'Sleeker' Star: new sections, larger type, increased local coverage

The Toronto Star plans to roll out a dramatic redesign on Monday, May 28.

Word is the Star is thrilled by how fast the project, headed up by design boss Charlie Kopun, was pulled together - less than five months.

"Newspapers typically take a few years to go through this process, but it seems inconceivable in this day and age to take that long to bring a new version to market," said Star publisher Jagoda Pike. "So we said we were going to change the cycle and get out to market as quickly as we can."
The new-look Star is expected to feature:

• Bigger body type - 10.25 over 11;


• Cleaner crisper headlines with sections clearly labeled and colour-coded;


• A move towards an 11.5-inch page, a first for major North American broadsheets;


• Enhanced local news coverage with Toronto and GTA content moving to the A section;


• A new World & Comment section, published Monday through Saturday;


• A new daily and weekend Living section.

In a story that ran in the Star on May 3, Jagoda Pike said the increase in body type size will translate into less content in "some cases," but the editorial team is countering that issue by experimenting with smaller headlines.

"We are going to use the space more effectively for good storytelling," editor-in-chief Fred Kuntz said. "I'm not interested in story count or number of words. The most important thing is to hit the topics that readers are most interested in."

Jagoda Pike also announced a move towards modular adverstising, starting in January. "We are the only medium that sells ads by any size," she said.

Links:
Star news release
Star story
And story on Media in Canada site