I'm noticing on Newseum today that most American newspapers are using the photo of the man helping a wounded person with a covered face. It's interesting to see that these Canadian papers are using the mobile phone photos on the front, which aren't as good quality.

I'm with Denise: The photo showing the woman with the burn mask on doesn't tell me anything. Witness the Hartford Courant. Dramatic yes. Informative, not really.

My favorite today (that I've seen) is the Merc. Painfully dramatic main art, a detail of a bombed-out Tube car and a helpful graphical timeline. In addition to the main story, there's a sidebar on public transportation safety and a column telling us why we should care. Not to mention a well-crafted main headline. One of my big criticisms with the coverage of most newspapers is that it's painfully first-day. We don't have that luxury anymore. This pushes the envelope into relevance, instead of making the headline something like: London bombing leaves dozens dead. Duh! TV and Internet told me that hours ago. Tell me something I don't know.

I have noticed that designers have started to use national emergencies as a vehicle for design. It seems like front pages that deal with shocking events have become more about the designer than the reader, There is not much information about how you can help or protect yourself as much as big black boxes and huge photos of horror. I think as a news designer at the time of a tragedy like the London bombings content instead of design should rule. Thinking about how this could win an SND award should be the last thing on the mind.

I have noticed that designers have started to use national emergencies as a vehicle for design. It seems like front pages that deal with shocking events have become more about the designer than the reader, There is not much information about how you can help or protect yourself as much as big black boxes and huge photos of horror. I think as a news designer at the time of a tragedy like the London bombings content instead of design should rule. Thinking about how this could win an SND award should be the last thing on the mind.