Early returns cont.
Putting aside the stocks issue for now, the newspaper redesign has been received well.
A sampling of some of the comments:
"With our last child out of the house and off to college, my final link to the collective consciousness vanished. Coupled with the hard truth that I am a blossoming curmudgeon, I realized the future of conversation around the ol' supper table was going to be grim. Not any more. My surprise and instant scowl when I first saw today's paper, gave way to a grudging respect and my eventual smile when I finally put the paper down. The N&R gets a nod of thanks for dragging me back from the brink of being a 'completely clueless old guy' before my time. Now just another full page of trendy comics and it would be perfect."
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"Well, I like some things and I HATE others. Mostly the paper now looks like a cheap tabloid. That I don't like.
"Your decision to name the Life section something else every day MAKES ME TOTALLY MAD AND CONFUSED. It wastes my time looking for it and trying to remember what in @#* it may be that day. You do not name the Sports section something different every day....Are we seeing some discrimination against women, who probably are the main readers of the Life section? Too many men on your staff maybe?"
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"Wow! What an impressive newspaper! When I looked at "The Secret Way out" on the front page Wednesday, I could not wait to read it! Please congratulate Allison Perkins for a spell-binding article. It was like reading a good mystery story. The photographs and design quickly caught your attention, and the article held it. The news quiz will cause me to read the newspaper more carefully. Today's QuickRead is helpful, particularly when I'm in a rush. I look forward to hearing from our Community Columnists! Thanks for creating more excitement in our lives."
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"If I wanted a lite-news newspaper I would buy USA Today. A superficial newspaper that can be scanned in less than 10 minutes is not what I want. I have always considered the GNR a reliable source of news and information with some fluff added on for younger readers. A newspaper of your reputation w/celebrity news and weekend activities on the first two pages loses credibility and gravitas. Media-creation 'news' and celebrity fixation do not deserve top billing in your paper. Your new format is a not a step forward but rather a step down to the ordinary."
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"I am the son of a former newspaper editor -- and have a fair amount of printer's ink in my own blood stream. I wanted to say how nice it was to see a brand-new paper this morning. The changes are great, and I like the new font used for the heads. This has to be an award winner."
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"I am excited about the changes the News & Record is making. I like the diversity of the new columnist you've added. I particularly look forward to reading the Fine Living, 24/7 and Savor sections. The News & Record seems to be progressing from a 'small town' paper to one more conducive of the growing city Greensboro is.
"The one thing that I wish could be changed is reading a story on Page 1 then having to search for the rest of it on Page 7 or 8."
Those are a fair sampling of responses that came in via e-mail. Everyone I spoke with except one person was pleased with the return of the Times columnists. Several of the people calling to complain about the stocks hadn't noticed the Times columnists were back, and once they heard that, left happier.
You don't have to be in this business very long to understand that you can't please everyone. You just do what you can.
Comments (4)
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Great job on the redesign. I'm no expert (what do I really know!), but it seems to me you've got a VERY good copy desk there! They must have an excellent leader. And the talent must run deep to pull this polished, sophisticated change off. Looks like that's been a lot of hard work - I THINK BONUS TIME SHOULD BE ON THE WAY!
Posted on April 22, 2006 9:08 AM
Indeed! An excellent observation from the poster above. That news desk should see a good, healthy bonus coming its way!
Posted on April 22, 2006 9:18 AM
Thanks, Browns. Just in the name of full disclosure, Forrest Brown was one of the best designers and editors at the News & Record before he decided to seek his fortune in Austin and now with the Charlotte Observer.
Posted on April 22, 2006 10:33 AM
I dunno, John ... bonuses for the desk sound like a good idea to me. :)
/copy desk designer
Posted on April 24, 2006 11:12 PM