Changes aim to refresh our look, emphasize our role

It has been nearly 30 years since the Daily Herald undertook a serious design makeover, so as we transitioned to new ownership, it seemed a fitting time to reexamine our look and adjust it to changing times and tastes. We debuted our new design on Wednesday, July 29, describing font changes, and various other revisions including, notably, a desire to emphasize our suburban roots by grouping local stories near the front of the main news section.

We left the size of our type unchanged, though our overall design was intended to provide a more inviting, airy appearance that was both more contemporary and comfortable to read.

As happened during our previous redesign three decades ago, things did not always go perfectly, and some readers had difficulty adapting to the changes. So, we adapted as well, and are continuing to evaluate and moderate things with the hope that, in time, readers will appreciate the paper even more than before.

First, we have good news for avid followers of the stock market. Earlier deadlines a while back meant we could no longer get the stock page in Thursday’s business section. That’s changed, and starting next week you will find the market report back where it belongs.

As for responses to design changes made July 29, Executive Editor Lisa Miner notes these specific adjustments:

In Sports, we returned the games time listing and increased the sports agate to include results on a number of events, including WNBA and NASCAR. Again emphasizing our local focus, we are making plans to provide even more preps coverage when schools hit the fields again in the next few weeks.

On the puzzle page, we worked to make things, as Miner says, “more user-friendly to fans of Celebrity Cipher, whose favorite daily challenge got a bit squished in the redesign.” While we discontinued the crossword puzzle that we had added to the Friday Time out! section during the COVID pandemic when entertainment events were on hold, we have kept the popular Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle.

Readers certainly noticed when the horoscope seemed to have disappeared in Sunday’s paper, but that was a simple oversight, the kind of thing that often happens when comprehensive changes take place. The feature will return this weekend.

And we recognize that celebrity birthdays have been harder to find for some readers, so we are looking for ways to make them stand out more.

There is something about the experience of reading a daily newspaper that is more than simply information or entertainment. It is also comfort, a certain sense of routine. We recognize that, and we know that making substantial changes to a format that has become familiar and comfortable can be jarring.

So, we want to assure you that the changes we are making represent our goal to move forward as your reliable suburban news source, and we’re confident you will find, as you may have already noticed, that our relationships with our new sister newspapers through our Tribune ownership will enhance our value in meeting that goal.

• Jim Slusher, jslusher@dailyherald.com, is managing editor for opinion at the Daily Herald.