Artists Take on Front Page News

Newspapers are having to step up their game to be relevant in the age of all this “newfangled new media” and let’s be honest they’re struggling a bit in this regard. Some of them are doing the same things they’ve always done and hoping for different and better results. Some are trying new media initiatives but with old media strategies.

Our local paper, The Courier-Journal is no exception. I don’t think I’m telling tales out of school to say that the Courier is struggling with something of an identity crisis right now. Traditional paper? Re distributor of national news? Drilled down focus on local news? What?

In the spirit of trying new things (and also segueing oh so nicely with my City of Art post from yesterday) today’s front page of The Courier-Journal is a hand drawn replica of the actual printed front page content.

You’ve got to admit that’s pretty cool. Seeing a paper that looks like the image above on your front step first thing in the morning surely must shock you out of the typical routine a little bit. And that’s an awesome comment I think for any work of art.

Courier-Journal publisher Arnold Garson said the project intrigued
him because it can generate discussion, and because it points out how
art is a valuable part of everyday life.”It is about starting the thought process, which is what art is about,” Garson said. “It makes you stop and think.

“We
are in the business of communication. This is just another way of doing
that,” he added. “I hope it’s exciting, surprising to our readers.”

Read all about the artist and how the project came to be.