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recent Listen With Reason columns Why a column like this? Because too many web sites seem devoid of personality. Because the world of newspaper design can always use a little more dialogue. And because, hey, it's my web site. So I thought, why not create the first regular online column about newspaper design, on the first web site devoted to newspaper design? Why "Listen With Reason?" Because "Listen to ..." sounded a little too preachy. Back to home page: www.ronreason.com (more tips on newspaper design, graphics and editing). |
This installment of
"Listen With Reason" is published simultaneously in the Summer 2001
edition of Design, the (print) journal of the Society of News
Design. This issue, shown at right, is largely devoted to dialogue
about the SND contest. Have feedback? Email me here and I'll
consider responses for a future online column.Tired of complaining about the SND competition?
Weary of having to explain to the newsroom troops why their
brilliant (yet poorly reproduced) food section on "cooking the
perfect turkey" didn't win a prize? Just darn sick of seeing the
same old papers (curses, El Mundo!!!) haul home the same old
awards?Well, don't just sit there, do something! Join my crusade
to reform the annual design competition! "Best Designed Newspaper"
... who cares? How about "Most Readable School Lunch Menus and Movie
Listings?" OK, so that last one may not get your blood pumping,
but here are some other categories that I think (seriously) could
breathe new life into our culture, if only we could figure out a way
to identify, and reward, the winners: Most Transformed or Enlightened Newsroom Culture
It would be tempting to confuse this with a redesign category but
that's not the intent. (Let's face it - some redesigns simply change
the headline font or reduce the
web width and call it a day, without really improving the
"spirit" of the place.) This award would single out the newsroom
that has done the most noticeable about-face within the previous
year, and for whatever reason, has started to respect and produce
visuals in a new, powerful way. Perhaps a new editor or art director
has come on board to guide the way, a veteran staffer has "seen the
light" after attending a design workshop, a new stylebook has
suddenly instilled discipline and clarity on the organization, or,
God forbid, a newsroom training program has made a difference within
the last year.Best Newsroom Spirit
This award goes to the newsroom where all designers and copy editors
feel a part of the process, reporters clue artists in about the
precise meaning of their stories as early as possible, and the
result is that everyone feels good about going to work each day.
(Note to contest strategists: this is likely to be the least crowded
field.)Best Use of Limited Resources (or "Best Use of a Stingy Newshole or Lousy Budget") This
award goes to the newspaper, regardless of size, that makes the most
enterprising use of extremely limited resources. The winners here
might make use of illustrations created quickly out of household
scraps, studio photos taken in a flash using props bought on
lunchtime, and handout visuals brought back from the field by
reporters.Best "Simple Idea"
Related to the above, this award goes to the one visual solution
that resisted the use of bombastic fireworks or Photoshop effects
and instead, relied on an innovative concept that excels in its
clarity and simplicity. (New to this site and need "simple"
inspiration? Click
here.)Best Example of Teamwork in Presentation (or, "We Couldn't Have Done It Without You")
Entries must have been created by three or more players, and must
include one or more people from the "word side." Perhaps this could
include deadline and non-deadline categories; the coordinator of the
team gets a Golden Maestro Baton or a free trip to Poynter's next WED
seminar.
Best Visual Advocacy for the Reader
This award recognizes the overall layout or package that actually
helped readers live their lives - perhaps a detailed graphic showing
how to navigate around major downtown construction, a photo essay
exposing a slumlord, or a food page that actually details how to eat
nutritiously and economically for a week or a month. Must include a
notarized testimonial from one or more readers (as if the contest
isn't already tricky enough to enter correctly!). Best Stylebook
Few papers have done them well, but stylebooks can create clarity,
set standards, and focus precious resources toward creating true
visual journalism. Which paper has invested the time to create a
stylebook that actually explains every possible typographic style
clearly, outlines the underlying philosophies, and includes clear
visuals showing their proper application to the paper? Must explain
principles for using the grid, white space, rules, boxes and
dingbats. (This could be the least sexiest category possible, but
perhaps one of the most deserving of an award.)The "Their Heart Was in the Right Place" Award
This goes to the great package that really did serve readers, either
enlightening or entertaining or both, where headlines sang and
visuals rocked, but the printing might have been sub-par, or the
lettering of the section nameplate might be out-dated, or the main
headline font is out of vogue but, alas, the best thing an old
pagination system has to offer (you know, the things that are pretty
much out of the hands of the individual page designer).The "Oh My God! You Killed Readability! You Bastards!" Award
(Particularly suitable for the era of shrinking web widths.) Last
but not least, how about an award of demerit, for the editor or
publisher who absolutely insists that their paper's body text be
bastardized with a 65% horizontal scale, or -15 tracking, in order
to retain the same words-per-line count they had before shrinking
the page width, or cutting the newshole to make this year's profit
margin? (Sorry, couldn't resist that last one.)
What the heck, let's not wait for the inevitably drawn-out process
of reform. If you have strong nominees for any of the above
categories, feel free to just mail them directly to me, at 540 W.
Aldine Ave. Ste. E, Chicago IL 60657, or email a JPG image here. Though it may not help
with that newsroom promotion, and I won't be handing out
certificates at an annual conference, honorees may find their work
shared for the world on this web site. It could happen!
Does it matter that newspapers take chances? Why not just play it
straight? Send your thoughts, especially about the four case studies
published on poynter.org, to design@ronreason.com.
Comments may be used in future online columns. |
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Bio/Contact | About Redesigns | Skills Training & Leadership Consulting | Tips, Articles, Resources | Calendar | Home Web posted: June 8, 2001. design@ronreason.com
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