denverpost:

Interactive map: Newspaper front pages around the world on Sept. 12, 2001

A map of dozens of newspaper front pages from around the world on Sept. 12, 2001, following the now-infamous 9/11 attacks.

Cool.

3:05 pm  •  11 September 2012  •  15 notes

Still finding some great 9/11 stuff on the internet. Here are two that I think are just great.

The first one is from La Razon, a Mexican newspaper. The second is from a design studio in Canada named Artfani.

10:49 pm  •  13 September 2011  •  20 notes

shortformblog:

United Flight 93, in voicemail form: The San Jose Mercury News got a hold of the voicemails to United Airlines Flight 93 passenger Mark Bingham. All sorts of people were trying to get a hold of Mark that day, who many now believe was one of the people who attempted to reclaim the plane from the hijackers. The voicemails start with “are you OK”-type messages, then notes of concern, then — after folks heard of his death — regret, remorse and appreciation for what he did. You’ll want to click this one and read closely. And, after you’re done, read the story that goes with it. We’d say this is the best newspaper page you’ll read about September 11, but that really gives all the other ones short shrift. There are many, many well-designed pages today. Charles Apple has a roundup.

(via shortformblog)

10:44 pm  •  11 September 2011  •  121 notes

10 years ago, newsrooms scrambled to put together extra editions of papers to help inform the world of the horrible events that took place in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. 

Today, newsrooms took extra time and care to put out some of their best work to commemorate, remember and tell the stories that have come out of that day. Lots of papers did great work, but here are 15 that I thought really shined. 

The Anniston Star | Anniston, Alabama

The first page I saw when I visited the Newseum today stopped me in my tracks thanks to that great illustration. It isn’t overworked or forced, which is nice. It breathes easy and also is just a great piece of art. The ad at the bottom of the page is a distraction to say the least, but I guess they can’t control that. And even though it would have been nice to scrap all the promos on top too, I don’t mind them. This page, along with others, really are a testament to how a great illustrator in the newsroom can make the difference on the page.

The Arizona Republic | Phoenix, Arizona

Lots of papers did a variation on this ‘ghost tower’ concept, but what stood out for me about the Republic is the concept and idea behind it. The words surrounding the shapes of the towers are six word quotes from readers trying to summarize their feelings about the tragedy. Lots of papers also asked questions (are we safe? who won? how have we changed?), but, again, the Republic just sticks out to me because not only were they able to get user generated content, but their were able to take that content and put it to use. My only quibble? That skyline at the bottom of the page looks kind of unnecessary. Everyone knows that the towers were part of the NYC skyline, the context is redundant and seems forced.

The Washington Post | Washington D.C.

This isn’t the actual front page of the Post, but rather the front of an entire special section they put together that’s full of really moving stories (and awesome design). Many papers did special sections, but they weren’t at the Newseum so I was lucky some of them were coming through on Twitter. @GregoryManifold tweeted this picture out, along with other great pages from the inside. I love the art direction as a whole for this entire section. You can really feel how much the paper invested into this project and it really shows. If you have the chance, check out the pages on his twitter. Or even better? Find yourself a hard copy.

The Los Angeles Times | Los Angeles, California

Again, I just was floored by how good this illustration is. Everyone had the same access to the same AP photos of ground zero and the new memorial and all that, but thank goodness people out there pushed themselves to do something better, something different.

Naple Daily News | Naples, Florida

Many papers did poster pages today, and really, with news like this, why wouldn’t you? I thought the angle the Naples team took for their cover was interesting, mainly focusing on the future. The picture is great, of course, but I just love how they let they left it alone at the top, their simple nameplate resting, out of the way. The copy at the bottom right does maybe obscure some of the action in the picture, but I think they made the right decision. Everyone knows what today means, they didn’t have to say it in a huge hammer at the top of the page.

West Hawai’i Today | Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i 

I can’t decide if this is a wrap or a horizontal front. I initially thought it was  a wrap, but it seems way too wide, unless the paper is tab. Whatever, either way, this page is a knockout. If it’s a wrap, imagine picking up that spare front with just that striking image on the front. I love that they made this much room to really show their readers something this powerful. I can imagine all of their readers taking this, getting it framed and hanging it in their houses. Awesome work.

The Sioux City Journal | Sioux City, Iowa

 

I saw lots of fronts with these weird and random word clouds that I thought just totally missed the mark. The Sioux City Journal though did a great job here. The clouds aren’t arbitrary and really enhance the experience. 

