A narrower page (11 inches wide, down from 12), livelier graphics, and a slightly larger typeface align Cleveland's daily with industry standards and attempts to make it more useful for readers, according to editor George Rodrigue.
The redesign comes on the heels of a price increase that took everyone by surprise. The Plain Dealer is home-delivered Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and until last week, cost $1.00 at newsstands. The new daily cost is $1.50.
The Plain Dealer published three letters to the editor last week, asking why there hadn't been an official announcement of the price hike and chastising the paper for their strategy.
"As a sign of the times, The Plain Dealer is now offering less content, more pictures to take the place of good journalism, at an increased cost to your subscribers. You have joined the ranks of all those who are providing us with less and asking for more," wrote Cleveland's Loretta Mlady in a letter published January 14.
Rodrigue, however, says that the newsrooms at both The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com are refocusing their efforts for 2016, tackling issues in the public-interest like infant mortality, gun violence, and the public school system.
"We aim to make every word we publish matter more," Rodrigue said. Rodrigue also announced several other changes in the print edition:
- A Sunday column by Cleveland comedian Mike Polk Jr.
- A new Sunday Arts & Life section, combining the former Entertainment and North Coast sections.
- A full extra page of content in the Diversions section, which will include a syndicated advice column by Carolyn Hax.
- A wider array of book reviews on Sunday.
- Activity-centered content in both the Friday Magazine and Sunday's Arts & Life with new headlines "saying things like "See" "Stream" or "Go."
