What I wanted to do (prototype, final version would have undoubtedly had some changes):
What I ended up doing:
Click on the images to see PDFs.
There are pros and cons to each, of course. The first has three bumping headlines (how big of a deal that is depends on who you ask, but this excellent Poynter Online piece debunks the severity of that issue), no dominant photo, and very little color. The second has a bad, blatantly staged photo of a guy with little mention in the story. The first has an instantly-recognizable, unique quality that tells the story far better and faster than the second. The second has a face and some color above the fold.
I don’t feel slighted or angry that the first didn’t run – it would have been a leap, and I can understand why it was turned down, but I do wish we didn’t feel obligated to play it safe every day.
What do you think?
I think you have to find a way to merge your creativity with the conservative nature of newspapers. Find the middle between the two extremes.