The Millerton News to unveil new look Aug. 2

MILLERTON — Times are changing fast and furiously in the modern world, with new technology outpacing what had seemed new only days before. And while life here in the Harlem Valley is not quite the rat race the rest of the world seems to be, residents still have to stay up-to-date with the highs and lows of the economy and the job sector, the latest science and technology, the arts and entertainment world, and most importantly, the news of the day. That’s where we come into the picture. For more than 81 years The Millerton News has been keeping Harlem Valley residents informed about what’s going on in their towns and villages. As one of the few remaining independently owned community newspapers our mission is to report the news accurately and fairly while fostering democracy and an atmosphere of open communication each and every week.That continues to be our goal now and into the future. But one thing is changing — our appearance. Starting next Thursday, Aug. 2, The Millerton News will have a fresh new look, thanks to design changes that will make it easier for you, the reader, to peruse through its pages. While the award-winning editorial content will remain constant, the aesthetics of the paper will not. Production Coordinator James Clark has pored over every last design detail during the past few months with the goal of making the paper easier for all to read. The primary font, which is used for articles and most headlines, has changed from Cheltenham to Crimson, with Myriad Pro, a sans serif, used for contrast. The change will make reading easier and the overall impact cleaner. The leading, which is the space between the lines of type, will also be increased slightly for a better visual experience. The spacing between elements such as articles, headlines, photos, etc., will be more defined and more consistent, and the size of the borders on photos and lines used to divide spaces will be reduced. There will also be a clear story hierarchy on each and every page. There will be stronger visuals, from photographs to pullout quotes to special boxes used for area briefs. There will be more consistency among the various headlines, column tags and department heads. The front-page index and weather preview will be moved from the left column toward the bottom of the front page. Bylines will now have our reporters’ email addresses, so readers can contact them with followup information, questions or comments. The end goal, according to Clark, is “the design should be consistent throughout an issue and each issue should be consistent week to week. And, design should not get in the way of the content.” Equally important is that those who pick up The Millerton News know they’re getting the news that’s important to them and their communities. Regardless of where one stands on the issues, readers know they can depend on The Millerton News for fair and consistent coverage — that remains priority number one. Now, we’ll just look better delivering it.