I am a curious observer of newspaper design trends. It is an old habit to break after having done this since my early days in college. That is why I find it fascinating to stand in front of one of those kiosks in European and Asian cities, where the eye delights with the variety of printed publications waiting to be picked up. In Paris, specifically, I love to see how magazines are displayed, not to mention that some of the covers are displayed on rotating giant screens on the side of the kiosks , to make the seduction process faster and more impactful.
Lately, I am beginning to see—especially with European newspapers—a tendency for more pictorial presentations on Page One. Indeed, some of these front pages have the look and feel of home pages. Imagine my surprise seeing the front page of that always wonderful newspaper, Die Zeit, and its December 30th edition: only photos above the fold. Remember, this is a newspaper which which I had the amazing honor of working in 1994, when it did not ever put photos on the front page (only caricatures).
Then there is the front page of Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth, offering a full pictorial navigator to the inside—already with what looks like “cards” that could be easily translated to mobile platforms.
FT appoints its first Innovation Editor
I definitely like the sound of that title for someone in a modern newsroom
The Financial Times has appointed John Thornhill as its first innovation editor effective February 1.
As per the FT's release, Thornhill will oversee the FT’s global comment team ” to transform the way the FT commissions, edits and publishes commentary on multiple platforms. He will lead efforts to put new technology at the heart of the FT’s journalism, working closely with product development, data, audio, video and audience engagement teams.”
Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, said: that “… as innovation editor John will have the important task of leading development of the next generation of digital comment.”
It is encouraging to hear that such positions are created in newsrooms across the world. I bet Product Development Managers and Innovation Editors will be new titles we are likely to see more often in newsrooms everywhere.