Newspaper Basics

Newspaper Basics

COM 365Graphics I

The Flag

• Has to include– Name of paper– City– Date– Edition, volume

Section Headings

• Help departmentalize paper• Need to have a graphic style that sets

them apart from other news on page– Different font– Larger point size– Rule between heading and rest of page

Living TodayOat bran: The silent killer?

Living TodayOat bran: The silent killer?

In top example, there’s not enough contrast between section heading and headlines. At bottom, contrast is achieved with different fonts, type sizes and heavy black rule.

Column Logos• Used to identify special writers

(columnists)• Consist of:

– Writer’s name– Mug shot (most of the time)– Title of column, or writer’s

affiliation

MitchAlbomFree Press

During the early morning hours Sunday, June 8, 1998, what was left of the body of James Byrd Jr. was found floating in Huff Creek, a few miles east of Jasper, Texas (Journee, 1998). Later that day police arrested three Jasper residents, one of whom confessed early Monday morning.

Column logos

• Typically use in one column or a half column

• Wrap text around 1/2 column logo

• For one column logo put above headline or insert at top of column of text


Apparently Byrd had been beaten, then chained to the back of a pickup truck and dragged three miles to his death because he was black. When news of the murder broke on Monday, the general reaction of the rest of the country was

Monday, the general reaction of the rest of the country was outrage, followed by the assumption that Byrd’s murder had taken place in a town and part of the country steeped in racism and bigotry. On Tuesday the media onslaught began, with hundreds of journalists

1 col.


Headline for this column goes hereWhile the racial makeup of the county is predominantly white, the town has a relatively large black component, about 42% (U.S. Census, 1998). As a result, many positions of leadership in the community are held by blacks. These include mayor as well as city council members, chief administrator of the hospital, executive director of DETCOG, an area economic development


Headline for column goes hereWhile the racial makeup of the county is predominantly white, the town has a relatively large black component, about 42% (U.S. Census, 1998). As a result, many positions of leadership in the community are held by blacks. These include mayor as well as city council members, chief administrator of the hospital, executive director of DETCOG, an area economic development

as objectively as possible, according to editor and publisher, Willis Webb. An analysis of the paper’s news coverage might make for an interesting study in and of itself.

Above the headline

At the top of a column of text

Logos• Used for briefs

– National News– Business Notes

• Regular features– Letters to editor– Index box on page 1

• Opinion pieces on news pages– News analysis, movie reviews

• Need a consistent style

Briefs

Index

Letters

Reviews

Liftout quotes

“I don’t care what is written about me so long as it isn’t true.”

• Need to be complete sentences

• Need to have attributions– Name– Affiliation

• Need to stand out from text– Bigger, different font– Rules

- Katherine Hepburn,Actress

Placing liftout quotes

• Don’t scatter throughout the text– Place them symmetrically

• Use only at top of text or wrap text around them• Don’t use partial quotes, ellipses (…)



Decks

• Use below headline• Usually set flush left, in first column of text• 3-4 lines deep• Should be between 14-24 points• Contrast with headline type

– Lightface or italic• Use them for long or important stories

School bill fallsSenate vetoes plan to finance classes by taxing cigarettes

Summaries

• Offers more info• Usually use graphic

– Filled in box, boldface lead-in• Smaller than decks, but longer

– 20-30 words vs. 6-12 for decks• Type usually contrasts with headline type• Avoid leaving widow on last line

School bill fallsBy a 78-12 vote, the Ohio Senate rejects a plan by adding a 10-cent tax on each pack of cigarettes sold

Bylines• Run at beginning of stories• Need to contrast with text

– Boldface, italics, rules• First line: reporter’s name• Second line: affiliation

– Name of paper or title of reporter (Staff writer)

Moe Howard The Daily Planet

Larry Fine Newsday Film Critic

CURLEY HOWARD THE DAILY NEWS

Credit lines

• Usually around 8-9 point• Should include photographer’s name

and affiliation (paper or title)• Typically placed flush right, below photo

and above the cutline

Rules

• Usually use one-point rule• What rules are used for

– To build logos, bylines, etc.– Box stories– Informational graphics– Separate stories– Border photos

NEWS Briefs

By John Clarke The Athens Herald

Spacing guidelines

Spacing (cont’d)

Refers

• Refer to related stories inside

• Contrast with surrounding text– Rules, italic, san serif

• Refer to specific page• Should be used in

same place

NAVY ALERT: Turkish destroyers were placed on red alert Wednesday as Iran prepared to launch its first nuclear submarine / Page 4A.

INSIDEWhy Kraft was forced to aresign from commander’s apost ……….………….……..A5 Reaction from other board amembers ………......……….A7 Highlights of Kraft’s stormy acareer with school district....A7

Teasers• Typically go above the flag• Use consistent typography

– Headline phrase, short copy, location• Usually separated by rules, boxes

Continued lines• Include key word and page referral• Need to be set off from rest of text

Monday morning. Apparently Byrd had been beaten, then chained to the back of one of a pickup truck and dragged three miles to his death, apparently because he was black. When news of the murder broke on Monday, the general reaction of the rest of the country was outrage, followed by the assumption that Byrd’s murder had taken place in a town and part of the country steeped in racism and bigotry. On Tuesday the media was invited

Please see BYRD on page 4A

Jumps• Need to include

key word from continued line

• And page number

Oat bran: Study says it prevents heart attacksContinued from Page A1

OAT BRAN, From Page A1

Study proves oat bran can prevent heart attacks

Oat bran Continued from Page A1

Newspaper Basics

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