SFist Tonight
Week Around the Ists
SFist Tonight
For those of you who still read print editions of newspapers, did you happen to see San Francisco Chronicle's latest makeover? To be blunt, it looks downright lovely. The font, the sharper images, the cozier size -- all of it works. Much better than the previous format, we think. You know, if print issues are your thing.
On the front page in today's issue, they explain the new look thusly:
Today's editions usher in a brighter and more visually exciting era for the 144-year-old San Francisco Chronicle -- the first time it has been printed on new state-of-the-art presses [FROM THE FUTURE!!!] Readers will discover more color and an enhanced quality of reproduction in news content and advertisments. The Chronicle also appears today in a slightly more compact and economical size but without any chance in the content readers expect. Several years of planning and development led up to today's introduction of the new Chronicle.
Oh, and even better, Phil Bronstein has a brand new print Op-Ed running on Mondays. But (mercifully) you can read online as well.
What do you think of Chron's new format? SFist snapped a few images of it (on our tragically non-state-of-the-art camera phone) for your curiosity.
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now, i have never used the restroom facilities at SFist HQ, but...did you shoot these pictures on top of your toilet?
if so: GOLDEN!!
Is that an American Standard with a round bowl?
It looks like a newspaper.
Based on these snaps, the new flags look nice. I kind of wish they'd rejiggered Metro and kept it as the display face—they've had such a long history with it—but oh well. Have to take a look at the body type sometime later, I guess.
you can't polish a turd.
You can, actually. Mythbusters proved it. ;)
This is one of the prettier Titanic-deckchair-rearrangements I've seen in a while.
It overshadows the news that, with the end of the Wimbledon tournament, Bruce Jenkins returns home and the number of Chronicle reporters outside the US returns to zero for another year.
Looks nice.
But I wonder: was it the smartest thing to do to invest all that cash in a capital intensive central printing system?? If it saves operating cost, then yes, but even if it's just break even, you have to think it will be an albatross around Hearst's neck.
Upside: can they do contract printing for other papers?
They are actually partnering with a printing company that owns the equipment. They have a long term lease on it. One of the other advantages is that they can print on magazine type paper.
I personally think the new size format, and color, was great. However on some of the more intense ads, you can see the color thru the back of the page.
Smart. That way they reduce the risk.
Did you take these pics with your cell phone??? What better way to show it's "lovely" look than with a bunch of out of focus pics with no white balance to them.
Yes, mental giant, if you bothered to read the post, you would have seen that I did, in fact, take the above shots using my mobile communication device.
Bravo.
GhettoPCS for the win!
My apologies Brock for not getting through your engrossing plug of Phil Bronstein's op-eds. Keep up the top notch journalism!
journalism?!
you are one sharp thumbtack, sir.
Journalism is the production of news reports and editorials through media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet. Journalists—be they writers, editors, photographers, broadcast presenters or producers—serve as the main purveyors of information and opinion in contemporary society.
My mistake, keep up the top notch douchery.
Oh dear.
THIS, seriously, is the batttle you are choosing Brock?
Seems totally ridiculous to me. The copy hypes up their innovative and amazing and expensive ability to make higher quality photos or what not. None of the problems that print news is having involve the quality of the photographs as published on their crummy paper stock.
An LCD or even an iPhone is always going to show a clearer photo anyway.
I only get the Wednesday through Sunday editions delivered, but curiosity about the newly outsourced printing led me to buying today's paper at the nearest Walgreens. I like the trimmer size ... better for readers and folks who sit beside readers on MUNI/BART. Relatively easy on the eyes. Not sure why the Sports section deserved to be in front of the Bay Area section - seems to me the Bay Area section is the only worthwhile reason to read the Chronicle these days, save a few interesting front page stories here and there.
Nice toilet, but what is that thing on top of the toilet seat cover?
To me, the new smaller size and changes in fonts etc., makes the 'new' paper seem really cluttered and cheap. The only reason today's felt thick enough to actually be a major city newspaper was the extra section they added to descibe their own new outsourced printing approach. Oh, and mine had major smudges on all the inside pages....so I'm not impressed.
One of the most important things they can do is actually already being done by The Examiner (not just plumbing the depths of suckage that the Chron will likely be reduced to all too soon): tabloid format and lack of page jumps. Both work to greatly increase readability and both are very helpful for people trying to read the newspaper in public/on transit/anywhere, but sitting at home. The ability to be read easily, browsed through, and carried just about anywhere (unless you have a smartphone, PDA, Kindle or any of the million other things that you can read it on) is the biggest advantage that the print edition has over the online version.
Why do I want to go through the hassle of dicking around with a broadsheet, reading the lead, then having to contort around to fold the damn thing to the jumped page and then fold it back down to something readable. Thankfully the Chronicle doesn't use jumps online (one of the most reprehensible tactics... and yes, having to click to put it all on one page might as well count if it's just a two or three page piece to begin with) and the new size sounds like an attempt in the right direction, but trying to actually improve the ability to simply read the paper is one of the non-editorial changes they need most.
Oh, and why the move to those ugly shit-brown new vending machines? Is this suddenly 1982 all over again? Who in the hell could ever have thought that was a good idea? The yellow ones might have been a bit ugly as well, but at least they stood out.
Both work to greatly increase readability and both are very helpful for people trying to read the newspaper in public/on transit/anywhere, but sitting at home.
did you know that in NYC public schools they used to teach classes on how to read a broadsheet papers? you rarely see people doing it well anymore, but the trick is the half fold, lengthwise.
I agree. In fact, I think tabloid format is the one thing that would immediately increase readership. Having to open, fold, and jump around is just too much hassle, especially on public transportation (or even at the breakfast table, really, because once it's spread out, you have to lean way over and clumsy people). I'm surprised more papers haven't figured this out.
Fewer words on the front page = fewer front page stories
Oh this is so fantastic! The seenster column will look so great in the print edition. I'll be able to make out every herpes sore in the room in brilliant high.def..news....print.
Oh this is so fantastic! The seenster column will look so great in the print edition. I'll be able to make out every herpes sore in the room in brilliant high.def..news....print.
I don't know why that happened twice, maybe because I'm on a phone, perhaps?