Cincinnati Enquirer reportedly considering odd format size
Newspapers & Technology reported Monday that the Cincinnati Enquirer is considering alterations to its presses that would dramatically reduce the size of each printed page.
The reason: Each revolution of a press cylinder would result in three printed pages, rather than the usual two.
In an unbylined story, Newspapers & Technology reports:
Speaking at last week’s Great Lakes/Midstates Newspaper Production Conference, Enquirer Vice President of Operations Dave Preisser said the Gannett Co. Inc.-owned daily has already printed prototypes and conducted focus groups to gauge reader acceptance of the possible new format.
…If execs elect to make the move to change The Enquirer’s format, the paper would transform itself from a 22.75-inch by 11-inch broadsheet into one measuring approximately 15 inches by 10.5 inches. Sectioning would remain the same.
Preisser said focus groups “loved” the new format and that they particularly liked the additional use of color.
April 6th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Looks like a very interesting development. One question, though: What do you do about inserts? They’d still be shipped at the older size. Would you fold all of them to fit? And wouldn’t that make the Sunday paper almost twice as big?
April 6th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Isn’t that kinda sorta like an old school tabloid?
April 7th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Well, don’t get too excited about readers loving the new format. They may, indeed, like the size itself. But if the reduction to that size is accompanied by a corresponding amount of lost content and features, they won’t like it at all.
We’re not in and industry mode where we go smaller AND add corresponding newshole back.
Also, at a point, what must drastic format changes do to ad rates???
April 7th, 2009 at 11:37 am
If they cut it down to 8 inches deep, you could put it in a 3-ring binder.
April 7th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Jim, then we could sell branded binders. It’s like a complimentary item. You can’t buy peanut butter without jelly or honey. Same thing, right? ;)
How close is this size to tall tabloid?
Also, Dean makes a good point.
Ugh…Where are the advertising people in this conversation?