SIZE Really Does Matter
Size really does matter, especially when it comes to Newspapers. In the UK the popular press (The Sun, Daily Mirror, Star) are ‘Tabloid’ size (small), and the quality press (The Times, Telegraph, Independent and Guardian) are ‘Broadsheet’ (large). Or at least, all the quality press USED to be broadsheet, until the Times reduced their pages to tabloid, and lost me as a reader.
I have always read broadsheet newspapers, and the reason is they don’t just print the news! You get features on the latest developments in Science, Philosophy, the Arts, Medicine, Astronomy, anything that they think will be of interest to their readers. Yesterday was a case in point.
There I was in my favourite pub, drinking my favourite beer, reading my favourite newspaper, when a large serendipitus smile stretched across my face. The Guardian had printed a 3 page article on my favourite comic-book artist, and used illustrations from my favourite comics! Life just couldn’t get any better. 
“Jim Steranko. Many of you will not have heard his name before, a dreadful truth that troubles me every day. If he were French they’d have his statue in parks, Italian and he’d be on their stamps, Japanese and he’d be doing commercials for videogames and fermented soya bean soda. But in the 
English-speaking world, we still woefully undervalue these master storytellers who choose panels and word balloons to work with.
To my fellow enthusiasts he is a Genius, a Wizard, a Master, a God…….” Jonathon Ross, The Guardian, 21st July 2010
I couldn’t have put it any better myself. Readers of my blog HAVE heard of Steranko before, with my post Marvel Artists – Jim Steranko. Thanks Jonathon Ross and the Guardian for making my day.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Hi John,
Glad you had a happy day!!
I am not looking forward to the day when they stop printing the news. Although I do believe that is going to happen a lot sooner than we think.
Last year an Australian icon paper called “The Trading Post” was shut down and brought online in competition with sites like ebay.
The Trading Post was an Aussie blokes icon newspaper where you could sell everything and anything and after over 100 years it is gone!
Enjoy the reading of the newspaper while you can.
Hope all is going well. See you back here soon!
Cheers
Jacinta
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John McNally
Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I hope you’re wrong Jacinta!
Newspaper reading HAS gone down dramatically in the UK, with 24 hour news coverage on TV and the Internet. People seem to want to know what is happening NOW, as it happens. I’m happy to find out what happened YESTERDAY, by reading the paper.
Some people were predicting the end of real ale in the UK 20 years ago, when ‘nitro-keg’ beer first came out. Luckily they were wrong, real ale is going from strength to strength.
Quality will always be in demand. I think I will be reading my newspaper, drinking real ale, 20 years from now.
John
[Reply]
Howdy Mister!
I hear what you are saying about newspaper sizes and while I don’t refer to them too much, having one filled with full color comic art would be cool, indeed.
I also agree with you that many comic artists are not revered like they should be because they not only project an exciting reality but consider what it would be like if we had more easy to spot villains and heroes ready and waiting to assist us.
Conrad Black, a well known Canadian newspaper publisher has just been released from a US jail on bail so perhaps this will signal a resurgence in the newspaper industry. If, that is, he can get a superhero to assist him…
Thanks John, have a grand day pal.
Barry
[Reply]
John McNally
Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Conrad Black owned some newspapers in Britain as well Barry. The Daily Express I think, which has just been sold to a soft-porn millionaire.
Comic artists are not properly appreciated because “comics” are still regarded as kids stuff in the UK and USA. That’s not the case in places like France and Japan, which have a large adult market for comics.
I INTEND to have a grand day, thanks Barry.
John
[Reply]
Hi John,
Nice post – I was mesmerised by all the bright pictures
I am ashamed to say my paper of choice is the Daily Star although I rarely read the front 10 pages and skip straight to the sport at the back whilst enjoying a quiet pint in my local on a sunday afternoon. The broadsheets just take to much effort to hold up
Regards,
Steve Wilkins
http://www.flipwebsitesforcash.net
[Reply]
John McNally
Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Sunday afternoon perusing the sports pages with a pint in hand, sounds great to me Steve.
Broadsheets can be folded to a more convenient size, and they tend to be less thick, and therefore lighter than tabloids. Don’t forget broadsheets are the paper of choice for every hobo sleeping on a park bench.
John
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