‘What's a Page 1 story?'

Wow! What an exhilarating week to be executive editor. Last Sunday in this space, I invited you to share questions, comments and complaints about The World-Herald newsroom. In response, I've received nearly 100 e-mails and phone calls.

I thank all of you who contacted me. It's heartening to see your attentiveness and passion for what we do. It's also a reminder for us to take care in preparing your news. You certainly read it with care.

Your subject matters range from A to Z. In coming weeks, I intend to elaborate on many of the topics here.

I'll deal with one of the most common questions today. It comes in various forms but boils down to: Why was that story on the front page?

Or last week it was: Why wasn't that story on the front page?

We often get questions about why certain stories get more prominence than others.

Foremost last week were six readers who told me we gave short shrift last Sunday to passage of a health care bill in the U.S. House.

We did mention the vote on the front page. It was in what we call our “rail” — a column of short items directing readers to stories inside. The story on the health care vote itself ran across the top of Page 6A.

“The House passed historic health care legislation, and that story was on Page 6,” one reader wrote. “I definitely feel that should have been the top story on the front page because it is something that potentially will impact each and every American.”

She makes a good point, and editors across the nation sided with her. Most other U.S. newspapers gave the matter more prominence than did The World-Herald, judging from an informal survey of three dozen front pages I glanced at last week.

Here's how we at the W-H looked at it:

Yes, the health care debate is a major issue facing the nation now. For that reason, we've published many in-depth reports about the ramifications of potential legislation — many on the front page.

The Nov. 7 House vote was a milestone, but it was far from the final word on the legislation. Nor was it surprising to those following the issue. The vote and debate were predictable.

So while it was important enough to warrant a substantial story, we thought we had better options for bigger prominence on 1A.

Our approach to selecting front-page stories has evolved. We try to surprise you with a diverse array of interesting stories.

Our front-page lineups are discussed extensively and revised repeatedly. About 15 editors contribute to a rolling conversation in formal and informal meetings where we share ideas and keep one another informed about options. Some stories are planned weeks in advance. Other are discovered hours — sometimes even moments — before deadline.

Editors here worry less now than we did traditionally about reserving the front page almost exclusively for the most significant public issues of the day. Significance remains an important factor, just not the only factor.

We also consciously look for what we call “talkers” — stories that will get folks chatting over the back fence or at work the next day.

We tend to give prominence to our World-Herald exclusives — those news stories and news features you cannot get from any other media outlet.

That leads to more prominence for stories from the metropolitan area and region compared with those about the nation and world, although we also devote substantial resources to exploring national stories from a local or regional perspective. For a good example, just look at today's front page package on stem cell research.

Last Sunday we had three exclusive stories on the front page: a rare inside look at how authorities broke up a meth ring; an interview with a doctor and Omaha native who treated Fort Hood victims; and a package on railroad competition tied to Warren Buffett's plan to buy BNSF Railway Co.

At the top of the front page, we directed readers to inside coverage with a big photo from the Huskers' upset of the Sooners and with a photo illustration from our exclusive college basketball preview.

I was proud of our front page, and I was satisfied with our 6A story on the health care vote. But that's just my opinion. There is no right or wrong answer to the question.

Contact the executive editor:

444-1277, mike.reilly@owh.com