STrajan?

Have I gone cuckoo or is that Trajan I see on the masthead of my national paper?

I wonder if they’ve replaced the Garamond body text as well. And I wonder what the previous designer would say.

READERS of The Straits Times (ST) can expect several changes from Oct 19, when the newspaper will arrive with a fresh look and a range of new offerings.

Three new magazines will be distributed free on weekdays, and all sections of the paper will be revamped.

Giving a glimpse of things to come, ST editor Han Fook Kwang said at a media event last night: ‘We are going to give you even more value for money, more Sports pages, more from our foreign correspondents, more feature pages, better Home and Money coverage.

‘In short, more of the quality journalism that has won The Straits Times so many awards.’

In recent years, the paper has picked up awards for design, infographics, reporting and photography in a number of prestigious international competitions.

The new-look ST was revealed at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel last night to about 900 guests, comprising mainly advertisers and people in advertising and public relations.

The highlights of the revamp include the new weekly magazines.

On Tuesdays, Digital Life will be a guide to all that is new in the world of high-tech equipment and gizmos.

On Wednesdays, Mind Your Body will focus on health and staying fit, both physically and mentally.

And on Thursdays, Urban comes packed with fashion, beauty, shopping and lifestyle news.

Said Mr Han: ‘We’re going big on these lifestyle areas because they are important to our readers. We want to help them live richer and more satisfying lives.’

The paper’s new look marks a return to classic newspaper design, with an elegance to reflect its stature and 159-year history, said deputy editor Felix Soh, who led the redesign effort.

While readers will continue to receive comprehensive coverage of news at home and abroad, they can also expect more pages devoted to features and news analyses.

A new Review section will contain features, commentaries and analyses by staff writers in Singapore and at the paper’s growing network of overseas bureaus, as well as contributors.

The Asia section will be strengthened to emphasise The Straits Times’ reputation as the newspaper that covers and knows Asia best.

The Home section will include more features on places and people in Singapore, as well as more news-you-can-use items.

Changes to the Life! section include the launch of a weekly Mid-Life section aimed at readers over 50 and celebrating families.

The editor-in-chief of English and Malay Newspapers Division in Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), Mr Cheong Yip Seng, said: ‘We are investing substantial effort into our new look so readers get full value for their money.’

It is also a reminder for readers and advertisers that newspapers continue to deliver in a way that no other medium can, said SPH’s senior executive vice-president of marketing, Mr Tham Khai Wor.

First reactions from last night’s guests were positive.

As managing director for Daimler Chrysler’s Singapore operations, Mr Wolfgang Huppenbauer, put it: ‘The new look is refreshing and stylish and the supplements will make ST more than just a newspaper, but one which focuses on Singapore and the emerging trends.’

__________

Well, the people who matter like it.