 Full index of past "Listen With Reason" columns   | ||||||
Browse the full index of
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). |
Before the distractions of summer completely take over, thought
I'd freshen up this space with a few new thoughts. Don't worry, it's
nothing too deep ...
Things You Do on Planes When the Laptop Battery
Runs Down In recent years I've been struck by the anti-italics bias that runs rampant in virtually all levels of journalism ranks, at least in America. Often prototypes are presented for a redesign that includes even the slightest hint of italics (God forbid a headline), and they are greeted with shudders of despair and horror. "We love it, except for the italics. Get rid of them." Why is this, I wonder, especially when America's grand dame of journalism integrity, The New York Times, is rife with itals? ("Integrity" is a word I toss around often in describing the elusive goals of a redesign - but throw in a little italics, and CEOs, editors, reporters and even designers think you are dragging them into tabloid hell or something.) To further my musings on this issue, I decided to
literally count the number of italics headlines in a recent issue of
The New York Times. (I do crazy things on planes when the
laptop battery dies. Oh, the stares from people nearby!) The
Times' national edition of April 12, 2001, breaks down as
follows:
That shows in this one edition, itals won out over
roman, capturing 59% of the tally! And I'm not even counting things
like quote-outs (italics!) or the datelines in the revered front
page nameplate and folios (italics!) or jumplines (italics!). Just
major headlines on all sections. This was an interesting exercise
that revealed the following:
Did the Times' American readership have a collective
freakout on this day that I was not alerted to? Did they all suffer
eye strain from their vision veering toward the right? One has to
wonder! All of this begs the question: If a smattering of itals is good enough for The
New York Times (and do we even have to mention The Wall Street
Journal?), why doesn't it seem to play anywhere else in America?
These Businesses Should MergeJust noticed this in the local alternative weekly, the
Chicago Reader: right next to an ad urging me to "Master Your
Anxiety and Panic! (at the Family Institute of Northwestern
University)" is one for "Macintosh Mechanix (On-site Mac
Systems Installation and Repair Professionals)." Gotta love
that.
Craziest Career Choice of 2001?It's shocking but true, I'm entering my 20th year of
visual journalism. That is, if you count the editing and layout work
that I did in college, which, hey, at 40-odd hours a week, should count
toward some kind of retirement scorekeeping, don't you think?
Anyway, in honor of this milestone, I've been wondering: in this day
and age, why would high school or college students be drawn to
careers in newspapers (whether in design roles or not)? It's a time
of anxiety, staff cutbacks, and at least short-term doubts about
prosperity? I'll be asking this question of the 17 students in
Poynter's College Visual Journalism Fellowship when I visit them
next week. But anyone else out there who has thoughts, feel free to
email them to me for use
in a future column. |
Don't forget to check out who's on the move in News Design People, updated regularly! | ||||
|
Bio/Contact | About Redesigns | Skills Training & Leadership Consulting | Tips, Articles, Resources | Calendar | Home Web posted: June 28, 2001. design@ronreason.com
| ||||||