A new look for a newspaper
You may not realise it, but this is an important moment.
Not only is this my first blog, it is also the start of a guided tour - hopefully lasting a few weeks and led by me - through the redesign of the Birmingham Post.
Led by my editor, Marc Reeves, designer Terry Watson and me - the Executive Editor of the paper - have now produced a 24-page dummy of how the Post looks in its historic change from broadsheet to compact (I don't like the word 'tabloid').
When I can figure out how the blogosphere works, I will add images from our work and talk you through how each bit was decided upon. Trust me, some were very easy and some took far too much time!
I hope it will appeal to any design geeks out there, but also to readers with as much passion for the Post as I have.
It should show that changing our newspaper is a task not taken lightly. It involves many hours of discussion, design and redesign until we have come up with something to be very proud of.
But there will certainly be lots of fonts, kerns, squeezes, swatches and rules to keep us all busy!
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Marc Reeves - Editor of The Birmingham Post
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Mike Hughes, Executive Editor, never mind technicalities; only content and coherent thinking (and writing) will keep your readers spellbound.
U
As a lapsed BP reader I'm looking forward to seeing the new format although I don't think it ever does much for sales in the long-term (for example, Guardian, IoS). And I'm worried that the content won't live up to the look.
An aside - what's the difference between an editor and an executive editor?
Clifford, what a poignant question. I think the editor has to do the hard work whilst the executive editor gets all the credit - if it all works out; otherwise short circuit back to editor.
U
Ursula - quite right! I wouldn't be in the business at all if I didn't hold fine writing in high regard. I genuinely don't think there is anything in the regional press to match the standard of Birmingham Post writers. I won't let that play second fiddle to design. The two are inseperable, but if I don't have the best writers, it doens't matter what font I choose to display their words.
I hope the same reply works for you, Clifford. I have worked for the paper for 20 years next February and I think it had to change because the city and its people were in danger of outpacing it. Leading instead of being led is much more fun!
By the way - the editor (Marc Reeves) is the boss. I 'execute' his instructions and make sure the paper works each day. In looks and words...
Mike, I am probably one of the privileged few who has had the opportunity to hold the dummy of the Post as well as look at it. I think it looks very business-like but it feels thin. I think it's important that a quality paper is published on quality paper, so to speak. How does the thickness of the paper in the new compact Post compare to the paper of the present one?
Jo. Don't forget the sample edition you have seen is just that - a 24 page taster of the real thing, which will be an average of 56 pages a day, significantly bluked out by supplements and magazines on some days. Overall, I believe it will feel a high quality product.