Are the words 'striking' and 'gutsy' code for 'a mediocre poster providing no new information that would have been soft even if stuck inside the local section?'

Then I agree.

Are the words 'striking' and 'gutsy' code for 'a mediocre poster providing no new information that would have been soft even if stuck inside the local section?'

Possibly the most classless thing I've read in a comment in quite a while. you should be proud of yourself - not.

I'm sure the community appreciates such a tasteful message from the Pilot. This is exactly what a local paper SHOULD do for its readers at a time like this. What a poignant page.

Wow, "Bryan." You sound bitter. This is not a poster. It's a compelling front page. What makes it compelling, you ask?

1. The V-P took a risk, sacrificing news space for something meaningful. While other newspapers were running four-, five- and six-column photos of the shooter, the V-P devotes the front page to the people who matter.

2. The nameplate was white. Wow. Not too many papers would do this. What does it say? Well, it lets that maroon and orange ribbon pop off the page while establishing a clear hierarchy.

3. It shows confidence. When papers take risks like this, it tells readers they know what the heck they're doing. It says, "We recognize that you probably already know the latest with this story, and our headlines are 6 hours old, so we'll offer you something different."

I'll bet that this front page compelled people to pick it up, buy it and look inside where they found all the news they could handle.

Seriously, if you're somehow incapable recognizing and understanding the significance of this cover, you don't belong in the journalism industry, period.

Especially think of VPs of the past and how important photos are to them over anything else (Finley started as photog, then photo editor and now editor). Then look at this and consider how much they sacrificed in order to actually care about the students and the community. The only thing remotely self-serving about this cover is the use of color in that ribbon, but as Roy said, it helps draw attention.

Now slap yourself in the back of the head for being a dolt.

The colors used in the ribbon are Virgina Tech's colors, so it's absolutely appropriate. First and foremost, a newspaper is here to serve the community and the V-P did an absolutely wonderful job in remembering this aspect of journalism. A newspaper not only conveys information to its readers, but it also records history. The V-P chose to timestamp that moment in history and preserve it for its readers. You’ll look at that page in a year, five years or 20 years down the road and know exactly what was going on, what the community was feeling and what the outrage was like. This page is a service to the readers, the victims of the shooting and I think it’ll be one of those pages we’ll look back on and it will signalfy this event. Fantastic job, V-P.

I forgot to mention how original this is. The only unfortunate thing about this layout will be the subsequent (and amatuer) attempts at mimicking this astounding page.

That's true, now everyone is going to be like "ooo, white space, why didn't we think of that?" and then do it. Even I have to resist the urge but luckily I'm in Reno and a weekly and it would be completely inappropriate and in bad taste. *hint hint*

Okay, I take it back, not everyone, just a few.

It's gutsy and it makes sense, since Norfolk is IN Virginia and a lot of people there go to Tech. Very nice page, and very Pilot. Maybe one of the only papers that could get away with this.

Dear Webmaster, is it at all possible to get a larger version of this amazing cover page? I'm interested in reading the text; about each of the victims of this horrific and senseless tragedy. My heartfelt sorrow and prayers go out to the people of Virginia and the families/friends of the victims. Thanks webmaster

It's an excellent front page. A very sensitive and poignant treatment in memory of those taken so senselessly.

This page is a moving, thoughtful tribute to the 33 people who were lost to the horrible events in Blacksburg. I think it sets the solemn tone needed to remember those lives lost. Choosing to run a page like this instead of news photos shows solidarity and sympathy with all those affected in the community.

It's fine, but kind of cliched. Right up there with the "full page of mugs of the victims" treatment.

I'll be honest- part of me absolutely can't stand this page. The white masthead, the freaking FRAME around the page; let's face it, as somber/honorable this page may be, a big part of it speaks to SND/poster-bait in the worst way.

I tried to love this page. I really did. But I couldn't.

It's a day after the crazy killer went ballistic in virginia tech, and a pity that a local newspaper had nothing more "newsworthy" than splash a monument. My sympathies, of course, with the victim's families. But no sympathy for the designers// what is so "original" or "striking" about this layout? it's exactly what is wrong with newspapers, as designers "take their place" in the editorial.

Haven't we seen such stuff done after world trade center bombing? why on earth would you want to waste a front page by ramming some crazy designer's ideas down readers' throats (or eyes)? Or, did they not have anything to tell the poor readers a day after the massacre?
I am sure the latter is not the case; so the names could easily have come in a special box, and the rest of the page dedicated to news.
After all, it's a NEWSPAPER, not some calendar art, meant as a creative outlet.

It's time we in the print media understand before newspapers become history: Connect with the readers, and preferably not with calendar artists. People don't buy/ read newspapers to look at 'art'

Circle-jerk alert:

What a bunch of posers.

Do you dudes know news? Marketing? Anything?

Anyone see The State two days after this page? Interesting, original idea...

Can we please retire the term "XXXXX nation"? Please end the ESPN-ing of journalism!

Without citing books or experts, I personally found this page to be worthy of applause because it's not your typical day-after-tragedy news photo of somber white kids sobbing amid candlelight. This event has shattered an entire community -- and obviously one with diversity. I appreciate that this page is a tribute to ALL of the mourners without singling out one specific part of the population. Grief knows no boundaries, and though this might sound silly, news photos don't always reflect that. And it doesn't take a j-school or marketing class to learn how to cover community news with sypmathy and sensitivity.

That said, I agree that too many designers will zealously seize any opportunity for outlandish design in hopes of getting an overrated nod from SND. And these tragedies, unfortunately, provide plenty of fodder for such misbegotten ideas. As some of you might agree, papers in cities with no obvios connection to these shootings have no business preempting local news for mugshot mosaics of these slayings.

And, for the record, I REALLY REALLY disliked the Sept. 11, 2006, front page from the V-P. Not everything they do is brilliant. But, they got this one right.

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