Headline News
June 8 release set for this paper’s new look
May 23rd, 2012
By Rick DelVecchio
New local content; more pages; improved type, organization
Catholic San Francisco is set to debut a new look with the June 8 issue. Worked out by staff and consultants over the past eight months, this first redesign in the paper’s 13-year history:
– Modernizes the paper’s look and organization.
– Creates an easier-to-read document, with finer-cut type for text, bolder headlines, shorter stories, and page and topic labels consistent throughout the paper.
– Gives more prominence to visual information, in keeping with the trend in how information is presented and consumed.
– Creates more opportunities for interaction with readers.
– Eliminates inefficiencies in the use of the space.
– Provides new outlets for advertisers, including an editor-approved Page 1 ad for selected Catholic clients and a new look for the paper’s popular Service Directory.
– Provides a new setting for the depth and variety of content that distinguishes this publication.
– Makes way for new content, especially local news and information.
– Represents a reinvestment in print as a technology ideally suited to deliver information, journalism, evangelization and inspiration to a broad, loyal and demanding Catholic audience.
– Saves money: The height of the paper has been trimmed by an inch-and-a-half, resulting in lower printing and postage costs.
– Positions Catholic San Francisco as one of a set of complementary publications for a changing audience with changing media habits, coherent with new print and online products to be released later in the year.
Here are some of the specific changes readers and advertisers will see:
– Two local content centers, one in the front labeled Archdiocese and one in the back labeled Community.
– New local content in the front content center, including Looking Back, a pictorial history feature; Faith Profile, a glance at a notable parish, other community or organization, or individual in the archdiocese; Need to Know, a column listing the week’s important data in a flash; and a space on Page 3 for the archbishop to write.
– New local content in the back content center, including expanded calendar listings and centralized community news briefs, photos and obituaries.
– Separate National and Vatican & World pages, with separate news briefs.
– New sections labeled Faith, Opinion and Arts & Life.
As a final note, the new model is built to be easily expandable in the production shop. Pages will be added as advertising revenue is generated to support them. The goal is to realize a net gain in quantity of content while sustaining consistent quality and maintaining close management of expenses.
For questions and comments, write redesign.csf@sfarchdiocese.org.
CSF’s new model set for June 8 release, featuring these new sections
A story on the new design of Catholic San Francisco and a description of the front page in the new look are featured on the cover of this issue. Below is a description of the editorial organization of the rest of the document, by section.
A special email has been set up for questions and comments on the new design: Redesign.csf@sfarchdiocese.org.
Archdiocese
A series of pages in the front of the paper is set aside for the most important news and information of the local church and community. Tom Burke’s popular On the Street column moves to Page 4. A newly built Page 2 features Need to Know, a listing of brief items highlighting news of high interest to Catholics throughout the archdiocese – for example, notices of upcoming liturgical or community events or special collections, or timely items concerning the archbishop, the U.S. bishops or the California Catholic Conference; Faith Profile, a brief look at a parish, other community or individual; Looking Back, a pictorial history feature; a question-and-answer feature, and more products under development. The document design reserves a page for a column by the archbishop, with additional pages for more local news, including briefs. National and Vatican & World news follow with their own dedicated pages for news, images and briefs.
Faith
A section dedicated to faith and spirituality content opens with a visually improved, full page featuring Scripture readings for the following Sunday, a reflection by one of the paper’s five local reflection writers and a new item with liturgical calendar highlights and weekday Mass readings for the coming week. Following pages are set aside for columns by such writers as Father Ron Rolheiser, Father Eugene Hemrick and Father Kenneth Doyle (Question Corner).
Arts & Life
The paper runs Catholic News Service book reviews in almost every issue. These, and other media reviews, continue in this newly labeled section, with room for local content developed by the staff.
Community
We receive many short items from parishes, schools and other organizations and do our best to use them all. This new section provides a dedicated area for items members of the community want to share with one another, including obituaries. The section follows event listings, which are expanded to two pages and renamed Calendar from the old Datebook.
Opinion
This section features letters, columns by Catholic News Service and syndicated writers, occasional guest columns and news analysis by CNS correspondents in Rome and Washington.
New CSF emails
We have set up these new email addresses for the public to contact the paper for specific services. Any message will be seen by at least one member of the paper’s staff.
For advertising requests and information: Advertising.csf@sfarchdiocese.org
For circulation requests and information: Circulation.csf@sfarchdiocese.org
To submit a letter to the editor: Letters.csf@sfarchdiocese.org
To submit a calendar listing: Calendar.csf@sfarchdiocese.org
To submit an item for the Community news section: Community.csf@sfarchdiocese.org
To contact the staff on any other topic: Information.csf@sfarchdiocese.org
Rick DelVecchio, editor/general manager
From May 25, 2012 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
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