Finished newspaper.

This is my finished front cover of my local newspaper. I took inspiration from several different local newspapers but in particular the Halstead Gazette and Witham and Braintree Times. I played around with the layout of my front cover to create the most professional, realistic layout I could. Once again I used black, white and red as I feel they compliment each other well and create an eye catching yet smart newspaper. I choice my stories very carefully considering what it was my target market wanted to read about, research helped me to identify these. After doing two drafts of my front cover I decided on this one as my audience picked this one, however I also felt it looked more professional and eye catching.

Tabloid, Broadsheet and local newspaper research.

In order to fully understand the conventions and demands of creating a local newspaper, I decided to research and compare visually using a van diagram the conventions and differences between the three different forms of newspapers. Using a van diagram form to organise the features of newspapers I was able to see the similarities and differences between the three, allowing me to meet the conventions of a local newspaper but also to perhaps challenge certain conventions to create a unique local newspaper.

Different main stories.

I decided to experiment with different main headlines attracting different readers, creating more than one main headline allowed me to decide which one was more attractive and typical of a local newspaper.

First Draft Newspaper.

This is my first draft front cover of my local newspaper. I took inspiration from several different local newspapers but in particular the Halstead Gazette and Witham and Braintree Times. I played around with the layout of my front cover to create the most professional, realistic layout I could. Once again I used black, white and red as I feel they compliment each other well and create an eye catching yet smart newspaper. I choice my stories very carefully considering what it was my target market wanted to read about, research helped me to identify these. To improve I may change the colour of my red boxes with the stories featured inside, perhaps to white, I may also change the advertisements.

Talking to local newspaper editiors.

In order to fully understand the task ahead as well as the conventions of local newspapers I decided to email local newspaper editors from The Essex Chronicle and Braintree and Witham times.

The questions I asked the editors were:

·         What type of storylines do you publish?

·         What is the process you go through in order to publish a story?

·         What are your most popular, successful storylines?

·         What are your circulation figures?

·         Why do you not have a website?

·         What is your typical target audience?

·         How hard would you say it would be to set up a local newspaper?

·         How much would you price a local newspaper?

·         Do you think the internet is an important role for the future of newspapers – do you think it will be the end of newspapers?

Talking to the editor of The Essex Chronicle.

Talking to the editor (Paul-Dent Jones) of the Essex Chronicle on the phone was extremely useful and showed me an insight into local newspapers.

Paul informed me that `hard hitting' news, often bad news is their most popular storylines as well as how peoples money is effected. Their most popular headline was 2012 story about the man shooting a police man in Clacton.

I also asked who were there typical target audience/ age etc. Just as I thought, he told me that it was hard to tell however it appears to be mainly 40-50+. I then went on to inform him of my project and my aim to attract younger people through my interaction of my website, he agreed with this yet said they achieve half a million hits a month on their website showing that older people also enjoy the website. I did then ask the difficult question of if technology and internet would be the end of paper local newspapers, he agreed and said eventually it would be after 10-15 years he still believes the Essex Chronicle would still be around in some form.

When I asked about their circulation figures I was shocked to hear how high the readership was and how many copies they sell. They sell 24,000 copies a week and have a readership of 11,000 people.

Talking to the editor of a large local newspaper was extremely interesting in looking into the real life processes of making a local newspaper. Unlike Braintree and Witham times the Essex Chronicle covers the whole of the country, showing a different demographic and purpose to a small local newspaper.

Below is an image of the Essex Chronicle.

Email from editor of Braintree and Witham Times.

In reply to my email regarding information about local newspapers the editor of Braintree and Witham times very kindly answered my questions.

1) The most popular storylines focus on the events that Braintree people are talking about. The 'live' stories. That may be a high profile crime story, a fight for justice or a big campaign (like saving maternity services in Braintree). Strong images can also drive the success of the story.

2) The Braintree and Witham Times sells around 11,000 copies per week. The average print and web readership is around 50,000 people.

3) We don't really have a typical target readership as stories cover a wide range of issues from school reports and news features through to community life (in which clubs send in reports). It's true to say there are more readers in the over-35 age group than the under-35 age group but we try to offer broad service. While a schoolboy may not buy the paper, he may read his team's youth football report.

4) The biggest challenge local newspapers face is the cost of the operation and like so many businesses, the economic trend. Newspapers need to generate cash through advertisers, cover price (price of the paper) or both. But advertisers may spend less money in a weak economy and the cost of printing the product, paying good quality and qualified staff and keeping a premises, can weight heavily on profit. It's not easy!

5) The internet has changed the way we report the news. We see our websites as an 'extension' of the news page. They complement and promote each other. Readers still enjoy the printed product, which is more comprehensive and visual than the web, even if they check our websites for breaking news stories. There are stories and features in the newspaper which don't appear on the web. It's hard to predict the future of the web or local newspapers but at the moment the web does have an important role in the future of the newspaper industry. It's a chance to offer our readers the complete news service throughout the week.

Reserach into local newspapers - front page and contents page.

I decided to mind map by hand the features and conventions of a typical local newspaper, this helped me to recognise the conventions and prepare myself for my newspaper. By doing this I could also gain inspiration and ideas for challenging the stereotypical local newspaper. By mind mapping by hand I could also be creative with my response to the typical local newspaper, the coloured pens helped me to visualise my ideas in an effective way.

What locals wanted from their local newspaper.

I decided to ask locals of Gosfield what it was they desired in a local newspaper, I did this as it allowed me to see how I can meet the needs of my target market. I also went around my village asking people to fill out my questionnaire, from this I identified a price range, types of stories and what people thought of local newspaper. I felt my research with my target market was very effective and useful.

