New York Daily News media columnist Paul Colford seems to think that Newsday publishing a guide to its redesign is some sort of shocking development:

The radical redesign that Newsday unveiled yesterday may be the first to come with an owner's manual to help readers sort through the changes.

"Keep this handy pull-out guide for future reference," it said across the top.

If that wasn't enough explanation, Page 2 carried a letter to readers from editor Howard Schneider, "A new day dawns for Newsday," opposite another primer on Page 3, "What changes to expect."

Um, hey, Mr. New York Media Columnist? I know you're in the Center of the Universe and all, but just so's you know, there are about 1,457 daily newspapers in the U.S. About 99.8 percent of them aren't on the Isle of Manhattan, and when they redesign, many of them publish a guide to the new design. AKA: "Communicating with your readers." The Miami Herald, for instance, published a six-page broadsheet section. So cross the Hudson and look around a bit!

This has been a public service announcement from Flyover Country.

>Newsday's remake needs manual [New York Daily News]