A Revolution in Newspaper Design

[Publicitas] Newspaper design and format are among the most hotly debated issues in the newspaper industry today. From new compact editions to internet-inspired front pages, newspapers are remaking themselves as never before.
Newspapers come in all shapes and sizes, but what makes a successful design? Here is one definition of success: "a design that is functional for the newspaper staff, reflects the content and nature of the newspaper, and is appreciated (subconsciously) by the reader."
That definition comes from the Scotland-based media design consultants Ally Palmer and Terry Watson and is included in "New Designs, New Formats," a new report from the World Association of Newspapers' Shaping Future of the Newspaper project.

The report examines new compact editions, the front page revolution and other format and design changes, both editorially and in advertising, that are occurring all over the world.
Palmer and Watson contribute a chapter called "the secrets of good design". But there are no secrets, they say:
"All the cards are on the table, in the shape of newspapers from around the world, available to everyone in the industry every day." To illustrate this point, WAN asked 14 designers to choose a favourite page and explain what makes it a success.
Four leading designers -- Mario Garcia, Terry Watson, Lucie Lacava and Juan Antonio Giner -- in addition give their views on how newspapers will change over the next decade, how reading behaviour will change, and how newspaper content management and production will change.
"The newspaper of the future is more direct and visually focused, with fewer unnecessary elements to distract the reader," says Mr Garcia. "We are, in a sense, returning to our roots. We have abandoned these formulas of the 'too much' for the more accessible and faster to consume philosophy of the 'less is more.'"
Says Mr Watson: "Newspapers will be less inclined to follow web trends as they come to accept their role as a complementary media alongside the internet. They will see the need to present themselves as a distinctive information outlet to the web, because they cannot compete with the web in terms of immediacy."
Mr Giner sees the future this way: "Compact and compelling daily newsmagazine newspapers. Multi-section tabloids and broadsheets will be dead: classified, TV and stock market listings will be gone (moving from print to online editions of newspapers and to non-newspaper sites).
Ms Lacava adds another perspective. "As more titles move into the hands of fewer media proprietors, there will inevitably be fewer regional differences, set quality standards, and universal sharing of sources of information. We will buy the same international edition, navigate the same popular sites, watch the same movies and buy the same magazines. In addition, we designers will enter the same international design competitions. It is inevitable that we will move toward an international standard of design."
"New Designs, New Formats" is a report with a lot of ideas on successful newspaper design, written for newspaper designers, editors and publishers seeking guidance on one of the fastest changing elements of newspapers today. The report is one of six SFN strategy reports published by WAN in 2004. The others are "The Mobile Opportunity", "New Classified Models", "Circulation Winners", "Emerging Markets", and "Media Landscapes." They are available by subscription through the SFN project, which identifies, analyses and publicises all important breakthroughs and opportunities that can benefit newspapers all over the world.
Source: WAN/France July 22, 2004