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What does ‘newspaper-style’ and ‘newsmagazine-style’ mean for front page design?

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.

This newspaper-style front page from The New York Times features the text from several stories on the front page.
This newspaper-style front page from The New York Times features the text from several stories on the front page.
This front page from DeMorgen features only one main story, but the significant amount of text helps categorize it as a "newspaper-style" page.
This front page from DeMorgen features only one main story, but the significant amount of text helps categorize it as a “newspaper-style” page.
This front from from Die Zeit, features a large dominant image and two related stories.
This front from from Die Zeit, features a large dominant image and two related stories.

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.

 
This front page from the National Post in Canada is a traditional broadsheet size, but features a newsmagazine design style.
This front page from the National Post in Canada is a traditional broadsheet size, but features a newsmagazine design style.
Although this page is a broadsheet, it features a "newsmagazine" design style with a dominant image that takes up most of the page and no body text from stories.
Although this page is a broadsheet, it features a “newsmagazine” design style with a dominant image that takes up most of the page and no body text from stories.
These newspaper pages feature a magazine-style, with dominant images that take up most of the front page and no or very little body text from stories.
These newspaper pages feature a magazine-style, with dominant images that take up most of the front page and no or very little body text from stories.