If you’re like many readers of The Star, you don’t like change.
Your mantra seems to be “change is bad.” Anytime the newspaper decides to update its look or content – for example, the recent vote on which strips to delete from the comic pages – editors hear about it. In fact, I’m still getting calls about the decision to delete the comic strip “Geech” last spring despite the fact that the strip’s creator died in April.
When it comes to your newspaper, change isn’t always a good thing. Yet to many of you, it seems like that’s all we’ve been giving you lately.
First a downsized TV book, then a weather page with local emphasis, and in a couple of weeks, a new look for comics. What gives?
There are many reasons. In one case, saving money, in another, doing one of the things that newspapers do best – tweaking.
Newspaper people never are satisfied with their product. To quote that ’70s TV show “The Six Million Dollar Man”: “We can rebuild him, make him stronger.”
Newspapers don’t like stagnation. News happens every day, changing the world and the pages of the paper. It makes sense that newspapers also want to change what they present to the world.
But it’s not always in the way you want. So, let’s take a look at some recent changes:
I The weather page: It’s a hot topic (pun intended). Dozens of readers called and e-mailed when the page changed last Sunday.
Dave Eames, deputy editor in the Art & Design department, said the weather page is a work in progress. “It’s like anything in the paper – we’re constantly trying to make it better. Because it’s one of the largest graphics in the paper, we have a keen interest in its visual appeal.”
Editors made eight key design changes, which include color, icons and typography; using KMBC-Channel 9′s Bryan Busby to provide the local forecast (AccuWeather, located in Pennsylvania, provides the national and world weather); using a larger Missouri/Kansas map to emphasize local weather; leaving the following cities off the U.S. cities map: (Wilmington, Del.; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Evansville, Ind.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Greensboro, N.C.; Norfolk, Va.; and North Platte, Neb.) and launching an expanded Monday weather page soon.
Eames said the new page is an improvement but isn’t a radical redefinition. “It’s the same meat, just on different bones.”
The Star is reacting to suggestions from readers based on the changes. “We plan to modify some colors and make some content changes. One reader caught that we had left out historical temperature records from the previous day. That was just a mistake. We are restoring that,” Eames said.
I Star TV: The TV book went down about 16 pages, beginning Sunday, Aug. 10. This was a cost-cutting measure, and newspaper executives aren’t trying to hide that.
Steve Broas, vice president of advertising, voiced the reasons: “One reason is financial. (Star TV) is a money loser for the company. We believe that the TV book is good for our readers … (but) it’s very unprofitable.”
Broas added that Star TV has a declining readership. “Our studies show a considerable readership decline. I attribute that to the other choices out there. With onscreen programming, the utility of the TV book is less every year.”
True, but only digital cable subscribers receive the onscreen programming. Not everyone has it, and they will turn to either The Star or another source for a television guide.
The main changes to Star TV included reducing the book from 48 pages to 32 pages; removing movie descriptions from the one- and two-star movies; and grouping the midnight to 8 a.m. programming on one page.
“Advertising (revenue) will support a book of that size,” Broas said. “We won’t make money; we will lose less money.”
Some things were added, including two channels: The Outdoor Life Network and The Speed Channel. Other things remained, including VCR Plus codes.
(Does anyone still use these codes? Editors want to know. If you do, e-mail readerrep Many readers don’t like the new Star TV. Broas and his staff have heard that from you in no uncertain terms. But Broas believes this is better than the alternative, such as deeper cuts in Star TV contents.
“This was the lesser of a lot of evils,” he said.
I The comics: A few months ago, The Star asked you to vote out five daily comics. Some readers didn’t like the final choices that got the ax: “Rugrats,” “Mary Worth,” “Six Chix,” “Gasoline Alley,” and “Over the Hedge.” Majority rules, so out they go.
To come are two new puzzles, a new layout and a new comic, “Pearls Before Swine.” The horoscope stays (in a nifty new vertical design); so do the crossword puzzle and our other regular puzzles. Puzzlers should be quite pleased.
Star Features Editor Mary Lou Nolan is optimistic that readers will like the new daily comics pages.
“We gave a lot of thought to organizing the comics, puzzles and horoscope in a way that would make it easy for readers. The design is fresh and modern, while packing a lot of entertainment into a confined space.”
The Sunday comics section will see a slight change, too. Two weekday comics will be added to Sunday: “Baby Blues” and “Zits.” They won’t leave the daily lineup.
You’ll see the results in a few weeks.
When it comes to newspapers, change happens. It’s a fact. It’s also a fact that not everyone will agree with or like what they see. If you don’t, you know whom to call.
