The Society for News Design has awarded three newspapers—The New York Times, Het Parool of The Netherlands, and Die Zeit of Germany—the designation of “World’s Best-Designed Newspaper™” in its 39th annual “Best of News Design™ Creative Competition.”
The Times became the first U.S. paper to win the award since it last earned the honor in 2009. It also won “World’s Best-Designed Web Site™” in the SND “Best of Digital Design™” competition, the first organization to win both in the same year. And, The Times led the way with 140 total awards and seven Gold medals.
“Reading The Times is like taking a masterclass in visual storytelling,” wrote the judges in the print competition. “The Times’ renewed commitment to, and space for, special news sections is exemplary.”
The judges said that Het Parool, based in Amsterdam, is “a rollicking journey through the Netherlands.” It is the second year in a row Het Parool has been given the award.
Die Zeit, which has been judged World’s Best 11 times, is “impeccable from front to back. It feels like their best team works on every page of the newspaper.”
This is the third consecutive year that Die Zeit has reached the top of news design as a World’s Best-Designed Newspaper.
The Society issued 1,029 design awards for journalism published in 2017.
The winners came from 5,891 entries submitted by daily and nondaily newspapers and magazines in 36 countries.
In the 20 competition categories, judges awarded 13 Gold Medals, 44 Silver Medals, four Judges’ Special Recognitions and 961 Awards of Excellence.
Judges awarded Golds to work from the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, the Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Die Zeit and Die Welt of Germany, and Verdens Gang of Norway.
The number of entries was down from 2017 (5,891 vs. 6,671) and the overall number of awards was down (1,029 vs. 1,145).
The competition recognizes excellence in newspaper design, graphics and photography. Twenty-six judges from around the globe met in February in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The judges were: Syed Mohammad Arshad, Design Editor Gulf News; Michael Babin, design team leader, Gannett Nashville Design Studio; David Schutz, A.M.E., South Florida Sun Sentinel; Gigi Suhanic, design editor, the Financial Post in Toronto; Tammy Yttri, Copy Desk Chief, Omaha World-Herald; Jamey Fry, creative director, Washington Business Journal; Elizabeth Burr, design director, San Francisco Chronicle; Nuri Ducassi, creative director, Toronto Star; Carrie Gee, senior art director, Time Magazine; Rodrigo Sánchez, art and creative director, El Mundo in Spain; Fred Bierman, designer, The New York Times; Arne Depuydt, general art director, De Morgen; Kristin Lenz, Art Director, Inc. Magazine; Jan Kny, deputy art director, Die Zeit; Frank Mina, design director, The Seattle Times; Chloe Cushman, freelance illustrator, writer and artist; Kat Downs Mulder, director of product, The Washington Post; Paul Gonzales, deputy design director, Los Angeles Times; Deb Pastner, director of photo and multimedia at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis; Anne Farrar, director of photography, National Geographic Travel; David Kordalski, creative director, Crain’s; Mike Rice, features design director, Star Tribune in Minneapolis; Tim Ball, creative director, Politico Europe; Ana Gueller, art director, La Nación in Argentina; John Koning, art director, Het Parool; Greg Manifold, design director, The Washington Post; Deborah Withey, consultant.
The Society for News Design is an international professional organization with a mission to enhance communication around the world through excellence in visual journalism. The Society, founded in 1979, has more than 1,000 members in 36 countries.
The official release is SND39Release.