A regional daily has published an unusual front page to mark the opening of a public inquiry into controversial plans for an incinerator.
The Eastern Daily Press has created the front page which details the start of a major inquiry into proposals to build the waste incinerator in King’s Lynn.
Rather than the usual story and pictures, the title has published a seven-paragraph “giant standfirst” summarising the three-year debate on the plans in large font, along with small images and logos of the key parties involved.
The story, headlined “Let Battle Commence…” writes about the opening of the inquiry on Tuesday, which it calls the “beginning of the end for one of the most controversial sagas in Norfolk’s recent history”.
Editor Nigel Pickover said: “You can have standard front pages or you can have impact ones but after three years of this debate, we thought we would have a very different front page.
“There has been a good reaction to it and it is a high impact page. We hope it will give us a big sales lift.”
The concept for the front page came from Dave Powles, assistant editor (digital), and it was designed by graphic journalist Annette Hudson.
The inquiry is expected to last until April and the planning inspector will then make a recommendation to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who will make the final decision on the plans.
Journalists from the EDP provided live coverage of the start of the inquiry with a blog on the paper’s website.
At the inquiry opening, lawyers from the four main parties, Cory Wheelbrator, Norfolk County Council, West Norfolk Council and King’s Lynn Without Incineration, outlined their cases.
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The only things I don’t really like here are the content and the design. As a story, it says nothing. Actually, it says worse than nothing – it says ‘Something you already knew was happening is happening.’
As for the design, it’s like one of the books I use to help my toddler son learn to read.
I hope htfp remembers to follow this up and asks Nigel if it does give a big sales lift.
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Its the worse front page I have ever seen.
However the way that Archant claim ABC figures, they will get a large sales lift.
Awful awful
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Valiant attempt to sex up a story about a planning row. No doubt the tale means a lot to a section of the EDP’s readers. But the Indy style treatment just doesn’t come off.
Last few words sum it up to me…”to hear many pages of evidence…” – even the headline writer was throwing in the towel at that point.
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Why all the negative views? I think this is a bold attempt to attract readers. Good on you, EDP.
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One certainly has to try in these very difficult times. Hopefully the effort resulted in a sales boost. It’s certainly eye-catching.
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