To be updated: Update #4, Thursday, Feb. 25, 09:47 EST
TAKEAWAY: For Indian dailies today, two major stories breaking just about the same time. What is the page one designer to do? Only one can really capture the attention of the reader. We show you how some Indian newspapers handled it. PLUS:The National Enquirer and a Pulitzer?ALSO: Paris postcard: Try Ferdi’s tapas and ambience AND:Coming tomorrow in 40 Years/40 Lessons: Mentors.
The two-story lead front page
It is always reason for heavy discussions in the newsrooms: the day when two stories command great attention, so which one is the front page going to display as lead?
One of our regular readers in India, Sajeev Kumar t.k, visual editor of the Keralakaumudi, makes us aware of the situation and sends us some front pages for us to display here—-and to get your comments, of course. And, as always, if you have faced the “what to do with two big stories for page one” dilemma, and you think you solved it successfully, send me those pages via email: mario@garcia-media.com
Here is how Sajeev describes the situation for the Feb. 24 editions:
Yesterday was a challenging day for Indian newsdesigners.We have Railway budget and Sachin Tendulkars world record cricket performance in that day.Usually Railway budget grabs three fourths of the space in the front page.Most of the dailies have one ad in the page one.For vernacular newspapers like us we have to accommodate the states’ pre-budget session in page one.
From what I see on these pages, most gave the cricket record performance the top play——a good way to attract the young segment of the readership. The railway budget story took second place. My advice in these situations is simple: not to decide is to decide, so if the editor and designer give two stories equal play, none wins. Bank on one story/image, and play it as your lead (in this case the cricket story), then display the secondary story a little bigger and more prominently than you would a not-so-important secondary item.
Times of India: Big headline REALLY tells you which is the lead story here, but the Railway story gets good play. Photo of the cricket star could be much bigger, considering how large the headline over it is.
Indian Express: Something went wrong here, but the play of the photo is great. Problem: that headline with blue background does not connect with the story. It could be an advertising, it could be an advertisement, but NOT the headline for the main story. Sometimes less is best. And, please, could they consider redesigning the logo of this newspaper?
Keralakaumudi: One of the vernacular language dailies. In this case, the Railway Budget story leads the page, although the designer made an effort to give the cricket record performance top play as well. Perhaps an interesting way to deal with that story on the edge of the page, but I wonder how many gravitated there. Not sure how to react, as I do like the “edgy” display for cricket, just not sure if it is prominent enough. Your take?
Hindustantimes: No question where the lead is here, all six columns across with cricket story, but the Railroad Budget gets its good play. Good job.
DNA: Here we have the most traditional way to deal with the “two lead” dilemma—-the so called “armpit”. Old and handy, I would say, although not always the best way to do it. Some may even say it is a cop out—-put a big headline for the most “serious” story, then accommodate the most “fun” story under it. To me, this is a way of NOT deciding.
Paris postcard
Try Ferdis in Paris: small place with grand ambience, and, who knows, perhaps a Penelope Cruz sighting
Penelope Cruz has declared Ferdi as her favorite spot for dining in Paris. In fact, she loves the cheeseburger there, claiming it is the best anywhere.
But it was my friend and colleague, Fabiola Santiago, that fabulous fellow Cuban American Miami Herald writer and novelist (Reclaiming Paris), who introduced me to Ferdi.
“You must go, Mario, and please enjoy a few tapas for me,” she advised me in an email.
I have become a regular, and I recommend it. Friendly waiter Oliver knows me and welcomes me and my guests with gusto every time. However, make your reservations ahead of time. Ferdis is grand for its cuisine and ambience, but rather petite when it comes to number of tables.
It is a narrow hallway of a place, complete with vintage photos on the wall, miniature toy cars of another era on both sides of the walls, and a menu with black letters printed on deep red that is very hard to read for patrons of a certain age.
But, alas, no need to read the carte. Ask Oliver for recommendations, which he will give you gladly, with a smile.
Ferdis is Spanish———Luis Miguel sings El Dia Que Me Quieras in the background, and an occasional slow salsa follows the boleros——and tapas is the trademark, so ask for six or seven different tapas: the chorizo is a favorite, but you can go exotic with a little tapa of chicken and curry (Ok, Ferdis goes Asian, too, so don’t forget the Thailandese rolls), continue with those “piquillos” (Spanish red peppers) that are always so tasty that one plate is not enough for a table of 4, so order two. The jamon serrano is a must—-if you like the Spanish ham that arrives all curled up on the plate, a mountain of it, actually.
Last night, a Venezuelan meat tapas—-cachapas——was a great addition, and one we are sure Penelope would like.
“Here, we can wait”, say the happy staffs’ T-shirts.
By the way, although I did not have the famous Penelope cheeseburger, it goes for 18 €. Also good, the guasacaca (avocados, tomatoes, onions, coriandre, 10 €), boquerones (12 €), and the gaspacho with herbs is a must (12 €).
Wash it all down with a wide selection of Latin American wines, and, of course, all the French champagne you may want to accompany the piquillos and enchiladas.
But, keep an eye out for who is coming and going, or that person whose neck is a couple of hairs away from yours, it could be Penelope, or some former Miss Venezuela.
If you go:
Ferdi
32, r. du Mont-Thabor
75001 PARIS
T 01 42 60 82 52
Metro: Tuileries
Cateogry: See and be seen
Open daily: 18h30 to 23h; Saturdays 13h15 to 23h30.
Spring could not be far behind
Windows of the Parisian department store Printemps: Alice in Wonderland is the theme for spring fashion
It is rainy and still cold outside, but, voilå, take a look at the windows of the mega Parisien store, Printemps, and spring is one happy glance away. The windows’ motif for spring is the story of Alice in Wonderland. Everyone is a rabbit in this window. Enjoyable. Yes, you can hear the story as you run or walk by.
Enquirer and Pulitzer: strange bedfellows
Front pages from The National Enquirer, the colorful US weekly tabloid
I could not really believe my eyes when I read a column by Ross Douthat, in the International Herald Tribune, stating that this year, for the first time in its history, The National Enquirer will be in the running for a Pulitzer Prize.
I am thinking what my journalism professors and mentors would say. They are all dead right now, which is not a bad thing. I remember how the Enquirer would appear from time to time as the ultimate example of sensational journalism, exaggeration, sex, lies and innuendo.
However, it is a story that involves sex and lies——and a famous politician, John Edwards——that has catapulted the colorful weekly to prominence. For those who may have been in hiding, or outside the US, the Edwards story has it all, and, indeed, The Enquirer’s journalists pursued it with Watergate style passion and papparazzi devotion, a good mix in this case. As a result, the Enquirer went where other journalists did not, revealing in its stories that Edwards, who appeared to be a devoted husband to his cancer-stricken wife, was, instead, having an affair, and fathering a child. This may not be too important or intriguing, except that Edwards was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination at the time.
Douthat’s column makes a good point: “The Internet is very good at generating gossip, but lousy at the dogged work of transforming rumor into news……the result is salacious overkill one moment, but unexpected indifference the next.”
The Enquirer’s staff obviously did not turn indifferent. Now the question is, will the Pulitzer Prize committee take the Enquirer’s candidacy for its top prize with indifference.
Already, the Pulitzer camp is mentioning two technicalities that may disquality the tabloid from entering the contest: its website describes it as a weekly magazine, NOT a newspaper; the stories in question were researched and published in 2007/08.
We wait for the big headline!
Meanwhile, just the simple act of Googling Enquirer and Pulitzer on the same line is, well, something that requires getting used to.
Coming tomorrow Friday.
TheMarioBlog post #492