You may have noticed that the Catholic Herald looks a little different this week. That’s because we have updated our paper with a fresh redesign done with our readers in mind.
We’ve listened to our readers’ comments and made some changes to help make the paper easier to read and more attractive as we begin a new Church year.
So what have we done?
• On the front page, we’ve redesigned our flag at the top of the page with a modern typeface. We have stopped using the “reverse” type on Page 1, which some readers found difficult to read. The front page features a large photo and a feature story, along with a Catholic News Service article. “Teasers” highlight stories of special interest inside the paper.
• Speaking of pictures, we will be using larger photos throughout the paper wherever possible. As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words!
• Due to readers’ feedback, we have enlarged the type in our local Events Calendar.
• We will continue to publish local stories and features about people and happenings in the Diocese of Madison. We will continue our monthly County Connection section with news from the 11 counties of our diocese.
• We will be publishing longer stories accompanied by pictures and graphics from Catholic News Service. We will also include some news briefs.
• Speaking of briefs, we will include news briefs about events happening in our parishes. We encourage parishes to send information to be published.
• We will also continue to highlight news from our Catholic schools and parish religious education programs. Schools and parishes are invited to send in their own pictures and stories or contact our office about covering special events.
• We will continue to publish articles about our Catholic faith to help educate our readers. These include Pope Francis’ weekly audience at the Vatican; Fr. Robert Barron’s insightful column, “Word on Fire”; and the weekly “Word to Life” commentary on the Sunday Mass readings. We will also publish articles on seasonal topics.
• Also look for some new features in coming weeks, including articles on the Church’s observance of the Year of Consecrated Life and the World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia in 2015.
• Next week, we will start a new monthly column provided by the Institute for Psychological Sciences (IPS), a graduate school that grounds psychology in a Christian view of the human person. This question and answer column called “Ask IPS” will provide answers to practical questions involving faith and psychology.
• And “Where Were You Reading the Catholic Herald” is back by popular demand. Readers are invited to send photos of themselves reading our paper at interesting places throughout the world.
We hope you enjoy our new look. Please continue to read the Catholic Herald cover to cover. Also check out our website at www.madisoncatholicherald.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and other features not found in the print edition.
Let us know how you like the changes we’ve made. May God continue to bless all our readers!
P.S. Special thanks to Erik Peterson, creative director with the Catholic Herald, and Pam Payne, our associate editor, for their work on our redesign.