There’s something to be learned here. Maybe that newspapers follow too much convention, or they think too much alike. I almost dismissed this as an anomaly, until journalist/blogger Darleene steered me to Best Front Design where they noticed a larger trend:

The Columbus Dispatch did well with the images, but it could have done better with the words… The Sun created a juxtaposition that was as clear as black and white. An early version of the Press Journal shows the Bush presidency at its best – vacant.

So, yes, besides the example cited in the Sun, I’m going with my first instinct: newspapers are following convention a bit too much.

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1. LAist Quoted in New York Times
2. LA Times disputes “Ten Facts About Illegal Immigration”
3. Santa Monica Yuppie Scum Death Battle Overflows onto New York Times Front Page
4. LA Times marches on
5. Will the LA Times run this weekend’s “Opus”?