Journalism Terms
All about design
Presented by Karen Wagner
Mug Shots


Also known as a headshot
A photo that shows only the shoulders and
head of a person
Infographic

A visual representation of statistical
information, such as a map, chart, diagram
or timeline
Logo

A title with art that identifies a standing
feature, such as a column
Spot Color

One color applied in strategic places on a
page
Clip Art

Ready-made art that totally shouldn’t be
used, but it is
Icons/Logos

A symbol or image that identifies a
particular feature, perhaps a section or a
standing feature, such as a student profile
Bleed



The running of color or a photo or other
graphic through the external margin and off
the page
This works well for photos that you want to
have make a statement
This also works for yearbook design, just
make sure it doesn’t happen on all edges
Overprint


The printing of one item over another
This is becoming more and more popular—
especially in yearbooks and magazine style
publications
Bullet



A large dot that calls attention to a line of
copy or sets off items in a list
Use in Alternative Story Forms
Use in storytelling to help breakdown
information
Facing Pages


Two inside pages that face each other but
are not usually printed on the same sheet
of paper; together, they form a spread
In newspaper/magazine design, it is
important to know how facing pages look
together
Center Spread



Also known as a Double-truck
A spread in the center of a publication,
printed on the same sheet of paper
This allows greater design freedom
because you can ignore the internal margin
Internal Margin

A consistent margin of white space that
surrounds the layout
Fold



The middle of a page, where large-format
newspapers are folded
The fold helps guide the design of the page
Design interest needs to happen above the
fold
Principles of Layout






Dominance
Unity
Contrast
Repetition
Balance
Consistency
Dominance




Every page should have a dominant
element on it.
The dominant element should not be copy
Dominant = 2 1/2 times as large as the
other visual elements
The dominant element is the visual entry
point for the page
Unity



Using consistent internal and external
margins
Consistent type faces
Consistent styles (both on the page and
throughout the publication)
Contrast



The use of opposites in size, shape,
weight, and color or tone
Example: a design should feature one
dominant photo or other graphic contrasted
by several smaller photos or graphics
Also look for different type faces that
compliment one another
Repetition



Also known as the rhythm of the page
Duplication of color or graphics, or type
faces to hold a design together
Look to pull colors out of photos or graphics
for screens, headlines, or pulled quotes
Balance


Pages that are balanced formally can be
folded in half vertically, with each half
mirroring the other half of the page
This focuses on a balance of text and
graphics