Choosing a Cover Story

by Cate Foster

The decision of what to put on the front page is determined by several factors. The key element in determining a cover story is the art that accompanies it. A story that has a dynamic picture will get chosen over a story with a less interesting picture or no photograph at all. However, this is not the only determining factor.

Hard news stories will, of course, take precedence. But the editor of the Kirkland Reporter also thinks that a variety is important in order to reach a broad audience. The Reporter makes an attempt to balance negative stories with positive ones. Also, sometimes the photograph itself will be the cover. If there are several news stories to choose from, an interesting or timely photograph can be chosen, and the leads of the various articles will be on the cover, to be continued on inside pages.