Planning a newspaper redesign, Part 1
My guess is that it’s time for a redesign of your newspaper. Or at least a freshening.
It used to be that newspapers would go five to eight years between redesigns, but with increased competition and fading circulation numbers, it pays to touch up or change totally more frequently. Today redesigns are often tied to a reduction (again) in web size or a complete change to a tab format.
So you are probably eager to get started and yet boggled at the same time at the daunting process facing you.
It’s not as bad as you might think if you get organized from the get-go, and I’m here to help. During the next month, I’ll put up some posts with my suggestions on how to go about it. It should make the process easier.
The first two big decisions you will need to make are (1) the scope of the project and (2) whether you want a consultant to help.
You may feel a bit reluctant to embark on a total redesign, but unless you have redesigned within the past two years, I recommend you go ahead and re-think your total product line, meaning your web site(s), too. The marketplace will reward improved content in a bright new package, whereas just a freshening might not create the change you want and need. This is a time to be bold.
As for a consultant, I am sure your initial reaction is: TOO MUCH MONEY. Well, the big names in the field are indeed expensive, but you can find some very good consultants at quite reasonable fees. I think they play an important role, especially when you consider the importance of the project and the staff time it will save your paper.
Plus, you can use many consultants as much or as little as you choose — they don’t have to do an entire 6-month project for you. Instead, you can hire the consultant to go over your ideas and work with you along the way as an adviser to keep you from tripping over something. You are doing the redesign, but you bounce ideas off the consultant.
This way you get the benefit of the consultant without having to commit to “full price.” I do recommend that you make at least minimal use of a consultant. All redesign projects benefit from a pair of “fresh eyes.”
Let me know if I can help you in any way.
P.S. Why not take advantage of my $50 off, special issue video critique offer? That is a great way to kick off a redesign project. E-mail me for more.
