The Power of Visual Rhetoric on Newspaper Front Pages
- Kaitlyn Joseph
- Jul 3, 2024
- 2 min read
The power of visual rhetoric on the front page of a newspaper is just as, or maybe slightly more, important than the writing and information itself. With its intriguing images, fonts, and layout designs, the front of the newspaper is able to capture the reader's attention. The New York Times, with its use of large titles and images, is a great representation of how the power of visual rhetoric is used within various newspapers. Likewise, or some may even say, in contrast to the New York Times, USA Today does the opposite and incorporates various smaller pictures that are mainly used to create a visual summary of all the stories rather than large fonts and images. This goes to show that these differences create what is known as brand identity, which is used in every paper to signify which news platform it is. The variety each news platform provides emphasizes a difference visually, and this reinforces the mood of the stories and how it is portrayed to the readers. strategically enlarging certain words, like the title, color schemes, and images, these news platforms are able to essentially guide the reader through the stories and content they provide in each paper. Visual elements are key to the reader's overall engagement with the news and are also key to shaping the reader's perception of the story provided.
After carefully reviewing Freedom Forum's Today's Front Pages, "it is clear that the process of [constructing] a layout could not be just accidental," rather technically and well thought out in order to draw the reader in and keep them engaged. When something like the front of a newspaper with a catchy headline or image stands out among the rest, it becomes more visually appealing, which draws a reader in, creating interest and emotion and also to adhere and shaping the overall experience when reading the newspaper. When comparing and ross-referencing how various news platforms use these elements across different newspapers, I was able to understand how the visual rhetoric not only attracts the readers but also influences how the information is read and perceived. Each news platform is tailored to specific audiences based on a variety of factors, such as demographics or behaviors, where they emphasize and strategically incorporate visual elements and bold and large text with a strong hook.
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