Chicago Tribune: We didn't F up, but we're making changes

Wow. Anyone in the Chicago area see what the publishers wrote today? They admitted the redesign was a flop. Personally, I didn't think it looked too bad, but it's definitely not your father's Trib. There will still be tinkering, but business is coming back to its own section and there will be extra local news Wednesday through Friday.

Here's the link to the story at E&P:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003928440

 

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I'd love to hear Zell's lapdog and Bright Idea Boy explain that bit of creative suckery.

 

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And yet today's front page is still 90% graphics/photos surrounded by maybe 150 words scattered here and there.

Not to mention the innovative jumps between sections.

 

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I wouldn't say they 100 percent admitted it "flopped." The front still only has one story today. It looks less tabloidish than it did early on, when the Wall Street meltdown received the same dignity as US Weekly gives a Nicole Richie pregnancy rumor, but it's still not your father's Trib by any means.

 

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Does this mean the rest of the TribCorp's changed papers will get to shitcan those "improvements" as well?

 

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Poorly done E&P story. If you read the actual stuff they printed in the paper on that spadea, it's in support of the redesign. They got rid of the bad jumps and they are not going to use one font so much. Wow.
The editor used most of his ink to explain again why the paper is using visuals. He explained some coverage changes, like the biz section. It WAS NOT a ripping of the redesign.

 

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I hope the South Florida Sun-Sentinel takes note of this letter (hint, hint).

 

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When people like my parents notice that there are lot less stories and the redesign looks like crap, you know it's been a complete failure.

 

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Am I the only one who likes the section covers since the redesign?

 

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Would love to see the net loss/gain in circulation since the redesign?

Guaranteed, it was going to turn off X number of longtime readers. Either in direct reaction to the changed look or as a symptom, to them, that the paper again was desperate and circling the bowl, and therefore less valued.

No freaking clue, meanwhile, whether it was going to entice non-readers to suddenly become paying customers.

High risk, low reward from the start. Should have focused energies elsewhere.

 

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I wish the readers down here had the spine and power the Chicago readers do.

 

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I like what Crutchmer's been doing with them. Haven't seen any others.