By: Joe Strupp Newsday of Melville, N.Y., launched what it called its most extensive redesign in 35 years today, with a revamped look that claims to have more local news, more features, double the TV listings, and an unusual back-page approach to more sections.
"Newsday's redesign is intended to move us toward the future," Raymond A. Jansen, the paper's publisher, president and CEO said in a statement. "It takes advantage of new technologies that are transforming us from a print newspaper into a 24-hour information company that delivers news to its readers in multiple ways."
A Newsday spokesman declined to release the cost of the redesign.
The distinctive white-on-blue Page One flag also saw a change, which takes it out of the blue border and places it atop the front page in a simpler blue-lettered display.
"The new Newsday (
Click for QuikCap) look becomes the ultimate book case study of how a contemporary American newspaper can modernize itself without losing the familiar comfort zone for readers, " said Mario Garcia, a veteran of more than 400 newspaper redesigns who aided in the new look.
One of the most interesting changes is the back-page approach, which takes the tabloid's longtime sports section design -- which begins on the back page -- and emulates it in other sections, newspaper officials explained.
"Just as Sports is now the back door to the main section, Part 2 will have a different topic each day on its back page, including Food and Health," editors said in a statement. "Other front and back-page combinations include Weekend and @ Night, the new Friday guide to pop music and nightlife, and Act Two and Faith on Saturdays.The main section centerfold will have a different feature each day."
"We have to grow. We have to evolve. We are competing for our readers' time," said Newsday Editor Howard Schneider. "We have to become more valuable. We have to become more useful. We have to become more important to our readers, and that's what this redesign is going to do."
Other changes include: navigational bars throughout the paper that let readers know what is in the following sections; references to additional offerings on Newsday.com and NYNewsday.com, including video and audio clips and photo galleries; and TV listings expanded to 136 channels, which editors claim is the most of any newspaper.
The paper was redesigned by a team headed by Schneider, Garcia, and Managing Editor Robert Keane and coordinated by Bob Eisner, director of editorial design, and Executive News Editor Jack Millrod.
The redesign is the fourth major makeover in Newsday's 64-year-history and the most comprehensive undertaking of its kind since 1969, officials said.
The launch of the paper's new look followed more than six months of planning and design, incorporating input from Newsday staff and from focus groups in a process spearheaded by the paper's editorial department.
Newsday is owned by Chicago's Tribune Co. Six months ago, the Long Island-based paper began offering home delivery throughout New York City's five boroughs, according to the spokesman. Previously, Newsday only offered home delivery in Queens and parts of Manhattan.
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