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January 23, 2008
Comics no laughing matter for some readers
Of all the things that spark phone calls from readers, it's the comics that seem to bring the most fervent reactions. Especially on those days when the comics are printed in black and white. An explanation, but first a little history.
The daily comics haven't always been published in color, a fact lost on many readers. (The Sunday comics have been in color for decades). One caller, who told me he'd been reading the Post for 50 years, firmly believed they'd always been in color. Not so. About 12 years ago, the Post was among the first newspapers in the nation to take on the added expense of running the daily comics in color. In fact, at that time the syndicates that produce the comics only did them in black and white and staffers here at the Post had to color them, making for additional expense. (Even now, most daily newspapers still print the funnies in black and white).
Unfortunately, there are days when the comics must still run in black and white. The Post's presses, like all newspapers, have the capability of printing only so much color, and when those positions on the presses are exhausted by pages with color ads, something has to take a back seat. Sometimes, for example, it's the YourMoney front page, that's printed in black and white, but sometimes it has to be the comics.
And, whether you believe it or not, we don't like it any more than you do.
If you're passionate about color comics, drop me a line at ttompkins@ctpost.com and we can open a dialogue.
Posted by Ted Tompkins on 3:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 7, 2008
Post stories spark plenty of feedback on message boards
In addition to the usual way of offering feedback on Post stories online by clicking on the comment button, did you know our message boards are another way to interact with readers? On the right side of the homepage at www.connpost.com you'll find a list of forums. Click on message boards and you'll be taken to a page called Topix, where more than 1,000 threads have been created in response to Post stories.
Among the more popular topics are WICC's firing of John LaBarca, the story of the Fairfield hunter who had a heart attack atop a tree, a Latin-flavored holiday story and a piece about a group urging the culling of deer in the state. The LaBarca story, which broke several weeks ago, is still going strong, with the latest comment coming earlier today.
So if you've got something to say, share it at http://www.topix.net/forum/source/connecticut-post?showinvis=1 You might be surprised who you'll run into.
Posted by Ted Tompkins on 2:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
