1. NEWSPAPER DESIGN CONCEPTS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Detail the design concepts used in ship or station
newspaper makeup.
Successfully designing a newspaper page encompasses more than
experimentation. It is actually a calculated art evidenced by the following five
newspaper design concepts:
. Balance l Contrast
. Rhythm l unity l Harmony
BALANCE
In the balance concept, the page designer (hereafter referred to as the editor,
although it may be any member of the newspaper staff performing this
function) tries to balance heads against heads, pictures against pictures,
stories against stories and artwork against artwork. This balance, however, is a
relative balance, and it is not measurable but is something gauged in the
viewer's mind. Therefore, the editor has to sense, rather than measure, the
balance for a page. This perception is one developed by experience. The editor
looks at the page
CONTRAST
In the contrast concept, the editor strives to separate display items on the page
so each gets the attention it deserves. The editor uses type, headlines, pictures,
white space and color to achieve contrast.
For example, the editor can achieve contrast with type by using regular type
with boldface type. Headlines also can be contrasted by using bold, blackheads
or by displaying reman type with italic type. The editor can achieve contrast
with pictures by using verticals with horizontals, small column widths with
large column widths or dark and light photographs. Further, the editor can
achieve contrast through color by displaying black type with color boxes,
pictures and heads.
RHYTHM

2. By using the rhythm concept, the editor tries to get the reader to move from
one element to another element on the page. Rhythm is achieved in newspaper
makeup by staggering headlines, stories and pictures on the page.
UNITY
The unity concept of newspaper makeup is used to tie the page together;
therefore, the page is not divided into one, two or more sections. A page that
lacks unity is called a paneled page. You can avoid paneled pages by crossing
the column gutters (space between columns) with headlines and pictures in the
middle areas of the page.
HARMONY
The harmony concept is used to give a newspaper a standard appearance from
day to day. Harmony generally refers to typographic harmony. This means
using one typeface for body type and a contrasting typeface for cutlines.
Headlines should have the same typeface as the body type and maybe varied by
weight and the use of italics on occasion.
Figure 8-19. - Newspaper nameplates.