Abrams: Maps!

From LAObserved's Kevin Roderick..... ho-leeee shit.



Tribune's new innovation honcho Lee Abrams finally began work today after a career in radio and a bunch of pre-memos. He immediately blogged his notes on a vision for the newspaper front pages. Think maps, lots and lots of BIG maps. Oh, and he wants new name tags, and a new name for WGN the Superstation. Whole thing is after the jump, but here's a representative sample:

The first one may make heads explode. Not my intention, so pardon me if it casuses an exploding effect. I was thinking what a newspaper might look like, if newspapers never before existed. Then a few comments on Superstation after watching Sunday. I have no idea if it's right, wrong or a complete strike out, but imagine:

THE FRONT SECTION: The front page is four large and visually stunning maps:
(placement could depend on the prior day's activity or importance based on the city the paper serves)

LOCAL AREA
THE USA
THE WORLD
ROTATING (meaning a map of the most relevant area not covered by the above three. If Europe is blowing up, then its Europe)

On each map is an icon with a small headline...but different obvious icons for different types of events. A "fire symbol" for a fire, etc...

The second page is 100% mini headlines, or an index, visually interesting of course with info on where to find the story.

That's it for Section One. Big, bold, visually attractive. Two pages

 

That sounds like a Web site.

 

If this monstrosity of a front page is ever produced, will someone PLEASE let us know and post a link?

 

BLOGS!!! MAPS!!!!!

 

It sounds like a book cover and a glossary. That's two wasted pages -- just what papers are going for these days.

 

That is one fine piece of work right there.