stylebook for our staff: “Give the paper a fresher, cleaner overall look” and “create a more consistent, easy-to-read product every day.”
On the left: A front from early December. On the right: Today’s page one.
This fresh look features a slimmer format and a larger typeface to improve readability of our stories. It introduces a sleeker, more sophisticated headline style that guides readers through each page. Our classified ads will be wider and easier to read. We’ve simplified our color palette, embracing an easy-on-the-eyes blue that will carry through the sections of the paper. I’d call it a “Big Sky blue,” but Rob probably would wince and roll his eyes at another display of my lack of art acumen.
A closer look at today’s page one:
Just last week, the Gazette laid off two newsroom employees. The Gazette also laid off two newsroom staffers in September.