 |
| ROBERT MOORE Publisher |
This year Dallas Voice marks 25 years as a LGBT media company. The satisfaction in looking back at how far we, and the community we serve, have progressed is enormous. Knowing where we have come from is important, and this year has been a time of looking back, including celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in June.
Now with summer over and the final months of 2009 in view, it’s time to look ahead. With this issue of Dallas Voice we do just that.
Whether you are holding the print edition in your hands or scrolling through this item on a computer screen, you are reading the next step in the evolution of Dallas Voice as a media company.
This week our print product gets an extreme makeover. From the top of the front page sporting our new logo, through each page, the changes are both obvious and subtle.
First you will notice that the size has been modified to allow us to run each week in what the industry refers to as a stitched and trimmed format. One of the lessons we learned in executing our 25th anniversary issue is that this format offers a more tailored look and feel. Readers liked having the whole paper stapled so that it is one unit.
 |
| THEN & NOW I The look of the Dallas Voice print edition changes with this issue from our "old" look, top, to this bolder, fresher style, bottom. |
 |
For the editorial staff, the art department and advertisers, the ability to "bleed" graphic elements off the page is an extremely useful tool in modernizing the look of the content. And so we have included that design option in our new format.
The re-design of the Dallas Voice print product was done to give readers as much information as possible as quickly as possible.
You will find that some of your favorite editorial sections have been moved. Viewpoints has been expanded to two pages and will host the popular Speak Out Poll, including the current week’s question and the prior week’s results. Query, our version of "ask a reader," has been re-introduced as a part Viewpoints.
The ratings system in Life+Style for movies, theater and dining has been changed from a mix of letter grades and star ratings to a uniform star system. The Life+Style information boxes have been simplified and will be pulled between columns when possible to make them easier to find.
The Scene photo page has been opened up graphically to make it easier on the eye and easier to read.
While the print re-design was moving along and launched all at once, DallasVoice.com content and design have been continually evolving this year.
The download function for the .pdf version of Dallas Voice has been moved to the top of the DallasVoice.com homepage to make it easy to find. Now readers can add their voices online to all news and Life+Style stories, as well as the Instant Tea blog. You can follow us on Twitter. Join our Facebook fan page. Get continuous updates on breaking stories via our subscriber e-blast.
It’s a time of change for Dallas Voice and in our world. We are evolving to keep you in touch with your evolving community.
I hope you like the changes we have made in our products. If you have comments or suggestions, please send them along.
Above all, we want to be Your Voice.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 4, 2009.
Congrats on 25 years and the new design looks great!
I love the new design! It looks more sleek and modern, and feels right for our urban, modern, beautiful city. Congrats on the *first* 25 years!
“Above all, we want to be Your Voice”
Well, if that is so Mr. Moore, then why are the articles published in the DV as a whole continually centered on a small clique of corporate, political, non-profit, small business and journalist cronies ??? Who speaks for the rest of us ??
Take a look through the archives of the DV over the past two years. Yes, we have seen change and growth alright, but who do we see ??? We continually see the same faces, with the same names with the same undertones: That is, What corporate GLBT “figures” are giving DV the most in advertising dollars and sponsorship money and which popular “leaders” in the Nash / Wright buddy circle kiss their ass the most to get their pictures in the paper. And this is supposed to be representative of the Dallas GLBT community as a whole ?? I think not………
Most folks I know on the other side of the Cedar Springs “condo” street are more concerned about rubbing two nickels together to eat, buy medications and have a roof over their heads (gee, where is the Resource Center when they need them ???) and THAT sir is what is really going on in the community and what is newsworthy, NOT which gay corporate sell out is going to rent the penthouse at the Illumi, in which case I am sure he will be worshiped like other “elitist” community figures by your editorial staff…….
So I say Mr. Moore that your comment is very out of touch as to whose “Voice” you speak for. You all don’t (and never will) cover stories around the metroplex concerning GLBT issues unless they affect your political and corporate cronies and you constantly kick those from the broader community to the curb who take issue with how the paper discriminates. How many more comments to articles will be censored here ?? Is it because those folks have a legitimate concern or is it because the editors wish to cover up what is really going on over at Travis st. ??? AKA Biased Journalism !!
The DV is a “gay rag” plain and simple. The staff may “improve it” by adding prettier graphics and presenting itself as more “professional” by including a few corporate sponsor advertisements, but the fact is, you all don’t speak for the ENTIRE community as seen by the bias and favoritism in reporting, not to mention the lack of credibility of your sources.
Perhaps the DV needs to improve its name as well to “The Dallas Gay (only) Corporate / Political Business Journal”…… After all, that’s pretty much what the paper has turned into these days.
When the DV finally hires a staff that’s more interested in reporting quality and fair news encompassing EVERYONE rather than being more interested in corporate and non-profit palm greasing and crony ass kissing then perhaps the DV might have a larger reader base and your comment will ring true.
You know, you *could* make your own contributions. I have called the VOICE editors and staff writers several times with news and story ideas. And a good many times I have read about my story ideas in the next issue.
Anyone can complain or criticize. If you don’t like it, then either (a) don’t read it (DUH!) or (b) step up and offer some suggestions.