EL PAÍS gets a revamp

EL PAÍS is getting a new look, with a new design for its daily print edition and its supplements. The redesign has been described as an "update," by editor-in-chief Antonio Caño, and is aimed at "adapting the print edition at a time when the priority of the newspaper is to forge ahead with its digital renewal. Our goal is to have a print edition that is consistent with the needs of the times, where there is already an intense supply of news and information on the Internet, and the role of a daily paper is merely complementary, rather than dominant. It is an update of the print product that falls within a broader renewal of our newspaper, and where our digital products are given greater weight. All of this, of course, goes hand-in-hand with maintaining our identity and without losing sight of the rigor and credibility that have been in the very DNA of our news title from day one." The redesign is being rolled out on Monday.

A condensation of the most important stories, clarity and readability, were the key factors behind the change. Only two fonts and two colors (black and blue) are being used. Pages are sharper and cleaner, the order of the sections is being changed, and two new, sections, Science and Technology, and Style, are being added. Deputy editor-in-chief, David Alandete, explains that the redesign "had been made with the reader in mind. The change is aimed primarily at enhancing readability and highlighting the most important stories."

One of the clearest examples of the change is the differentiation of journalistic genres. "The news, reports, opinion and analysis are distinguished more clearly, enabling the reader to immediately identify what they are reading," explains Caño. News stories are accompanied by an intro which highlights the most important points. "In addition to differentiating the news from other genres, such as analysis and reporting, we want to offer readers, in a few lines, the essential points behind every issue," explains Eva Saiz, editor of the print edition. "Readers of EL PAÍS will continue to recognise themselves in its pages," she added.

The new look is committed to graphic design and graphics, giving the newspaper’s content greater visual impact. "The aim has been to modernize the presentation of content, adapting it to the new times, with simple changes that clean up the structure and make it more attractive," said Eva Saiz.

Opinion and analysis are also being redesigned, gaining greater visibility. As Alandete explained: "In a digital world, we must be more selective with the news in the print edition and offer added value, with more weight given to analysis and opinion." One of the main innovations is Page 2, a space for opinion with its own personality and that acts as an extension of the front page and includes an article on key issues on the global agenda, taking advantage of the fact that our newspaper has the most extensive network of correspondents in the Spanish language, worldwide.

"Among 21st-century media, opinion pieces have a very important role to play because they are one of the elements that differentiates one newspaper from another. With the new design, the windows on the world offered by opinion pieces are being maintained while we are also opening up new ones. In addition, the opinion columns are being boosted with a stable of new writers," explains José Manuel Calvo, Opinion Editor.

Science and Technology, and Style, are the new sections. They will each be given space in the paper, though not on a daily basis. "Science, technology and lifestyle issues are of great interest to the public," says Caño. The international section continues to open the newspaper, Society and National are merged into the Spain section, and Economy will close the newspaper.

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