America’s front pages: A 40-year update

Design has played a key role in newspaper front pages in the 20th and 21st centuries. But, as the role of the printed newspaper has all but evaporated, the importance placed on front-page design has seemingly diminished, too. Today’s front pages are marked by templates and sameness defined by chain ownership and lack of complexity. This study concludes the body of research launched by Sandra Utt and Steve Pasternak chronicling the design and content of America’s newspaper front pages.

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Publication Details

Journal
News Research Journal
Published
2025-10-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/30497841251376083
Primary Topic
Media Studies and Communication
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

America’s front pages: A 40-year update

Matthew J. Haught, David Morris
News Research Journal
Media Studies and Communication
article

America’s front pages: A 40-year update

Matthew J. Haught, David Morris
article en

Abstract

Design has played a key role in newspaper front pages in the 20th and 21st centuries. But, as the role of the printed newspaper has all but evaporated, the importance placed on front-page design has seemingly diminished, too. Today’s front pages are marked by templates and sameness defined by chain ownership and lack of complexity. This study concludes the body of research launched by Sandra Utt and Steve Pasternak chronicling the design and content of America’s newspaper front pages.

News Research JournalVol. 46(4)
University of South Carolina Aiken (US), University of Memphis (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Media Studies and Communication
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