‘Bring back the Newsboy’
And other Herald reader insights
Wow! I asked for input on our new look, and you let me have it.
I promised a follow-up in the Sunday paper, and here we go.
First, the Cryptoquote has been boosted and given more room so you can jot your answers down on the page. That, by far, we had to get right.
A few of you have graciously offered to email me updates as we tweak that brain-teaser. (I default to “Pearls Before Swine” before the Cryptoquote, but that’s me.) I also enjoyed the reader who said he begins his day with a hot cup of coffee, a cold slice of pizza and the Cryptoquote. Before Howie? That’s a Herald reader.
Second, we’ve asked our printers to boost the ink. Many of you like the look of the type, but the lettering is too fine. Our printers are pros, and they’ll get it right.
We’re using a few new fonts including serif on the opinion pages. (That’s the one with the italic look.) But we’re really leaning on Scout Condensed to give you that punchy headline impact.
I’ve been around long enough to remember when Coke changed its formula, so I hear all your critiques. I’ve had a few restless nights, but I sense you’re giving us a chance. We’ve made slight adjustments, but our reporting will never change.
I’ve attempted to respond to every email, and I stopped counting at 300. If I missed yours, send it again. That’s how important you are to us. Change is never easy — especially in the newspaper business.
“It will be a sad day when the printed paper disappears,” Mike wrote.
It won’t here! (How many exclamation marks am I allowed in one story? Heck with the rules!) We will not stop printing the Herald! A few politicians and bad guys probably wish we would, but it’s not going to happen.
But what has me inspired today are your suggestions. Yes, the extra puzzle page we added during the pandemic was popular, but we’ve won back extra room for coverage. “Don’t forget Ukraine,” one reader wrote.
“List live shows now,” another said.
“Where’s Ivana Martini?” (She’s still here. I’ll pass along the fan mail.)
We can do that with the extra space for news. You also asked for a “human interest page.” Now that’s a great idea! (Thank you, Shirley.)
My favorite quote — besides the ones saying we’re the only conservative voice in town — came from Michael who urged us to “bring back the newsboy.”
I miss that logo, too. (We even put it on cookies once for an office party.)
The newsboy makes me think of my 93-year-old dad who delivered the Herald during World War II. He’d read the headlines as he pedaled his bike in all types of lousy weather “breaking his back” on the days the paper was full of inserts.
He told me last night it may take a few days for this version of the Herald to seem like it’s part of the family again. I hope you agree.
I’m humbled by your input. We all are. Email me anytime at joed@bostonherald.com.
Boston, you’re my home!