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Figure 8-24.Traditional front page design patterns
Functional Design

Journalist 3 & 2 - Introduction to Journalism and other reporting practices
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TRADITIONAL PATTERNS The term  traditional  patterns  (fig. 8-24) refers to the following front-page design strategies: .  Formal  balance l   Quadrant l  Focus  (brace) l  Circus  (razzle-dazzle) Formal Balance In  formal  balance  design  (fig.  8-24,  view  A),  the page  is  vertically  divided  in  half.  Each  element  to  be placed  on  one  side  of  the  vertical  center  line  is duplicated by the same treatment of elements at the same point on the opposite side. In this type of design, there are   two   lead   stories;   both   are   usually   of   equal importance. Formal   balance   design   forces   the   news   into   a formula  and  does  not  distinctly  tell  the  relationships, values and relative worth of the news. It also creates an artificial  look,  with  the  makeup  being  the  dominant factor on the page. It is considered “visually boring” by modern editors. Most editors still using formal balance vary its use often enough to escape the deadening effect of sameness. A   variation   of   formal   balance   is   the   dynamic (informal)   balance   design.   It   follows   the   same fundamental  principle  as  described  in  the  formal balance  design,  except  when  you  progress  below  the horizontal  fold  of  the  page.  This  is  where  the  exact duplication of the formal balance design is abandoned Since the dynamic balance design gives the editor more latitude in designing the page, it is slightly more pleasing to the eye. Quadrant Design In quadrant design (fig. 8-24, view B), the page is divided into four quarters, and a dominant, eye-stopping element (picture or headline) is placed in each quarter so   that   diagonal   quarters   balance   each   other.   The diagonal line, then, is the type of line used In this type of design, the lead story is placed in the upper left-hand corner  or  the  upper  right-hand  corner  depending  on which is being used as the final point of the page. Quadrant  design  formalizes  quarter-page  balance and  is  useful  for  giving  equal  display  to  equally important stories. 8-33 Focus (Brace) Design In focus (or brace) design (fig. 8-24, view C), the page is made up by placing headlines and pictures on the page to forma diagonal line from the upper left-hand corner  to  the  lower  right-hand  corner  Then  a  strong typographical  display  is  used  in  the  upper  right-hand corner for sharp emphasis. The diagonal line is the type of line used here. In this type of design, the lead story is placed in the upper right-hand corner A letter or figure pattern is discernible in the focus design Note in figure 8-24, view C, that the figure “7” is  apparent  in  the  pattern.  Also  note  that  attention  is “focused” on the comers by the stair-step arrangement of headlines that appear to “brace up” those corners. Focus design is useful when you have one story that outweighs any other in news value. It also is useful in getting readers to read through the page. Circus (Razzle-Dazzle) Design In circus (or razzle-dazzle) design (fig. 8-24, view D), the page is made up by placing elements on the page so   all   elements   scream   for   the   reader’s   immediate attention. Therefore, there is no focus of interest on the page. The  circle  is  the  type  of  line  used  in  the  circus design. In this type of design, the lead story is placed in the  upper  left-hand  corner  or  the  upper  right-hand corner depending on which you are using as the final point of the page. Circus  design  is  characterized  by  immense  type, large  art  masses  arrayed  in  unorthodox  shapes  and positions, use of colored ink for headlines, use of white space, movement of the nameplate to a minor spot on the page, use of widely varying headline typefaces with emphasis  on  the  boldest  weights,  and  preference  for multicolumn displays. Because it is difficult (if not impossible) to make up a page so no one item stands out above any other, circus design  is  probably  the  most  difficult  design  to  use successfully. CONTEMPORARY  PATTERNS While  not  really  offering  a  new  concept  in newspaper  style,  the  following  design  concepts represent a break from the pure traditional patterns: l   Functional .   Horizontal







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