TAKEAWAY: It is great to be back here today after a 20-day hiatus. Here is wishing all of you a Happy New Year and, again, thanking you for sharing your time with me each day. This first 2012 blog post is a compilation of things from here and there: my two platforms at the beach, two newspapers change name and one takes its design to the next level.
The beach and dual platforms
(Photo by Frank Deville)
Although I admit that I did not do any work during the holidays, I would think of the blog from time to time, especially when coming upon events and items that are usually part of what I share with you here.
I found myself reading while taking the strong Florida sun by the beach a lot during the holiday. Part of the time I spent in Belleair Beach, on the Gulf of Mexico, and the rest in Miami’s South Beach.
Surprisingly, I would put printed editions of the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal in my beach bag, but also my iPad.
I discovered simultaneous multiplatform use each day I was at the beach.
I would read about the Iowa caucuses, the first salvo in the process of electing a Republican challenger for a president Obama, then would turn to the Times’ app edition for videos.
Although I was not fully aware of what I was doing, I caught myself using both, which I would not do normally. Maybe I still associate beach reading——sand and sea—- with ink and paper.
It makes me wonder how many readers do that over their breakfast table, combining both print and digital experiences .
And, because the tablet is a lean back experience, is it possible some people take both print and tablet to bed in the evening?
Speaking of reinventions
Front page of the Tampa Bay Times
My hometown newspaper, the St Petersburg Times, appeared January 1 with a different name, Tampa Bay Times, a move that signals what may be the Times’ intentions to establish itself as the dominant daily newspaper of both Tampa and St. Petersburg, two cities in Central Florida connected by bridges that span across Tampa Bay.
I expected to hear more reactions about the change, but the new name appeared on the page one of January 1, and I did see the newly named newspaper copies in the front yards of my neighbors as I ran around Temple Terrace.
All over the city, including the Tampa International Airport, billboards proclaiming that, although the name was changing, the newspaper was not, and readers were reassured they would be getting the same quality journalism that has made the Times a Pulitzer winning newspaper.
The first day of publication under the new name, the Tampa Bay Times carried a front page editorial: “The change has been a long time coming and it reflects our own growth and ambition for the region we proudly call home.” It adds: ‘…our biggest ambitions and accomplishments—-modern mass transit, world class museums and sports teams, great universities, thriving enterprises—-can be realized only by drawing upon the talents and resources of the entire region.”
Meanwhile in San Diego….
Front page of the UT
On the other side of the US, another regional daily newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune ,announced on Jan. 3, that the paper would be changing its name. The publication revealed that the new name, U-T San Diego, will run on the print and online editions.
Doug Manchester, who acquired the newspaper late last year, declares, “This change marks a new era in our company’s history.”
Evolution in the design of Moscovskiye Novosti
The original front page design concept (left), and the newly introduced
Inside pages of the Moscovskiye Novosti continue to offer plenty of white space for visual relief in what continue to be long texts
In Moscow, also a report of evolution——but no name change—-for the new daily, Moscovskiye Novosti. As you may recall, we at Garcia Media worked with the team of the MN when the newspaper was launched in early 2011. Now, as it is normal when the design evolves, the MN has made some mild design changes to accommodate its present needs, along with the arrival of a new editor and art director.
Anton Stepanov is the new Art Director at the Moscovskiye Novosti. Fedor Korol, with whom we worked on the original design, is now art director of the newspaper’s website (http://mn.ru).
Valery Levchenko?, deputy editor in chief?, reports that the changes have gone into effect as of last week.
The design preserves its original concept of the inverted L on page one (for navigation), but enhances it photographically by removing the “book promo” concept we had created at the top. Inside pages continue to use generous white space in order to accommodate what continue to be long texts. All in all, a good step forward for the MN”s design. We will continue to watch it with interest.
Today is the day: Moscovskiye Novosti’s comeback premieres
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/today_is_the_day_moscovskiye_novostis_comeback_premieres/
Online edition of Moscovskiye Novosti;
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/follow_ups_and_t-shirts_celebrating_print
Moscovskiye Novosti marketing campaign creates controversy
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/moscovskiye_novosti_marketing_campaign_creates_controversy
Moscovskiye Novosti premieres across platforms March 28
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/moscovskiye_novosti_premieres_across_platforms_march_28
-In Russia: rebirth of a legendary, iconic newspaper: Moscovskiye Novosti
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/in_russia_rebirth_of_a_legendary_iconic_newspaper_moscovskiye_novosti
Russia report #2: designing Moscovskiye Novosti across the platforms
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/russia_report_2_designing_moscovskiye_novosti_across_the_platforms
In Moscow: making plans for the return of Moscovskiye Novosti, the iconic, influential newspaper
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/in_moscow_making_plans_for_the_return_of_moscovskiye_novosti_the_iconic_inf
The Times and Tyler Brulé
One of my most surprising and fun beach reads was the piece in The New York Times about my friend, the guru of good taste, Tyler Brulé.
If you missed it, go find it, as it is an all inclusive, right on the money profile , of the man who gives us Monocle monthly and who believes in print and radio as necessities for us in a hurried, mostly digital world.
Go here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/fashion/tyler-brule-mr-zeitgeist.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Of special interest
Tablet for two
http://www.betabeat.com/2012/01/04/the-brothers-mueller-kirk-mueller-nate-mueller-conde-nast-ipad-ebook/
Compete tablet wars
http://digitalmedia.strategyeye.com/article/U5QFH6Kms/2012/01/04/amazon_dents_ipad_sales_in_q4/?nsl=XatflsOD0aCp