Juxtaposition of Elements on a News Page, Particularly Headline and Adjacent Photo

Sometimes such inadvertent juxtapositions are comic and occasionally they are embarrassing. The photo at the top of the post below and the news poll to the right that I just put up on the blog -- to illustrate the dangers of informal polling that is not truly random -- resulted in a juxtaposition that I decided to "undo" by adding this post because someone might think the juxtaposition was intentional and thus a bad joke.

But it was unintentional, which makes it a good joke. But if I have to tell you it was unintentional, that makes it a bad joke again.

Sigh.

Here's a link to a couple recent examples of iffy juxtapositions archived at newsdesigner.com.

What Would You Do if the Decision Were Yours

A campus group holds a rally to promote opposition to Prop 8, the California ballet initiative that would limit marriage to the union of a man and a woman/rescind the right of gays and lesbians to marry -- and just how the proposition is described is itself a matter of controversy.

At the rally two same-sex USF students stand on a platform before a large crowd and declare that they were married the morning of the rally at San Francisco City Hall and that they are so grateful that their families were there and are in the crowd right now to show their support. And then the two kiss.

Would you:

1) Take a photograph or ask your photographer to take a photograph?

2) If the photo is taken, no matter whether you took it or requested it, would you use the picture in a Foghorn story? If the choice is not yours, how would you advise the person who does make the choice? (You are respected by all.)

3) If you choose to use it or if the choice is made to use it, how would you choose to play it or advise how it might be played?

Comment.

Welcome Students

The blog of the Advanced Reporting class at the University of San Francisco is officially launched.