Newspaper Typography

Before I redesign my new title I'm firstly going to research newspaper typography and newspaper fonts so I will be able to see if there is an obvious choice for my newspaper flag, headlines and body text.




The diagram above shows all the technical terms of typography. These have given me a more in-depth understanding of letters and words and how they are presented. This is again shown below in another image with a few extra terms.

Below is another example of some typography terms but has also mentioned the technical terms of spacing.

Above Sans Serif and Serif font is mentioned, below is a diagram showing the differences between them.

As you can see Serifs on a font are informally called the 'feet' on the letter.

From finding these images they have helped me get a better grasp on typography and will hopefully help me in considering my fonts for my newspaper.

While Researching I came across this image and study below, which has really enlightened me and I didn't realise before a newspaper would use so many fonts!

This copy of a local Los Angeles newspaper shows 22 different fonts and typefaces on the front cover alone!

www.ascendercorp.com/pdf/Ascender_Corp_Fonts_on_the_Front_Page_11_19_2004.pfd

The link above will direct you to a Font study which states that Poynter, Franklin Gothic, Helvetica, Utopia, Times New Roman, Nimrod, Century, Interstate, Bureau Grotesque and Miller are the most popular typefaces in newspapers.

SnEEC to SpEEC

After talking to peers about my newspaper idea, together we came up with a more relevant name 'SpEEC' which obviously relates better to the idea of a newspaper better than SnEEC so i have now officially changed the name!

But unfortunately now have to go through the design period again!

Computer Generated Ideas

I've taken the ideas from my drawings and developed them using Photoshop. As you can see below i have gone for four main ideas for "SnEEC"

1. School Writing:

These three ideas are all very similar and i have created these to emphasize the college audience and theme of the newspaper.

2. Stereotypical Newspaper font:

This example is a typical convention of a newspaper and this is why I have chosen this, I think if I choose this idea I will later develop it further to become more of a parody typestyle to emphasize the genre.

3. College-Themed writing:

The above two are typical American high-school writing and I believe this will also emphasize the college audience.

4. Accentuating the 'n'

I think this is a good idea of accentuating the 'n' and i will definately be doing this in my final design however i don't think i'll be picking any of these designs.

* Please ignore the red background

Possible newspaper names and paper development

First, I am going to think up some possible newspaper names and then draw them out or create them with different fonts and logos/images.

• pepper
• play
• play-on
• SnEEC
• SnEECy

After re-evaluating these names and before I started drawing I had already cut the list to:

• pepper
• play
• SnEEC

as I much prefer these three, so I am now going to do some rough drawings of these names, pick one that I like the most and then transform that one onto a computer to be my newspaper title.

After creating some drawings (above) I then added some colour (below) but now can't decide between the vertical Pepper title and the majority of the SnEEC titles, so I am going to computerise them both and perhaps experiment and see what the outcome is.

* please note: the vertical pepper title isn't going to be vertical if it is chosen, only place I could fit it on the page, so it is infact supposed to be horizontal and will be if chosen.

Parody newspapers

As I aforementioned there is a huge gap in the market for parody newspapers, and when I went to research them I could only find this one in America, called 'the ONION', so I have now made a definate decision to make a parody type newspaper as we definately need one here!

I found the below newspaper very humorous and I believe the students of SEEC will too, below I have researched what the typical features are of this newspaper which has given me a better idea of what to include in my own.

the ONION

If you can't read that small font i have written out what the text actually says on a previous front cover of the ONION to give a clear idea of this newspaper. This was published in 1994.

"BEER! It Kicks Ass!

September 10, 1994: Beer! Beer! Beer! Whoooooooo! Beer! It kicks ass! Whooo! Beer! Beer! It's so f**kin awesome! Beer! Drink some beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Whoooo! All right! Beer! Beer! Beer! Whooooo! Drinkin beer on a Saturday night! Whoooooo! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Mother-f**kin beer, man! Beer! Beer! Gotta drink some beer! Beer! Whooooo! Gimme a goddamn beer! Beer, man, beer! Beer! Beer! Whoooooo! Yeah! Beer! Go team! Beer! Beer! Drinkin beer! All night! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer!"

the ONION includes articles on current affairs and events, both real and imagined. It's a prime example of a parody of a traditional newspaper with features, such as editorials, man-on-the-street interviews, horoscopes etc. Much of its humor depends on presenting everyday events as newsworthy items, and by playing on commonly used phrases, as in the headline, "Drugs Win Drug War." - which is another example of a headline on a previous print. It additionally features interviews and reviews of newly released media. It also contains restaurant reviews and previews of upcoming live entertainment specific to where it is distributed which i also aim to do. I think i will take this idea and transform it to a Southend/Essex/College version.

Statement of Intent

From researching existing newspapers, I soon realised there was a huge gap in the market for a parody newspaper and this is why i have decided to create a local one. I am going to aim the newspaper at the students of South East Essex College as they are missing a college newspaper to inform the students (and maybe some teachers and parents) of what is going on in and around the college. I think a parody newspaper will be very appealing -to the students especially- and they will enjoy reading it, and hopefully get rid of the conventions of the news and newspapers being "boring" and dull. This will be a huge contrast to the current local newspapers and because of this I am sure it will be very popular as I believe the students need something like this.

I have decided that the style of my newspaper is going to be a traditional looking newspaper with a modern and humourous edge!
I am now going to research parody newspapers to give me a better idea of what to include in my newspaper and look at the layout and how they appeal to their audience.

Below I have created deadlines for myself to make sure my project is complete.

Diary of Dates:

Newspaper over the years

Through Google Images I have found three different images of a local New York paper; The New York Times, and I am going to analyse theses to see how it has changed over 100years.


26.06.1906


11.11.1918


19.07.2009


My initial thought from looking at these images is the decrease of writing and increase of blank space, images and adverts over the years. This shows me that if I am going to create a contemporary newspaper I need a lot of images in ratio to the text whereas if Icreate an old newspaper then i will have to produce more text.
Pictures seem to have a better effect when catching peoples eye over just the headline, this shows me I need a lot of colour and images to appeal to todays audiences as this is a common theme in todays newspapers.

Social Class

I found this table at www.wikipedia.org while i was researching social class to get a better understanding of who newspapers are aimed at. This will help me throughout my project to know who to aim my newspaper at and to get a better understanding of the audience.

A - Upper Middle Class - Higher managerial, administrative or professional

B - Middle Class - Intermediate managerial, administrative or professional

C1 - Lower Middle Class - Supervisory or clerical and junior managerial, administrative or professional

C2 - Skilled Working Class - Skilled manual worker

D - Working Class - Semi and unskilled manual worker

E - Those at the lowest level of subsistence - Casual or lowest grade worker, pensioners and others who depend on welfare state for their income