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Former editor urges regional titles to ‘nurture’ print

Peter SandsA former editor has urged regional newspapers not to ignore print redesigns despite an increased focus on the digital side of their titles.

Peter Sands, who edited the Northern Echo, has called on editors to “nurture” print design, even if they do not have the budget to do so.

Peter, who has redesigned more than 90 papers during his career with colleague Mike Brough, has offered pointers on how to improve front pages, typography, artwork and structure in a feature for InPublishing.

In the piece, he highlighted the recent print successes of the Liverpool Echo, Newcastle Chronicle and Glasgow Herald.

Peter, pictured, wrote: “Print needs to be nurtured. It makes most of the money and we need to give titles as much longevity as we can.

“I see some newspapers that have very strong front pages. Look at The Chronicle in Newcastle when the football club was sold, the Herald in Glasgow on the cost of living crisis and the Liverpool Echo when Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot.

“All were deservedly highlighted in the Regional Press Awards. Gold standard. But I see other papers that look frayed at the edges, out of date and, worst of all, hard to read. I still see stories squeezed into pre-drawn shapes with meaningless headlines.”

In his feature, Peter also examined why newspaper redesigns had “taken a back seat” in the industry.

He quoted an anonymous regional editor, who said: “I was told I should not waste time producing content if it is not going to work online.

“They certainly don’t want me spending time making my papers look pretty.”

Neil Benson, former editorial director of Trinity Mirror Regionals, also spoke out in favour of templates that are handled centrally by publishers.

He said: “I think the general standard of design in regionals is better now than 20 years ago.

“Maybe templating limits the ‘wow’ factor – for example, from a really well-put-together spread that’s been created from scratch – but it also prevents some of the horrors that used to happen all too frequently.”