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Jun
5
Cloning alive and well at the Star
June 5, 2006 |
Gannett might have lost out to McClatchey in its pursuit of the Star and other Knight-Ridder newspapers, but the Star went ahead and cloned itself in the image of Gannett’s USA Today. The newspaper’s redesign debuts today with lots of color, tiny fonts, a rash of bullet points, and even more crap to distract readers from what little journalism remains. Unfortunately they opted not to revamp the crappy Knight-Rider web site template that still plagues their online presence.
What do y’all think of the new design?
Comments
26 Comments so far
I have to agree. I had hoped forf something classier from the McClatchy organization.
The website is a little different. I think the site is vastly improved from a year ago, when it was one of the worst websites for a major newspaper.
I think the redesign is fine. Are you eighty-five freaking years old? I can read all the fonts just fine. Don’t blame a redesign for any decrease in journalism. Don’t be afraid, color will not hurt you!
People still read news on paper? How quaint.
I sure want to be around when bob is 85 and blind.
lol@The Star being considered a ‘major’ newspaper. For some reason they threw one of their filthy rags on my finley manacured front lawn this morning. I’m considering calling the police to report illegal dumping.
i like the redesign. the ink is way less smudgy. yes, it’s a huge waste of paper every day, but you don’t see people taking their laptops into a bathroom stall or reading family circus on their treo. also, newspaper readers are far less likely to suffer from eye strain and repetive motion injury. face it: some people embrace traditions.
I take my laptop into the bathroom to read.
Ooh… it’s KCTV5 in print form!
I don’t subscribe, but they dumped one in my ditch this morning, and then, as if they remembered one of the reasons I cancelled my subscription, got the second one in the driveway.
No, I am not seduced by form with the same substance. A huge chunk of the paper was an advertising section, but I wouldn’t have known had it not been labeled as such. That’s how badly they put out City/corporate propoganda.
I’m going to disagree with everyone and stick up for the newspaper:
Mainly because I actually enjoy READING! And I like reading the paper in the morning. Unlike the script readers on TV, you can actually read stories in the paper about actual events other than murders and house fires. And, shockingly, the newspaper covers events that HAPPEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES! If you watched any local TV, you would be hard pressed to know that there WERE other countries.
By the way, you people are COMPLAINING that The Star gave you a FREE copy of the paper? My guess is that half of the commenters here didn’t even bother to look at it before they started posting about how they didn’t like it.
There was a very informative and in-depth story about how local governments are spending your money in the Main section. Try getting that from KCTV 5 (you would probably only get about 2 minutes worth of info, since they would have to squeeze it in between the 2 Katie Horner weather segments).
Plus, how many times does BlogKC link to stories that are in the newspaper? The paper must really suck, huh? The fact is, that many of the other news sources (especially radio) read the paper in the morning, and then use what they read about as the basis for their chit-chat. Don’t misread me - The Star does do some stories that are bad or pointless (like Editorials from Michelle Malkin and stupid American Idol stories in the FYI), but that’s the great thing about the paper, you don’t have to read them!
Also, Knight-Ridder (current parent company of The Star) has a tremendous Washington Bureau that has been giving great coverage of the Iraq War - one of the few news outlets that has been right on the facts about this whole terrible affair (unlike the NY Times & Judy Miller).
As for the redesign:
First off, McClatchey has NOTHING to do with this redesign. They don’t own The Star - yet. That sale won’t happen for a few more months.
Secondly, what is wrong with the look? You people don’t like color either? The new look is more modern and the way that many newspapers are going. Not classy? Are you people news designers? World-famous designer Mario Garcia redesigned the paper, and I think he knows a little more about what makes for a strong, legible paper.
I would also like to take exception to the idea that The Star has become just like USA Today. It might resemble it in size and color, but USA Today won’t give you any local news. And, USA Today isn’t more than about 20 pages of stories that aren’t much longer than 200 words - truly a McNewspaper, unlike The Star.
