Mario Garcia: when less content means more

According to award-winning newspaper designer Mario R. Garcia, fewer sections and decreased length may actually be an answer for weekday dailies - contradicting conventional editorial and reader wisdom.

Per Andersson-Ek, associate editor of the Göteborgs Posten, said that the paper's decision to shorten from a four-section to a three-section daily in 1994 proved to be successful, as readers reacted by saying it became a "more handy, structured and easily navigated newspaper, covering more of today´s topics and talk of the town".

Sam Zell, the chairman and chief executive of Tribune Co., declared that "500 pages of news" would be trimmed weekly from the company's dozen papers in order to have a paper divided "50-50 between news content and ads."

Such statements have in effect caused editors and readers to be concerned with the risks of decreased editorial quality. A Chicago Tribune reader  posted on the chicagotribune.com comment board that she was concerned that "reducing the size of the newspaper might mean eliminating news and favoring more stories about R. Kelly and less about Tibet or Darfur."

But according to Garcia, "talented editors" are required for the task of thinning newspapers. Timothy McNulty, Chicago Tribune's public editor, says that one of the most difficult tasks for journalists today is to be able to adapt to changes in economy without losing traditions.

"I am convinced the newspaper of the next ten years will have fewer pages, published in a more compact format, with much greater coordination between online/print offerings, a more substantial local coverage, and with a design that emphasizes good navigation, clear hierarchy and service," wrote Garcia.

Source: Garciamedia.com