What fonts should we use in our newspaper design?

March 11, 2006 5:10 AM

What fonts should we use in our newspaper design?

I'm working on a template for an alt-weekly newspaper, and am trying to decide on a typeface that is compact but readable for the body text, and a compact and legible font for the events listings. (We've decided on HelveticaNeue for the headlines.)

We want to put as much as we can on a page without making it hard to read. What would be some great fonts, and what would be the minimum sizes?

Ellen Lupton's quote that "Density is the new white space," jives with our lack of money. :)

posted by stokast to media & arts (18 comments total)

ITC Garamond Book Condensed?
posted by MegoSteve at 5:15 AM on March 11, 2006

Please, for the love of Pete, never use Fragile for anything.
posted by docgonzo at 5:25 AM on March 11, 2006

Minion seems to work really well as a newspaper body face.
posted by hodyoaten at 6:14 AM on March 11, 2006

My college newspaper used Century Schoolbook 9 pt with 10.2 pt leading and 92% letter width. It's a readable and authoritative-looking body text font with just a touch of the casual, and the 92% width saves space while avoiding the cramped "condensed" look.

While we're here, I do not recommend Bookman Old Style. Lacks formality, I find it hard to take seriously.
posted by brownpau at 6:59 AM on March 11, 2006

Bembo is great.
posted by wackybrit at 7:10 AM on March 11, 2006

I'm still a softie for Goudy's Berkeley Old Style, though the book weight is a bit light -- the ink gain on newsprint usually makes up for it nicely, however. It's difficult to use at less than 11pt, though the alt-weekly I specced it for (almost 10 years ago) still keeps trying.

Jim Parkinson's designs are pretty interesting... I'd consider his Benicia or Azuza.

Typographica's Favorite Fonts of the Year is also useful for new trends: 2005, and 2004.
posted by skyboy at 7:10 AM on March 11, 2006

You might want to check out NewsDesigner.com (a blog about newspaper design) or Typograhica (a blog about typography) for suggestions.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:29 AM on March 11, 2006

I'd suggest a modern slab-serif (Charter, Caecilia) for the body text. These faces can usually take a lot of abuse and remain legible, even at small point sizes.
posted by Dean King at 8:21 AM on March 11, 2006

We've decided on HelveticaNeue for the headlines

Consider the entire package and how the elements interrelate to each other. You've decided on a headline font and are looking for text fonts ... great ... now how about a caption font? Subhead decks? Text treatments for in-text callouts? Hammerheads and other display headlines?

Bembo and Benicia are both excellent answers to the original question, just keep in mind that this isn't a one-font-at-a-time exercise. People don't read and go "wow, great font." But they absolutely put down a paper, unable to go on, because the entire package didn't work together well, and they won't be able to put their finger on the problem. It'll just feel wrong.
posted by frogan at 8:50 AM on March 11, 2006

Newspapers often go with a serif for the body font and a sens for the headline font. Make sure you're using complete fonts, with bolds, italics, and variations built in. Use a limited font palette -- try to keep it to two. Some newspapers have even worked entirely with one well-made typeface, because it came with so many options.

I have always been partial to the classics, as they have stood the test of time, although they are so familiar as to be somewhat anonymous. Serif fonts: Times New Roman; Garamond; Caslon. Sens serif: Helvetica; Futura; Frutiger.

Some of it depends on the style of your newspaper. If its supposed to have a more contemporary feel, you may want typefaces with more character. Check through the Adobe catalogue.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:03 AM on March 11, 2006

Helvetica is bleh, Arial doubly so. If you want a nice sans-serif font, go with Futura. Not for body text, naturally.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:49 AM on March 11, 2006

"The Elements of Typographic Style" by Robert Lee Bringhurst has all the answers for those who are willing to do the work.
posted by elmaddog at 10:08 AM on March 11, 2006

Helvetica is not a newspaper headline face.

The Parkinson idea is super. Many of his faces are designed specifically for newspaper use.

Additionally, take a look at Typophile; this question posted there would have also generated plenty of irrelevant suggestions, but it would have also generated more relevant alternatives.
posted by luriete at 10:21 AM on March 11, 2006

Oh, for the love of all that is good and pure do not use ITC Garamond. Even good ol' Times would be better.

I would also poo-poo Helvetica as a headline font, mainly because it's so damn wide - were you thinking of a condensed weight? Franklin Gothic or (ahem) News Gothic would be better choices in my opinion.

Ascender Corp has a ridiculously detailed study (warning: PDF) of newspaper fonts, if you want to see what's used in the industry.
posted by O9scar at 12:09 PM on March 11, 2006

Please don't use Helvetica for headlines. Something like Trade Gothic or Franklin Gothic would be much more effective. Do not use Berkeley Oldstyle for newspaper setting.

There were once a lot of effective hot metal fonts used for newspaper setting. Times is one of the less pleasing that happens to have persisted till now. If you can find Excelsior in the right format, I'd use that for the text: it's got that classic newsy feel and with no gimmicks whatsoever. Failing that, find a clean serif font that's neither too small nor big in x-height, and run off some samples in the grid you're planning to use. If you intend to use the italic much, for callouts and the like, also make sure it's legible and not too swishy.

Even more critical than the actual font is to establish the most effective linespace for the font and the best spacing for the columns. Legibility is everything, and should come before any design theories or flourishes.
posted by zadcat at 2:45 PM on March 11, 2006

O9scar: That article on ITC Garamond? That's nothing. I have a 280-page book which was entirely set in Comic Sans MS. I kid you not. Body text, captions, chapter headings. Everything.
posted by CrayDrygu at 4:06 PM on March 11, 2006

Do not use Futura for the heads, I beg you. O9scar, thanks for the PDF; that is fascinating.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 6:17 PM on March 11, 2006

A major polish newspaper recently switched to a condensed Helvetica for the headlines and it looks absolutely awful.
posted by jedrek at 3:30 AM on March 12, 2006