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So, we have another national newspaper. People who are actually interested in the news business are probably now asking themselves unanswerable questions. What do we need another newspaper for -- national or otherwise? How is it going to be any different than The Globe and Mail or my hometown daily? Conrad Black and media monopolies aside, let's judge this paper based on its relevance to readers, readability, content and style. Granted, I've only looked at the first two issues of the National Post. But with all the hype publicists have surrounded this paper with, it comes down to whether or not it can attract a new audience and maybe whittle away at the Globe's readership. If you had no interest in newspapers up to this point, or you just read the comics or sports, then you're obviously not going to give the Post a second thought. Actually, if Black is trying to get non-newspaper readers to subscribe he should have a back-up plan, because as my grandfather says, "It's nothing to get up in the night and scream about." So far, the Post has a sleek, easy-to-understand front page. The front-page stories are clearly separated with get-to-the-point headlines. In terms of layout and design, I think the Post has a leg up on the Globe. However, when I placed the Oct. 28 editions of the Globe and the Post side-by-side, thoughts of the old ABC laundry detergent commercial came to mind -- "I can't see the difference. Can you see the difference?" In the Post's Arts & Life section there is a double-page spread called Avenue. I don't know what the design staff were thinking when they were laying out the huge, gaudy graphics, but it looks awful. Don't get me wrong, I love graphics, but they should play a smaller role than covering almost two full pages. The Post may distinguish itself by how its staff chooses to use their stories. The top of almost every page has a series of quick-hit stories, which eases the reader into the chunkier ones. A lot of the main stories on each page of the A section are written like features, especially the Canadian news. If you're buying the Post from a small town in in the Maritimes, you should be buying it to see what's going on in Central Canada and in parts of the West. It's doubtful you'll ever see a story from your own community. Unless, of course, someone is murdered in a spectacularly creative way. If what you want is local news with a dash of national and international happenings, stick with your hometown daily. There is also a rift in the writing style of stories which are on the same page. One story will get right to the point in the lead, while the story beside it requires readers to meander through two or three paragraphs before they are able to get the point. Personally, I was a sporadic reader of the Globe and Mail because I developed a severe case of boredom just looking at the sea of black ink. In the months leading up to the Post's arrival, the Globe underwent a radical makeover. It's now more readable and readers are treated to a little life -- with colour on the front page and a few other changes. The Post also has colour on its pages and seems to have dispersed it well. No real difference there. The font used by the Post is easy to read and it stands out, whereas in the Globe, if you look at a page too long the words begin to run together. The Parliament page in the Post is a good idea, but it should be scrapped if it's not going to be used solely for stories of interest originating on the Hill. I don't see the need to have yet another forum for political columnists. That's what editorial pages are for. One interesting feature in the Post's A section is the Discovery page. So far, it looks as though it will offer some stories on subjects that contain weirdness, obscurity, adventure and mystery. Excellent. Honestly, I become teary-eyed due to boredom when I think of financial and business news. However, the new Financial Post, which is now a broad-sheet section in the Post, seems to offer a more interesting and diverse selection of business stories. Still, I'll probably just be drawn to stories about the business of media, entertainment and sports, as always. Toss the FP Investing section unless you are a member of the financial world. The Post's sports section is pretty much identical to the Globe's. The Post says its sports section will, refreshingly, be about sports and emphasize accomplishments on the field and the ice, not at the bank or negotiating table. As with the rest of the paper, time will tell if it stays that way, or if it's a good or bad thing. The Arts and Life section is much beefier than the Globe's and it seems relatively diverse and entertaining. Hopefully the Post will delve into more non-traditional arts and entertainment stories, not just musician profiles and theatre reviews. It's rare to see the creation of a national newspaper and be able to watch how it evolves. This alone will make the Post worth picking up from time to time. Sales due to the sheer curiosity of this new paper won't last long. Soon newspaper connoisseurs will decide whether to stick with the Globe, or pledge allegiance to the Post. Let's face it, it's bad enough to try and slog your way through one humongous paper a day, let alone two. Whether Black's new creation lives or dies will also depend on whether it supplies different content than what is in other Hollinger papers in major centres such as Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal. In the end it's hard to say what this paper will become and what its agenda will be. Black probably doesn't even know yet. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out the television ads.
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