Comments on: LA Times: I’m confused http://www.completetosh.com/weblog/2006/10/23/la-times-im-confused/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:40:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: bobbie johnson http://www.completetosh.com/weblog/2006/10/23/la-times-im-confused/comment-page-1/#comment-765 bobbie johnson Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:15:53 +0000 http://69.89.31.92/~complew7/?p=412#comment-765 It's why I love reading blogs and sites dedicated to US newspaper design, like NewsDesigner.com and VisualEditors. They live in a different planet most of the time. But I agree with Muz - content dictates form, and the content of most US newspapers is so restrictive and monotone. It’s why I love reading blogs and sites dedicated to US newspaper design, like NewsDesigner.com and VisualEditors. They live in a different planet most of the time.

But I agree with Muz - content dictates form, and the content of most US newspapers is so restrictive and monotone.

]]> By: Muz http://www.completetosh.com/weblog/2006/10/23/la-times-im-confused/comment-page-1/#comment-764 Muz Tue, 24 Oct 2006 02:42:50 +0000 http://69.89.31.92/~complew7/?p=412#comment-764 What is it with American newspapers indeed? Turgid, dull, self important and looking like a dog's breakfast. And what is it with them employing fact checkers - surely that's the job of the reporter, unless of course I'm missing something? But the thing that really gets me about US papers is the writing style - that whole pseudo-intellectual NYTimes lite style that seems to have been adopted across the board is beyond infuriating. And unfortunately a huge part of my life is spent fruitlessly trying to make AP copy understandable to an average human being, so even their agencies are guilty of woeful writing. So, Neil, while you make valid points about the look of the papers above, I fear that until the US papers loosen up a little bit, any design tweaks will simply be dressing mutton up as lamb. What is it with American newspapers indeed? Turgid, dull, self important and looking like a dog’s breakfast. And what is it with them employing fact checkers - surely that’s the job of the reporter, unless of course I’m missing something?

But the thing that really gets me about US papers is the writing style - that whole pseudo-intellectual NYTimes lite style that seems to have been adopted across the board is beyond infuriating. And unfortunately a huge part of my life is spent fruitlessly trying to make AP copy understandable to an average human being, so even their agencies are guilty of woeful writing.

So, Neil, while you make valid points about the look of the papers above, I fear that until the US papers loosen up a little bit, any design tweaks will simply be dressing mutton up as lamb.

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