Commercial Dispatch of Columbus, Miss., launches redesign
The Commercial Dispatch of Columbus, Miss. — a family-owned daily with an average circulation about 13,500 — launched a redesign today, according to a page one story in today’s edition.
A before-and-after look. That’s today’s front on the right; a page from a month or so ago on the left:
The new page is 11.5 inches wide, a half-inch more narrow than previous pages.
The unbylined story in today’s paper reports:
Besides changing the width of the newspaper, we’re also using this opportunity to provide our readers with an easier-to-read typeface and a cleaner, airier design.
This is the first major redesign for The Dispatch since May 1999. And, we’re not making these changes lightly. They’ve entailed hours of studying other newspapers, creating mockups of every page and “tweaking” the final product.
Credit for the new design goes to Managing Editor Steve Mullen. Tina Perry, our computer, prepress maestro, deserves a pat on the back, as well.
A closer look at the new page one:
Other changes to the Commercial Dispatch include the axing of six daily comic strips and the Sunday TV book.