With nearly every change we have made in the Tribune, the first day is usually pretty rough. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is the mantra of the “don’t change anything anywhere at any time” crowd.
Success or failure was decided by how long it took the “ain’t broke” calls to dwindle then stop.
Today’s reaction to our changing to a long tab the edition that circulates in Mesa, Chandler, Apache Junction and Tempe has been different. The clear majority of emails I received has been not only favorable, but effusively so.
Here is what the readers are saying: (I’m not publishing last names out of respect for readers’ privacy.)
“Yea!!! I moved here six years ago from Denver. I have missed my ‘Rocky Mt. News’. I hope you continue to redo all the sections in this format! It is so much easier and comfortable to read.”
–Cyndi
“I love the new format of the Tribune newspaper! It’s so much easier to read and to navigate through the different sections of the paper! Great job!”
–Kathi
“WOW!!!!! I have never been so pleased as I picked up my Tribune this morning and saw the new look. It is just great. It is so much easier to handle and read and looking forward to the time the complete paper will be in the new format. You have done a great job. Keep it up. Thanks from your avid reader.”
–Doris
“Let you know: I LOVE IT!!!! A GREAT IMPROVEMENT!”
–Helen
“I am delighted with the new tabloid size of the East Valley Tribune. This just started for Tempe today. Now if you’ll move the nation section into the tabloid and just have ONE paper all together it should be perfect. Congratulations on having the foresight to invest in a new press and believe there is still a future for print journalism. Thank you for the “up-grade”, I like it and only wish you much continued success.
–Susan
My husband and I are so thrilled with the Tribunes new size. When living in Colo. many years ago, the Denver Post, I think it was, was like this, and coming originally from the Chicago area, one of the Chicago papers was like this as well……..through the years we so often said how wonderful it would be if the Mesa Tribune could be small like that, so much easier to handle, to read, etc. ……we have lived here now for over 20 years,.
Anyway…………. we are so thrilled with your change in size and how the format is.
–Jack and Mary
“I am so excited about the new compact format for your E V Trib,
introduced today. It is wonderful. HOWEVER - Why can’t we have the entire paper including SPORTS and NATION & WORLD====in that same compact format???
Having those remaining two sections in the old format, kinda defeats the
purpose of enjoying the smaller version of your paper.”
–Ann
“Love the new format we just got here in Mesa. Please, please, please convert all the sections this way if possible. It makes a much better read. I’d consider getting an extra subscription to take to work.”
–A.L.
“Love the new size of the paper! Wish the whole paper was formatted that way.
It is so much easier to read and manage.”
–Pat
I’m sure you are wondering if I made these up. I didn’t. I admit to having received a couple of critical emails. The following was the more critical of the two:
“The shock I got when I opened my newspaper this morning was the last straw. After 40 years of reading the Tribune I will cancel my subscription in the morning. I hope the Republic is better. The dunderhead that made this decision should be fired.”
–Ken
Here is a link to the story that was in Wednesday’s Trib explaining the changes: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/119305
I’m agreeing with Ken! I’ve been a subscriber for just about a quarter of a century. I’ve watched the Trib change from local to East Valley, I’ve seen various editors come and go! Heck, I was even a community columnist for a few years!
Your new format coincides with my bill for my annual renewal. After a frustrating few days with this new format combined with the old, I’ve decided NOT to renew!
Not only is this new format NEWS LIGHT but it reminds of of free rags available in the city — in other words if I wanted the New Times, I’d stop and get it for free.
Count me a new AZ Republic subscriber!
I’m still not in love with this format change, but having the comics removable from sports is acceptable. I don’t see why they aren’t with entertainment though. I was actually ok with them in the classifieds when that was separate.
Anyway, I’ll again note that this vogue of having mini-views on the front page and inside page of articles within is imo dumb. The utility of a newspaper is that you have an easily transportable means of getting information that can be quickly scanned by flipping through the pages. Personally, I *never* look at the mini-views; I’m already going to flip through the pages.
I am OK with the changes to the format except two changes.
1) Please move the comics and puzzles out of the sports section. This makes no since I love sports and want to read that section. My wife loves puzzles and wants that section. Now we are fighting over that section.
2) Please add the rainfall totals for Arizona Cities back to weather page. Monsoon season is approaching and I want to see the rainfall amounts.
I don’t particularly care where you spread Sports, etc., but I do not like the new size of the front section versus the rest of the paper in the old format. I prefer it to be all the same size (the old size) so that when it is delivered to my driveway it appears to be a newspaper, not trash with ads hanging out of it because it doesn’t fold properly. Thanks for reading these comments. Have a great day!
Keith
The new format is fine, though the feeling of reading the incredible shrinking newspaper remains. The size is great for spreading out on the breakfast table or holding. Changing Nation and Sports to Getout size would look odd, compared to the front section, though no odder than it does now. They would be as easy to hold. If the content has to be pared for the smaller format, perhaps you could add pages and thus more news. Hopefully, you will be able to get a new press which will match the size of the first section.
Right now, you have six pages of restaurant, movies, arts in the first section. Why not combine comics, crossword, etc., for eight pages/ two sheets of paper, which could be a center pull-out for any section?
I was sold on the new Tribune format when I read that it will save trees by reducing the amount of newsprint required. Like most, I would like one format or the other rather than a mix. However, content is why I read the Trib no matter the format. I enjoy the daily TV listings which are paired with the comics. My only wish is that they be placed in a predictable part of the paper so I can easily find them. To be specific, the prototype short-tab sections look fine to me, and I’ll be happy wherever you place TV listings/comics as long as I don’t need to search too hard for them.
Thanks for inviting comment.
Blue
I really don’t care for the format change at all. I believe the East Valley Tribune had made tremendous strides over the past several years in becoming the #1 newpaper in the Valley — ahead of the Republic. Now the paper has the persona of being bush league, not like the major market publication it should be. You’ve got to make the entire paper one format - whether it’s tabloid or the standard format. I prefer the standard format, but can accept the tabloid if necessary. You cannot keep two formats they way they are. It’s awkward. I have also noticed a more sensationalistic approach to the front page. I know the newspaper industry has been suffering, but your paper’s circulation has been rising. You don’t need to stoop to a dumbed down presentation.
Well, you have our vote… We are done with The Tribune… we canceled today. Too bad because in its day there was quality reporting, editorials, guest columnists and great coverage of local events. The new format was just the final blow.
i sent a detailed email to the exec editor regarding how disappointed and
dismayed i am about the “readers digest condensed version” of the new
evtrib. i feel like i’m getting 1/3 of the news & features i used to get.
the issue is not the new format, but the fact that all news, columns, &
features are less or have been eliminated altogether. the advertising has
taken over what used to be a quality newspaper.
I agree wholeheartedly with Scott Nelson’s July 8th post, and I’ve been meaning to write ever since you made the changes. As the days go on, I’ve become more and more irritated with your newspaper format. I’m a long-time Tribune subscriber, and I’m on the verge of cancelling over this. I don’t particularly care for the tabloid format, I think it screams “tacky tabloid”, but I could deal with it if the entire paper was printed that way. What annoys me the most is the two different formats. It is very awkward and unmanageable. PLEASE, one or the other, but not both.