Historic headlines need to look forward
In discussions Saturday and today, I criticized the Saturday New York Times headline, "MUBARAK OUT." I argued that yesterday's old news should not be the headline. Others said newspapers covering historic news are kept for posterity, justifying such headlines. Tim McGuire suggested a blog post on the topic. I decided to use Storify to summarize the discussion.
- Jim Roberts of the New York Times started the discussion by tweeting and praising the Times front page (which had much to praise).
- Front page of today's New York Times, for posterity: bit.ly/RKeVD and twitpic.com/3yzg81#egypt #jan25
- I criticized the headline.
Posterity yes, but "MUBARAK OUT" is old news this morning. RT @nytjim Front page of today's NY Times, for posterity: bit.ly/RKeVD
@stevebuttry Though, the Times has more of a reason to make it front and center than, say, a midsized daily running wire copy.- Elaine Clisham, a friend and former colleague from the American Press Institute, discussed with me the value of having a headline to keep for posterity.
@stevebuttry But a newspaper can be saved, framed, given to grandchildren as snapshot of history. Very valuable "job to be done."- @stevebuttry Nope; not exclusively, but one of many revenue streams. Not necessarily current model, either.
- @stevebuttry Interesting question; wonder how many involved would insist on headline of "accomplishment" rather than forward-looking?
- @stevebuttry Again, different job to be done. Bet a good number are interested in newspapers AND Facebook/Twitter, today. Just a hunch.
- In addition to the discussion with Elaine, I had a discussion by Twitter direct message with Steve Klein, which I quote here with Steve's permission:
@steveklein: Posterity matters. It's one of the things that actually does differentiate print. Readers want print to make the moment historic forever.
@stevebuttry: Posterity matters. I'll save a newspaper today (can't recall last one I bought), probably a Times. But how about a head for today's readers?
@steveklein: The "head' for today's readers is online. Isn't that the point? Today's readers -- now's readers -- are online/mobile. News is ubiquitous.
@steveklein: I save historic newspaper front pages much like I save some magazines -- like the famous Wired "Push" cover!
@stevebuttry: I save historic newspapers, too. Bought this one. NYT, too. But woulda bought one w/ forward-looking head.
@steveklein: I don't disagree (not the same thing as agreeing!) on saving historic papers w/forward spin angle. But I do like the frozen moment in time.
@steveklein: But that speaks to the point (esp. as Mark Potts makes it): Newspapers are and have been frozen in time. It's been a great 400-year run.
@stevebuttry: Agreed. I cherish my time in newspapers. Their refusal/inability to change grieves me. - My friend and former Des Moines Register colleague Charles Apple, who does a great blog on newspaper design, rounded up front pages on the Egyptian revolution, with great commentary on design, photo choice and headlines. I noted that several achieve historic front pages with forward-looking headlines.
How newspapers played the resignation of Egypt's president on today's front pages. bit.ly/ii96bK- Roundup of #Egypt front pages by @charlesapple shows power of forward-looking heads: Egypt's new dawn (Guardian) ... bit.ly/ii96bK
- More forward-looking #Egypt heads: Exultation in Egypt, & a question: What's next? (Boston Globe); EGYPT IS HEARD (LAT) bit.ly/ii96bK
- Strib: A NEW START FOR EGYPT; KC Star: "WE CAN FEEL OUR FREEDOM" Historic heads capture meaning, not yesterday's news. bit.ly/ii96bK
- These heads were better than NYT's yesterday's-news head (MUBARAK OUT) as keepers for posterity, too. bit.ly/ii96bK
- Great front page & forward-looking head: "EGYPT IS FREE" RT @johnrobinson Glad Charles mentioned the News & Record, too
@stevebuttry Possibly premature headlines.Story isn't over yet. May be a case of the frogs and the stork.- @PretendEditor Which were premature? None (except "MUBARAK OUT") implied that a story was over.
