'The Independent' could teach Dr Who a thing or two about regeneration

12/10/11

The new-look Indy

New Independent editor Chris Blackhurst has radically redesigned the paper on the eve of its 25th-anniversary, the third such redesign in four years. There is a shiny new masthead (though of course the same old name) and a new stable of fonts throughout the paper. One of the most radical changes is the abandonment of The 'Viewspaper', the pull out opinion section introduced by previous editor Simon Kelner.

In his notes Blackhurst said: "I’ve become aware that The Viewspaper could be something of a ghetto, to be taken out and read later – but in truth, put on one side and, during a busy day, forgotten."

I wholeheartedly concur. Although I was a avid reader of the 'Viewspaper' pull out, I can understand that others who placed less importance on it as a section could easily disregard it, accidentally or otherwise. The marrying of the opinion and leaders into the main body of the news section successfully fulfills Blackhurst's self imposed mission statement of creating a 'faster, more accessible and urgent paper, one that is easily navigated and that puts you in no doubt what The Independent stands for.'

The last redesign of 'The Independent' took place almost exactly 12 months ago. Kelner attempted to move the paper more upmarket at a time when the paper's baby brother, 'The i', was being introduced. Now that 'The i' has successfully established itself as a leading metro newspaper, and with the arrival of the more hard-news orientated Blackhurst, 'The Independent' has moved into new territory. Presumably the goal of this latest reincarnation is to position the paper more inline with 'The Times' and 'The Daily Mail' (in style rather than agenda) as a compact and commercially viable product. 

Reaction to the new format has been mixed. Many have praised the eye-catching new red masthead and one letter featured in the second issue of the new format described it as 'the first newspaper I noticed with its fabulous bold header and very readable text'. The move towards a single main section, one that mirrors 'The Guardian's' recent change, is positive.

Others have been less flattering. In the comment section of the Press Gazette website the new style masthead has been labeled 'vulgar' and 'naive' in its attempts to draw in new readers. I disagree. 'The Independent' has always prided itself on its individuality, indeed much of the paper's credibility and reputation is built on it. The adoption of this rather unique masthead (in British market terms at least) is simply an extension of this individuality. Sadly I do concede that the new fonts and headline styles are a step backwards. The fonts are slighter cruder than before and the headlines are so crammed together that on occasion a second reading is required.

All told, I firmly believe that Blackhurst's efforts are a step forward for a paper which appears in good health, but regardless of new colours, fonts, mastheads and sections the most important thing is that 'The Independent' has retained the strong, unwavering objectivity and fearless approach to journalism that has kept readers come back for more for 25 years.