Assignment  #2  –  Newspaper  Critique  Assignment    
 
OBJECTIVE:  The  purpose  of  this  assignment  is  to  provide  a  critical  analysis  of  both  the  strengths  and  
weaknesses  of  a  newspaper  front  page.  The  analysis  must  be  based  on  the  visual  communication  
topics  discussed  thus  far  in  this  course  (design  principles,  typography,  news  design).  
   
GUIDELINES:    
 
This  assignment  is  due  at  the  beginning  of  class  on  Tuesday,  Jan.  20.  You  must  turn  in  a  printed  hard  
copy.  
 
In  a  one-­‐page,  written  analysis,  analyze  the  design  of  the  front  page  of  the  newspaper  you  were  
given.  Your  written  analysis  should  include  the  following  information:  
 
• The  bulk  of  the  paper  will  be  dedicated  to  a  critical  analysis  of  the  strengths  and  weakness  of  
the  design  
o Identify  three  different  aspects  of  the  design  that  that  could  be  considered  strengths  
§ For  each  aspect,  provide  specific  details  of  what  makes  it  a  strong  aspect  of  
design  and  how  that  contributes  to  the  overall  look  of  the  front  page  
o Identify  three  different  aspects  of  the  design  that  that  could  be  improved  
§ For  each  aspect,  state  what  the  problem  is  and  what  you  would  do  to  fix  the  
problem  
• Use  design  terminology  throughout  
o (i.e.  poor  alignment,  good  contrast,  standard  leading)  
 
 
The  body  of  your  paper  must  be  no  more  than  one  page  in  length  (double-­‐spaced  in  a  12  pt.  font  
with  1”  margins  on  all  sides).  Remember  that  the  quality  of  your  thinking  and  writing  is  an  
important  aspect  of  all  work  for  this  course.  NOTE:  If  you  simply  make  the  same  points  used  in  the  
sample  assignment,  your  grade  will  be  significantly  reduced.  And  please  note  that  the  sample  
assignment  only  discusses  two  strengths  and  two  areas  for  improvement.  You  must  provide  three  
examples  of  each.  You  should  write  in  third  person.  All  work  on  this  assignment  must  be  in  
complete  sentences.  And,  of  course,  double-­‐check  your  spelling  and  grammar.  
 
 
This  assignment  is  worth  50  points  of  your  final  grade.  Good  luck.  
 
 
 
A  SAMPLE  ASSIGNMENT  CAN  BE  FOUND  ON  THE  NEXT  TWO  PAGES.  
 
 
 
 
 
  

Your  Name  

Commerical-­‐News,  Monday,  Jan.  24,  2011,  Danville,  Ill.  

  A  strength  of  the  design  of  this  newspaper  front  page  is  the  typography  of  the  body  

copy.  The  body  copy  is  approximately  a  10  to  12  point  serif  font.  The  body  copy  also  uses  about  

a  .25  inch  paragraph  indent  and  is  justified  with  last  line  aligned  left.  These  design  elements  

make  the  body  copy  readable  and  give  the  newspaper  a  clean  and  professional  look.  

  A  second  strength  of  the  front  page  is  the  overall  design  of  the  “Tricks  of  the  trade”  

story.  The  story  includes  a  large,  visually  interesting  photograph  with  the  proper  order  of  

elements  for  a  vertical  story:  photo,  caption,  headline,  body  copy.  The  size  of  the  photo  and  the  

treatment  of  the  design  make  it  an  obvious  focal  point  for  the  front  page  of  this  newspaper.  

While  there  are  some  strong  elements  of  the  typography  of  the  body  copy,  there  is  also  

one  serious  problem:  the  short  legs  of  text  in  the  U-­‐shaped  “Teenager  serves”  story.  These  legs  

of  text  are  only  two  lines  long,  which  makes  the  story  shape  visually-­‐awkward  and  hard  to  

read/follow.  They  should  be  at  least  four  or  five  lines  long  to  increase  readability.  To  correct  

this  the  more  vertical  space  on  the  front  page  needs  to  be  devoted  to  this  story  to  allow  more  

room  for  body  copy.    

Another  area  that  could  be  improved  is  the  treatment  and  placement  of  the  

photographs.  While  they  are  balanced  in  size,  they  are  both  in  the  top  left  area  of  the  front  

page,  which  makes  the  newspaper  visually  unbalanced.  An  additional  photo  should  be  added  

(perhaps  a  small  photos  in  the  “Hearts  for  Hope”  story)  and  the  sizes  and  placement  should  be  

balanced  across  the  entire  front  page.