The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Detroit Free Press will cease home delivery of the paper, except for Thursday, Friday and Sunday — the best days for advertising. According to the WSJ, an “abbreviated” version will be available on newstands on the other days. The digital versions will expand, the article said.
I feel certain this will happen faster and faster as more papers face the reality of declining advertising in the midst of a flailing economy.
Despite the spectre of job cuts, this is not necessarily bad for newspaper designers. Whatever the information product, you will always need people to put the product together, whether it’s in pixels or ink on dead trees. And good design, which is not simply cosmetic, can play a critical role in keeping and gaining readers.
These are bad times overall for the industry, but not necessarily for good designers. That is, if publishers are smart enough to realize the importance of good design to their business.
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Owner, News Design School