The Fayetteville Observer | Fayetteville, North Carolina

I’ve had a big designer crush on the Observer for some time now, and they are only confirming my not so secret love for them today with this great page. I usually shy away from complex photo illustrations, but looking at the Observer’s pages is a study on how to handle complex photo illustrations. They take such care to ensure that all the little details are covered and everything is so finessed, you can just see how much work they put into making these great covers.

Asbury Park Press | Asbury Park, New Jersey

I’m not completely in love with what the Press did here, but I thought it was worth showing because 1) it’s very different and 2) it was done at the Gannett Asbury Park design studio, which is why you can see this cover on about four different area papers in New Jersey. I can appreciate the thought to go a different direction here, but I’m not sure they reflection pools make that big of a statement. Also the literal reflections from the hed and nameplate look a little tacky and forced to me. Am I wrong? I’m open to hearing other people’s thoughts on this one.

The Star Ledger | Newark, New Jersey

What a bold and pleasant move here by the Ledger. The copy on the cover was written by Mary Jo Patterson, who they say wrote their first 9/11 story that morning 10 years ago. I love this because it shows the community that the paper isn’t some big faceless machine. It says that they are a part of the community too and have the same experiences and memories that everyone does. The most striking thing here? No visuals. Aside from the white slashes putting space between the promos at the bottom, we’re only seeing black copy on a gray background. Instead of yelling at us with grand pictures, the Ledger is remembering with us.

The Albuquerque Journal | Albuquerque, New Mexico

Those three small, simple illustrations are all it takes to tell this story. I’d ditch the kitschy star confetti though.

The Salt Lake Tribune | Salt Lake City, Utah

 

I’ve previously spouted praise for the Tribune, so I’ll just say that I’m not disappointed by one of my favorite designed papers. I wonder if it was a struggle to convince the editors to basically tear the nameplate in half though. 

EDIT: Apparently, this great front was covered by an ugly spaeda. Check out this tweet from the designer. 

The Virginian Pilot | Norfolk, Virginia

The most visually interesting front of the day, hands down, goes to the Pilot. Again, a great paper who decided to toss all the photos they knew everyone else was going to use and went a totally different way. The info graphic shows the differences from now and then and is totally engrossing. The second to last on the left column says “Osama Bin Laden: 1” then the line descends to the right where it just says “0.” Clever stuff.

Casper Star Tribune | Casper, Wyoming

The Star Tribune has quietly become quite the design force this past year. I like the spare treatment to the simple black and white photo. It isn’t overworked, really drives home the message of remembrance.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer | Cleveland, Ohio

Okay, I lied, this is the most visually interesting front of the day. I thank the design gods that Emmett Smith had the sense to post this on his tumblr and tweet it out as well. If you aren’t already, follow him now, because the work him and his team do is ridiculous. This is the front of the Plain Dealer’s special 9/11 section, and even as much as I love the actual cover, I have no doubt this cover would have sold waaaay more papers. I mean, this cover is a work of art. I want to buy a poster of this and just look at it all day. So original, so simple, so beautiful…I just can’t say enough about how awesome and striking this is.

Well that’s it. Charles Apple took a look at some Friday and Saturday pages on his blog, and I’m sure he’ll have more great stuff and commentary later today. Check out the Newseum, pick up as many of these great fronts as you can while they are still around and let me know if I missed any great covers. 

2:35 pm  •  11 September 2011  •  24 notes

denverpost:

10 Years After 9/11: Islam in America — A Changing World for Muslims

For American Muslims, the decade since 9/11 has been one long struggle for identity. Take a look at this exclusive series by the Denver Post examining Islam in America. This is the first part in a three-part series.

 PART I: A diverse Muslim population confronts a choice: step forward or retreat

The attacks carried out by men who claimed to be acting in the name of Islam happened as the majority of U.S. Muslims were quietly living their lives and comfortably assimilating.

Then came the aftershocks: the Muslim condemnations of extremism, the complaints that that wasn’t enough, the evangelist who called Islam an evil and wicked religion, the Patriot Act, two wars.

Yet in the years since 9/11, surveys of American Muslims have portrayed not an isolated community but one that is loyal to the U.S., happy and hopeful for the future — although concerned about discrimination, dubious about the FBI and irrevocably changed by that dark morning.

(read more)

Awesome stuff coming out of the Denver Post. What an interesting story and what an interesting way to tell it.

2:12 pm  •  19 August 2011  •  70 notes