About 40 GateHouse newspapers in several states are converting to a 22-inch web width. The move to a narrower page format provided an opportune time to update the look and style of a number of these papers.

A project of this magnitude was no easy task, with dozens of newspapers spread several hudred miles apart, using different production systems and publishing software.

To make the process easier, we gave publishers and editors a number of nameplate font style options and skybox configurations. Accommodatons were made for ad positions, mailing labels and other art elements unique to some papers. Color palettes also varied by publication.

The first newspapers to launch are in Arkansas. After nameplates were approved, set of templates were provided to each paper. Some in versions of QuarkXPress, others in versions of InDesign.

A few editors and publishers in Arkansas provided some reader feedback about the redesigns:

"We have had nothing but good comments about the redesign — 'Fresh, Crisp,  Modern etc....'  All of the readers seems to love it!" — Gina Slagley, publisher, Newport Independent

"We've had mixed reaction to the redesign and web change. Most, however, have been on the positive side. The one's that have complained didn't really give a reason for their complaint other than they don't like it." — Louis Short, co-editor of The (Heber Springs) Sun-Times

"As for reader comments, the three papers didn't change a lot with this redesign. We already had most of this in place. I did get positive feedback on the headers for Gurdon and the Picayune. Professional and clean were the two words that were used several times." — Wendy Ledbetter, editor, The Daily Siftings Herald, Gurdon Times and Nevada County Picayune.

Next up are a number of papers in Kansas and Missouri.

Joe Greco is corporate design director for GateHouse Media.
Contact him at jgreco@gatehousemedia.com.