The way I understand the redesign is that it is supposed to allow the casual (i.e. Lazy) reader to scan the paper quickly and get the basic info in a couple of minutes. But, there is more inside for those that still want to learn more.
I will admit that I am a little worried that the paper will start printing larger pics to attract readers and start reducing the amount of actual content. However, if it does, it’s because of YOU. Americans are becoming less interested in reading long stories and getting real info. People just want enough basic info (like Headline News) so they can feel like they know something.
I’m sure many won’t be won over by the new look, but I think it is a welcome change and will get better considering McClatchey’s track record with strong journalism and commitment to an internet presence.
Give it a chance!
heh… Nice well thought out post, Chris. You may have convinced me to hold my judgement of the “new” Star for a bit. As for the small type versus content, well.. what good is content if I cannot read it. Kinda like the small print in all those legal documents the average Joe never reads. At least on the internet I can control the size of the fonts I view without a magnifying glass.
I would argue that with the whiter paper and less press gain that even smaller fonts are easier to read than type on the old press.
Maybe I just need my 45 year old eyes checked.
According to an interview on KCPT it’s not that the font is smaller, just different and some people think that it looks smaller.
You can get the star for $1.75 per week. You can pick whether you want it 3 days a week, 5 days a week or 7 days a week for the same $1.75. Seems like they aren’t sure of how much their product is worth, so they don’t know how much to charge or maybe it is worthless and they are just charging for the cost of the delivery man to throw it towards your house. I am happy to report that I know a man who canceled the star this last week and it is the first time in 60 years that the star has not been delivered to that house. Some people it takes more time than others. The star has never been delievered to my home.
What is your issue Mark?
Why are you “happy to report” that an old man stopped getting the paper after 60 years?
Aren’t sure what their product is worth? Sure they know: It’s $1.75 a week.
Some people just don’t read the paper that much and only want the paper for a couple of days instead of all week (they like the Wednesday grocery ads, they want the sunday coupons, etc.) The subscription is STILL CHEAPER than buying it on the newsstand and it’s more convenient.
Maybe if you tried reading a newspaper, you would know what you are missing - unfortunately, you are too close-minded.
What the hell would i want to read a dirty newspaper for? They invented this thing called the internet see, you can read stuff on it without getting your hands dirty or killing any trees. I can read 5 KC Stars worth of info with my morning coffee. Printed, day old news is so old fashoned, i prefer to stay current all the time and not once a day. Newspapers are a dying breed, their buisness model is failing faster than the RIAA. in 10 years the Star will be long forgotten or have moved totally online.
People who rely on the Internet for news pick what they want to read about. People who pick up a newspaper read items they wouldn’t necessarily choose to read but which are important nonetheless. And therefore, these readers are more well rounded and educated about what is going on in the world. The Internet will never replace the printed word.
hmmm… the internet version of the newspaper isn’t “the printed word”?
Personally, I get the 3 day subscription for the Sunday paper. So two days of paper is thrown away just to get one day. I have called them and asked to just deliver the Sunday, then they deliver it everyday for a month for free. My recycle bin get full of paper for a month, then I get that weasley salesman call that gets mad when you say NO, I just want it on Sunday. Anyway, I think I am well rounded in news, since I read CNN, FoxNews, Skynews, KC Star, and a few hometown newspapers ONLINE.
People are stupid.
Knight Rider? Newspapers will teach you to read, and spell. Try picking one up. It’s RIDDER, pinhead.
Um, we spell it Knight Rider ON PURPOSE. Because we adore The Hasselhof.
I don’t decide what stories CNN/Drudge/FARK/Digg run everyday but I read them anyway. The Internet (and computers in general) have already replaced the printed word in many governments, businesses, and hospitals around the world. My doctor stopped using paper prescription blanks last year, and my bank no longer sends me paper statements. This is the direction we are headed, and printed newspapers are going away, like it or not.
I want KITT in this mix.