NUpdate #1
The internet offers a milleau of miscellaneous information that is too often taken for granted.
Study finds the Top Ten Fonts for Newspapers
Here's a simple outline you guys can follow while designing our newspaper:
9 tips for designing at small newspapers
1) Keep it simple. You don't have time to deal with complicated designs requiring three different software programs. Try pushing the envelope in one program, and avoid time-consuming tasks such as doing a cut-out on a porcupine.
2) Define your perimeters early. Knowing your limits is essential to creating a design quickly. Decide on things like grid structure, art elements and font early on in the process and avoid looking back. Good design doesn't require hours of contemplation.
3) Stick to one font. You don't have time to browse font foundry catalogues or to experiment with 100 different fonts. Try to be as creative as possible within your paper's font family. Experiment with different sizes, weights, and color (if appropriate).
4) Avoid spending money. Look for inexpensive art elements. You don't need case to make it look good.
5) Make friends. Talk to the Insklingers, a senior, or a peer in journalism and ask for ideas from them. You'd be surprised how many people out there are actually willing to help.
6) Ask for help. One of the biggest drawbacks of designing for a small newspaper is the lack of people of people to bounce ideas off of. Get to know designers (preferably good ones) at other papers, and solicit their input whenever possible on pages you've already created or pages you're working on.
7) Look at other publications. Look at as many papers, magazines, books, and other publications that you can get your hands on. Just because you're not The Boston Globe doesn't mean you can't look at The Boston Globe. Post your favorite designs on the wall and look at them daily.
8) Read. Many small newspapers don't have the budget to send their designers to workshops and quick courses. If this is the case, read up on design yourself. Do a search for "newspaper design" on Amazon.com for the latest books on design or browse through the classics at your local library.
9) Pray to the God of Small Newspaper Design. Good design at small newspapers is just short of a miracle. You don't have to be religious or even spiritual to get some help from the Universe. It might be as simple as putting a little statue of a Buddha on your computer terminal or wearing a lucky pair of socks. Know that you're not alone. Even if you're the only designer for 50 miles, the God of Small Newspaper Design is looking over you.
- I have my lucky marble (:
Stylebook
Concise but clean:
But I digress:
Going back to how to make our newspaper unique:
Sug 1: Cover sports that are not usually covered in today's sports papers.
Sug 2: Be supplementary sports newspaper to already running sports TV program ala TopGear Magazine - some examples: First Edition, Kickstart, Here We go (although this predominantly have more to do with football).
Sug 3: Focus on only one particular sport.
Sug 4: Focus on one particular sports genre: extreme sports?
Who're our target audience?
Those who love sports ranging from 13 to old
What does the paper feature?
Sports
What is the geographic boundary for the paper?
Local? Regional? .....Local.
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