The Bakersfield Californian went deep with Paris, getting more mileage than the
Daily News from the same photo. Bako's jeans promo provided an interesting contrast in scale.
The
Los Angeles Times led with a photo we've seen for decades. Lots of Florida papers, including the
St. Petersburg Times, did the same thing.
All successful shuttle launches look alike. Newspapers don't need to
show a shuttle launch to make people believe it really happened. No one will buy a paper to hold this photo in their hands. Besides, anyone who really cared probably saw it live on CNN – or Fox, if they're Republican.
Common sense dictates that a cliched photo and the LA Times' one-column headlines are an ineffective way to boost single-copy sales.
OC Post had an interesting approach today, but all those tiny faces won't play at a single-copy distance.
The
San Francisco Chronicle played with fire, getting burned in the process. That pooch beneath the fold had more impact and appeal.
The Oklahoman's centerpiece drove us mad.
The Wichita Eagle struck gold with its promo, but its gambling package missed the jackpot. The
Caller Times went completely out of control with too many Photoshop effects.
The Times needs to reread EyeTrack I – text-only, over-the-nameplate promos have low readership. In contrast,
The Virginian-Pilot had a terrific promo package, but that new antique-looking nameplate is really showings its weaknesses – it appears "squashed" by the six-column photo above it, as if a giant was leaning on a dwarf. The page may have looked better with the nameplate right-aligned with the "Y" in Saturday.
The Fayetteville Observer came up with an effective, text-based solution for its shooting story.
The newspaper with the best front design today is RedEye, for a powerful image of a powerful man and a spot-on headline.
RedEye took a well-known image, added something appropriately graphic and violent, then capped if off with a great headline. Words, pictures, typography and color all worked together to amplify the message. All the other front pages? Fugedabout 'em.
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