Gone are the days when the majority of newspaper readers will tip back and devour 5,000-word stories in one sitting. There's still a time and a place for long, in-depth articles, but newspapers that think they can serve them up on a regular basis won't stay in business for long.

No, newspapers, like many other products, compete for the customer's time. We must hook our readers quickly and keep them interested, which is why you're seeing new innovations such as the "charticle."

It's what Erie Times-News executive editor Rick Sayers calls news packages that start on the front page. In today's edition, for example, an attractive piece on the hike in mail rates and other new changes at the post office carries information bites on facts and figures about the news 41-cent stamps, what's happening with the old stamps, and information about the post office. Inside, reporter Steven M. Sweeney writes an in-depth piece about all the changes at the post office.

I was in a rush as breakfast this morning, and didn't have time to make it all the way through Sweeney's piece, but I did go through "Changes posted" on the front page. The information, which is self contained, felt complete to me.

Similarly, at the top of the first page of the sports section, side-by-side "shouting boxes" provide information at a glance on the National Basketball Association playoffs and the National Hockey League playoffs.

Sports fans get information on today's games, TV info, data on which team leads the series, etc. The boxes also refer to larger, more in-depth pieces inside the section. Again, because I was in a hurry today, I was glad to get the short version of the playoffs. Tonight, before I tune in to the games, I will consult my newspaper again to get all the details.

Essentially, newspapers need to provide eye-catching designs with enough information to keep readers informed and satisfied. The strength of many papers is reporting the news. Newspapers want to give readers all they desire, but editors recognize that time can be both an ally and enemy. Therefore, we won't take a chance and bore you. Readers will get the best effort of Erie Times-News editors, reporters and photographers every day.

-- Kevin Cuneo

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