Front page research from papers all over the country.

 In order to identify the typical conventions and style of a local newspaper front page I decided to not only purchase local newspapers of my area but also to use the internet to research newspapers around the country. This allowed me to receive a broad view and knowledge of local newspaper front covers style, colour and language used.

All four front pages have a bold masthead using house colours to allow them to create a brand and an identity. They have at least one main headline and story some having more than one, all four have at least one advertisement. They all appear to have the same ratio of images to text, similar layout style and san serif font appears throughout all four. The language used within the headlines are contrasting to those of tabloid or broadsheet newspapers; local newspapers appear to use statements, quotes or questions. All the stories featured on the front page are local based and specific to it's reported area, it appears with these examples from large towns the headlines appear to be negative and biased. I have identified that stories appear to be more broad and wide spread when papers are reporting for a large town area, whereas small town or village areas appear to have more personal stories such as `Girl 3, hit by bus on way to school'.

Research into the differences between a tabloid newspaper and a local newspaper.

 

 

 

 

I decided to mind map the comparisons between a tabloid newspaper and a local newspaper from the Suffolk area. I identified many comparisons and similarities, by comparing the two types of newspaper I was able to mix the two and create a unique local newspaper.

Research into the most common main storylines for local newspapers.

Mind mapping several local newspapers allowed me to identify that most of the headlines and main stories are negative and biased. The stories are specific for the local area for which the paper is writing for, the stories are gripping and impact the locals. Each front page features an image matching the headline and story. Some have one main story with adverts and features within the paper, however others have more than one main story. Researching typical main stories allowed me to think about my main story, creating typical local news stories.

Drafts for my masthead: Colour, style and name.

Researching 2nd pages in local newspapers.

In order to be able to create a typical yet unique second page for Gosfield gazette I decided to buy several local newspapers from my area, take photos and compare them. Noticing the similarities and differences between them allowing me to come up with ideas for my own design.

 

 

Comparing my second page to my inspiration.

Whilst researching the conventions of second pages of local newspapers, I liked the Braintree and Witham layout therefore I used some of their layout whilst putting my own ideas in to make it unique. I used the same layout on the left hand side telling the reader how to contact Gosfield gazette and what was in the paper, I did this as I felt is was professional. I also put the date, page number and website address at the top of the page just like my inspiration, however unlike the Braintree and Witham Times I also advertised my smartphone app at the top of the page. The Braintree and Witham times second page has two main stories and one short story on the side, I wanted to change this so I decided to have three main stories on the whole page rather than down the side of the page, I felt this was more eye catching and more aesthetically pleasing. Similar stories are also used as the stories written are the ones locals wish to read about. I added a recycling symbol and `promise' in the bottom left hand corner as the majority of second pages within local newspapers do this. My colour scheme is also contrasting, I think my colour scheme is better though as its more eye catching, fresh and stylish.


Therefore I feel that aspects of my second page such as the style and layout mirror that of my inspiration yet I believe it has great contrasts that make it more modern and unique.

DIfferences between a tabloid, broadsheet and local front covers.

By creating a collage of tabloid, broadsheet and local newspaper front covers I was able to see visually the differences between all three types of newspapers. I have identified that the types of stories are contrasting, the tabloid has a celebrity story as its main headline whereas a broadsheet focuses on politics whereas the local newspaper is discussing local events such as the lose of local services. What is the same about all three types of newspaper is the use of a bold masthead and continuous house colours, all three also have advertisements and san serif fonts. It appears that the broadsheet has more text to image whereas the tabloid and local newspaper are the opposite. The tabloid appears to have bold, san serif headlines all over the front cover whereas the local and broadsheet only appear to have one large, bold headline.

Feedback on the pricing of Gosfield Gazette

I asked local people of all ages how much they would be willing to pay for a local newspaper, I decided to have them show visually on a bit of paper the price and take a picture as I felt it was creative and not invasive for the person. I had a range of answers ranging from 50p - £1 but the majority of people said they would be willing to pay 50p; through research of other local papers and target market fed back I decided to price Gosfield Gazette at 50p. I also thought that 50p is rather practical has it can just be one coin, easy and rather cheap.

I asked all different types of people, different age ranges and sex. I did this as I wanted Gosfield Gazette to appeal and be accessible to everyone within the local community.

Who is my audience?

In order to create an effective local newspaper, I needed to know who my audience were and what they wanted from a local newspaper. To do this I asked local editors the typical age of their target audience; Braintree and Witham Times said their target market was 34+, whereas the Essex Chronicle said their target market was often 45+. Therefore I thought I would aim for the similar age range to meet the conventions of local newspapers, but I also decided to attract a younger 18+ audience through an interactive website and smartphone app; making my product unique.

Reader feedback on my masthead.

I asked a range of people to pick their favourite name and colour masthead, this allowed me to see what the locals wanted and what would be the most eye catching. After asking people to pick their favourite masthead I identified that Gosfield Gazette in a red and black san serif font was the most popular choice, therefore I made it my masthead.

 

                                

 

Before asking the target audiences to pick a favourite masthead I created a collage of all my designs so they could see and compare the one that stood out the most visually. The collage is shown below.

Putting all my possible ideas for my newspaper into spicynodes.

I decided to use a website called www.spicynodes.org to collect my ideas into an interactive spider diagram.  Spicynodes brings my blog to life making it interesting to look at and easily accessible.
It allowed me to see my ideas visually and clearly as well as being accessible to my blog so everyone else can see my ideas creatively. I split my ideas into sections brainstorming possible layout ideas and style ideas.