The Wall Street Journal has returned to its traditional six column format, as opposed to the five column architecture that we put into place with the introduction of the 2007 redesign. Obviously, I am getting my share of emails, phone calls and comments about it.
I am not surprised, and I don’t think, contrary to popular belief, that this is a direct result of the new Rupert Murdoch/News Corp leadership. In fact, during our various redesign workshops in 2006, the issue of architecture was quite prominent in discussions, with many of the news editors defending the six column format and its advantages.
I now look at these front pages, and they fit the bill for 2008. The more we expose our print products to users of online editions, the more we can expect them to look for “busy”, somewhat contested front pages. The front page is the home page, and, thus, the more the merrier. Gone is the five story broadsheet front page. Say hello to pages that convey in 10 seconds that “this is a newspaper packed with information”. One does not do that with wide columns that play soft violins on the page.
The new WSJ, six column front page is more like staccato all the way, complete with trumpets and trombones.
I like it, I think it has energy, vibrancy and a sense of urgency. For a print product, a win win situation.