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If you think ASFs are only good for people profiles and athletes of the week, think again.
Sunday's Journal Star shows how a normally long-form story can be presented in short-form glory.
The story informs readers on the status of legislation penned by local lawmakers. The packge, occupying about 75 percent of the news hole space on the front, uses a zebra chart with a color-coded coumn showing the status of each piece of legislation.
Up top, an AP photo gets an illustrative treatment giving the story a place — the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield. The photo was given a slight graphic treatment, as noted in the credit — Associated Press/Journal Star Illustration. Kudos for noting that in the credit!
A shadow was given to the big white headline to help it pop off the photo. The introductory paragraphy in bold is the true beginning of the story, whch sets up the data below. The type is on an opaque blue box, allowing the Statehouse photo to show through, not something that was really needed here.
The chart deftly lists in five vertical columns the legislation name, what would it do, the name of the sponsor, status of the legislation and what's next.
Each bill is organized into two sections — local matters and broader legislation. Nice! Mugs were included with some of the sponsors, which also is nice. Tilting three of the four mugs doesn't add anything to the newsy packge. Images of the windmill and handgun are nice, but I would have like to see more information on the concealed gun permit bill. Seems a little weak consididering how the law may change.
I like how traffic light colors are used to show the status of each bill. The black type is a bit hard to read on the red, on my pdf anyway.
Really nice page!
Missed a front page of the day? Find the archive here.
Joe Greco is corporate design director for GateHouse Media.
Contact him at jgreco@gatehousemedia.com.
