Die Zeit EuropEan nEwspapEr oF THE YEar C At e G o r Y w e e K LY n e w s PA P e r
front-page concept Die Zeit was one of the first German newspapers using poster-like cover pages. Above the fold a single topic is presented in a visual way. The appropriate story follows on the inside that might run over several pages. Blooming books “Reading books is still trendy”. The blooming books in the picture speak for themselves. The cover was chosen on the occasion of the Leipzig book fair.
Contrast of yellow and blue “The power of the quiet ones”: “Why the quiet and modest among us are chronically underestimated – and what escapes the world of work‘s notice, and not only them,” reads the subheadline. The topic is visualized by a yellow canary against a blue background – a striking primary colour contrast on the cover.
the beginning of the end “Are things changing?” And the subheadline adds, “Never before has Donald Trump had fewer supporters. Never before have his decisions been more confusing.” The combination of headline and picture is perfect.
Botticelli with a mask Sandro Botticelli‘s painting “Birth of Venus” is shown with a mask. “The new normal,” is the headline. And the subheadline asks, “The step-by-step abandoning of the restrictions is splitting the country. Who will be allowed to get back to normal and who will still have to wait?”
Jury statement
About the newspaper
Die Zeit has been a success story for years now. Within a span of five years the number of subscribers has risen by 19.75%. Their secret: the newspaper is in a permanent state of progress concerning their contents and design. Years ago, their front pages with their spacey presentations of cover stories had already become exemplary for a great number of European newspapers. New sections such as ‘Controversy‘ have been introduced. Every week full-page infographics are published. Their online medium offers data-journalistic projects. Despite their continued changes and improvement, their design still follows a clear concept, with pictures as lead-ins to each story. The general impression is that of an excellently made newspaper in the areas of concept and design.
Die Zeit is published in the Nordic format with a circulation of 532,453 copies (IVW 3/2020). The number of subscribers rose by 13.2% within a single year. The newspaper employs 189 editors and 14 layout designers.
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