pure design: indexing
DESCRIPTION
The twenty-seventh "fable" from Mario Garcia's "Pure design"TRANSCRIPT
mario garcia
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IndexingThere are different ways a publication can use indexing: through
promotional units for main stories to the inside, through a specific
summary of highlights (the news that the reader must not miss
inside), or through a directory of sections, that is, sports, classified
advertising, opinion, and so forth. Readers appreciate a newspaper,
magazine or newsletter that is easy to navigate. It is with indexes
and promotional units that color is used most effectively, to high-
light key sections, or to guide the reader from one section to the
next.
But do not create indexes to decorate a cover or page one, or to
show off good photos or visuals. Good indexes give the front of the
publication a sense of hierarchy. What do editors think the reader
should read first, second and third? If the reader only has ten
minutes, what is must reading?
And if five more minutes become available, what should be next?
Good indexing prioritizes content for the busy reader.
pure design
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Instant index: El Tiempo of Bogota,Colombia is among the best at usingindexing to pull readers in. The frontpage gives the reader a review ofwhat’s inside, since headlines areaccompanied by story summaries.Promo boxes at the top indicate thebest people coverage, and additionalnavigation indicates features and opinion pieces of interest.