TAKEAWAY: More than a redesign, what some of the US newspapers need is a rethinking of content flow and sectioning. Those 8-page sections are too anemic to stand on their own.
This is just an observation. As I passed through Phoenix’s airport this week, I picked up a copy of The Arizona Republic, a newspaper I am fond of, as I worked on a redesign of it many years ago.
The thought that came to mind: this is a real thin edition of a Monday newspaper. And, as someone who travels the globe and picks up newspapers everywhere, I do notice they thinning of the great American printed paper.
The Arizona Republic this Monday had four sections, 8 pages each. While I understand that Monday editions for US newspapers are really smaller than the rest of the week, perhaps ont hat day a two section newspaper would be more in order.
It would be so much better to have two sections of consolidated content, breaking down the old content organization, and providing busy readers with a more robust package to hold in their hands.
Main, local, sports and money—-that’s how it is right now for a majority of US dailies. Time to take that traditional content organization (which I admit served newspapers well for decades) to the test, sunrising and sunsetting content as you rethink it all. I am sure that the readers will appreciate it as well.
Of related interest in TheMarioBlog:
El Tiempo of Colombia underwent a total rethinking and went from six sections to three in 2010, with much success. Read those blog posts here:
El Tiempo launches new concept today
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/el_tiempo_launches_new_concept_today/
El Tiempo pages: how rethinking evolves five weeks later
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/new_el_tiempo_pages_how_rethinking_evolves_five_weeks_later
El Tiempo: at 100, a fresh proposition, journalistically, visually, digitally
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/el_tiempo_at_100_a_fresh_proposition_journalistically_visually_digitally