Even though it’s easy to identify the country’s main dailies because of the distinct color schemes of each masthead, incorporating layout changes can prove to be a bit**. Everyone still has to stick to a generally grayscale theme. Even with this “dullness”, the fact still remains — that advertising in newspapers in the Philippines is still the fastest way of reaching the broadest audience, at the least amount of time.

I was sitting inside a coffee shop last week when I saw the latest issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The first page of the newspaper is the image you see on the left. It got me to think, design wise, there’s a reason why they’re #1.

They’re the country’s leading daily simply because they chose to evolve. I found this site that documents all the changes that have happened to the Inquirer’s front page since 1985.

Design elements worth noting:

• The Philippine Daily Inquirer only started using a computers to layout their newspaper in 1994.
• In 1994, they also started incorporating a blue masthead.
• They started using color for select front page images in 1998.
• They dedicated almost 1/2 of the front page to say goodbye to the 19th century.
• In 2005, they put an almost lengthwise image to pay tribute to the late Pope John Paul II.

In a time when the Internet age is slowly trying to eat into the broadsheet market, the Inquirer has continuously kept up with the times. It’s comforting to know that they’re doing it not just to “surprise” their readers. All of these element changes are done without compromising the broadsheet’s no frills approach. What’s even admirable, is how they are able to do all of this while keeping their online counterpart financially viable (but that’s for another post ).

I wonder when the others will follow suit

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