MIPA has two categories in our annual contest for front page design: one for “newspaper-style” front pages and one for “newsmagazine-style” front pages. But what does that mean?
These two styles of front page design have nothing to do with page size. Big, broadsheet newspaper pages can be designed in a magazine-style, and smaller tabloid or 8.5-by-11 front pages can be designed in a newspaper style.
Here are some examples from previous winners of the Society of News Design’s international design contest.
One of the key differences between these two styles of front pages is how much body text appears on the front page. Do stories appear on the front page, or is text largely limited to headlines and teasers?
Newspaper-style front pages
Newspaper-style front pages typically include a significant amount of body text — actual news stories — on the front page. These front pages can come in any size – from the large, broadsheet we historically associate with print newspapers to tabloid or even magazine-size pages.
Newsmagazine-style front pages
Newsmagazine-style front pages typically include very little or no body text — actual news stories — on the front page. These front pages can come in any size – from the large, broadsheet we historically associate with print newspapers to tabloid or even magazine-size pages. Other key characteristics often include a dominant image that takes up most of the page and teaser text.
