The New Vindicator

I wouldn’t want to be a newspaper owner in this day and age. With the proliferation of news sources, both national and local, the wonder isn’t that most papers have shrunk to a shadow of their former selves. The wonder is that they are still here at all.

One commentator put it this way. People are going to get their news one way or the other. A recent study shows that most people can do without their morning paper and television news. What they worry about losing is their broadband access. That is the pipe through which the information now disseminates…and it goes in all directions.

This past week, the Vindicator (aka the Youngstown Vindicator) introduced its new form. It’s more than evident the paper put a lot of effort into dealing with the realities of today’s publication business. It has manipulated its column size substantially reducing the physical width of the paper resembling USA Today. It purchased a bunch of new printing presses to allow it to print crisp, clear full color photographs throughout the paper. Because of the compressed space, the print seems to have shrunk but is extemely clear. It has mounted a full media blitz touting its new format, especially on its sister business, WFMJ, which is also owned by the owners of the Vindicator.

The Vindicator and WFMJ are among of the few independent newspapers and television stations left in the country. Most have been sopped up by conglomerates. On the broadcast front, the Williamson family bailed from the area years ago, and now WKBN (CBS) and WYTV (ABC) are both owned by the same investment company, sharing office space and a jointly run local news operation. There is only one or two locally owned small radio broadcast outfits left in the area. The Mahoning Valley owes the Brown family a debt of gratitude for sticking with the area during the hard times and keeping the Vindicator and WFMJ local. It makes a difference and is a point of pride for the area.

Not only has the paper changed its physical format, it has changed its news format. National news is still there, but only minimally. Headlines today are more local human interest stuff. The above the fold main story will more likely be about a restaurant owner’s effort to stay in business in hard times, or a church selling pierogies, or the local animal shelter’s fund raising efforts, rather than peace breaks out in Iraq. Local scandals, still here in copious numbers, will also make the cut.

When I went away to college in 1970, the Youngstown Vindicator was the best local newspaper in the state. Its eight column format was easy to read. It was impressive looking. It was well written, and made the Plain Dealer, the Beacon Journal, and Dispatch…especially the Dispatch…look like amateur city. I think it printed four editions per day. It’s home delivery was late afternoon, so when you got home from work, you could eat dinner and sit down and read the paper. The news was up to date.

I give these folks an A+++ for effort in this latest revamping. But I’m not sure what this is I am now getting delivered to my home in the morning. The colors are pretty, but the length to width ratio of the paper is awkward and looks weird. The print, although extremely clear, is hard to read. Its attempt to keep the look of the Editorial page akin to the old format just doesn’t work at all. The print is particularly small, and it looks cheap and jammed in.

I am hoping that as the Vindicator gets feedback, it will make adjustments. It has done a great effort with its online presence. I assume that will also get some tweaking to get in line with the new print format. The digital edition is great but a little awkward to use having to click on successive PDF pages.

At the end of the day, all print media needs to revamp itself into relevancy in the digital age. If I owned the Vindicator, I would re-examine the physical shape of the paper to get proportioned. I would concentrate on accurate reporting (it has always been more than a little challenged in that area) and serious investigative reporting to give it stories that no one else has. It needs more serious and well researched editorial comments and columns (lose DeSouza’s weekly rant against Jim Traficant and the Cafaro’s…name calling doesn’t cut it week after week), and continue to develop its local human interest angle. It is good to know all of the hidden things going on in the area by hardworking, innovative people. How about a local gossip column, something akin to an updated Esther Hamilton? People always love to see their names in the paper.

And kudos to the the localized inserts relating to surrounding communities like Canfield and Boardman. These are a real plus.

The Vindicator’s success is vital to this area. MKIA wishes the Brown family well, and hopes for the Vindy’s continued success.