Here’s a look at the prototype banners the Courant managers are contemplating to replace the vertical strip now on Page One. There really appear to be only two choices, with some variants in color and type face. (Click this PDF of the images for a closer look: allm2.)
Perhaps equally interesting is the look of the entire page.
Loading ...
Looks like what the Journal Register Company did to the Register Citizen in Torrington. The blue strip was meant to be “snappy” and “modern,” to attract the eye of the younger reader. Mostly, it managed to look very anemic whenever the color mix faltered on the presses.
I like the design with a red heart although all of the options are better than the current vertical one.
The heart should be black, but it could be spilling red blood (or ink). They could also select another organ, such as an enlarged spleen or blocked intestine — or maybe even a collapsed lung. The spleen could be a dull purplish color, and the intestine might look good in a dark reddish brown. A black skull and crossbones might be appropriate, too. Or how about a rude hand gesture representing how they’ve treated their readers over the past few years? Another idea might be something besides body parts — maybe a knife or gallows symbolizing cutbacks and layoffs. If those are too graphic, how about a green dollar sign or a gray calculator? I also like the idea of a simple $&%^!! at the center where the heart was (representing one of the owner’s maledictions, expletives, profane outbursts, etc.). One final idea might be to use white ink for the banner, in furtherance of the move toward more and more white space in the paper. I’m open to discussion on any one of these options. Could we meet in the conference room later today?