Maybe it's because I just got off a 15-hour flight from Brazil. Or maybe it's simply that Indianapolis Star Editor Dennis Ryerson's column yesterday about changes at the paper left me confused.He told readers that the Star is increasing the size of the type in its print version, while simultaneously reducing the paper's width -- "a change so modest that focus groups of readers like you didn't even recognize the change until we told them."
There's more: "Because photos and headlines on the page will be proportionately smaller and because of some other editing changes, we should be able to meet our goal of providing you with the same number of features and stories as you receive now."
Same number -- but how can they not be even more brief and skimpy? Can someone please explain why this is good news for Star readers? (For heaven's sakes, the online hed over his column says: "We're making changes you can see" -- not improvements.)
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[Image: this morning's Star, Newseum]
Hey, Jim. I'm Nick from Indiana, who originally told you about this. There's no real good news for Star readers here, except for those who can't read regular text.
ReplyDeleteIt's just another step in Ryerson's attempt to kill the paper. Quite frankly, he's doing a pretty good job.
It's not just Indy. Almost every Gannett pub is in the process or about to be in the process of converting to a smaller size (a 44 inch web). Those not already in process will be soon. However, many are on target to be changed to smaller size by late spring.
ReplyDeleteWisconsin papers will be done converting in April -- we will be losing about 20 inches off the front page. And the central Wisconsin group has been running without jumps for almost a year. No jumps plus 20 less inches equals less content (20 inches less).
ReplyDeleteWell, Ryerson did say they were going to edit more carefully. Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteWe (Brevard) went to a smaller size last year to be about the size of the Wallstreet Journal. Its a way to cut costs by reducing the amount of newsprint used (I bet it helped get someone that end of the year bonus).
ReplyDeleteSoon, we all will be Berliners.
ReplyDeleteI kinda dig the format, as long as editors realize that cramming a 6 count on the cover ain't gonna fly. But, we all know how that is.
I don't think JFK was talking about newspaper widths! ;)
ReplyDeleteIn addition to burying the lede, you'll notice that nowhere in the column does he specifically state how much the paper is shrinking -- 48 to 44 inches, or an 8.3 percent reduction. Or how much the print is increasing -- from 9.6 point to 9.8.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine if we covered a government or business entity like this.