Steve Morrison, a Dayton Daily News team leader on the news copy desk, sends this report about today’s viral “THE University of Dayton” front page. (OSU insists on being called “The Ohio State University,” which some find pretentious.)
Two editors met with myself and my supervisors on the desk, plus the person designing the page.
— Chicken scratch to printed paper
They said they were told that “The University of Dayton” was to be the headline, with emphasis on “THE” to tweak the nose of OSU. They also wanted logos and the score prominent. Lots of text, lots of elements and a little trash talk in a four-column spot.
I suggested the giant “THE” (160 point is what I think it ended up being) and also the construction that was the end product, and also helped fashion it with the designer. [At the right is] the note paper on which I scratched the idea and presented it to them. On the right-hand side is a scribble by one of the editors. My chicken scratch is at the bottom. Not exactly the Watergate notebooks, but…
Can’t argue with the buzz it’s created. Great fun to be a part of and a much-needed win for the program — print journalism, that is.
* Take that, THE Ohio State University! (jimromenesko.com)