EDITOR'S NOTE

As promised last week, The Trinity Journal today has joined its newspaper brethren across the country in narrowing its pages, adopting the new de facto industry standard of a 22-inch web (11-inch-wide page).

With that we've made some changes which we hope offer easier and more consistent navigation for the reader.

But first, here's what hasn't changed: The Journal is still focused solely on the news about and that affects the residents of Trinity County. There still will be a mixture of news, features and briefs for your information and reading pleasure, along with listings plus display and classified advertisements to help you plan your week. We'll still be two sections.

That said, here are some of the changes you'll find:

. First off, at the very top of Page One, we've brought back the eagle from the mast of the Journal's premiere issue back in 1856. She has been given a light makeover, but we felt it important to bring back a bit of the newspaper's history. You'll find her nestled into a revamped nameplate.

. The typography has been changed to accommodate a slightly narrower column width and provide greater consistency. The body type, for you typographers out there, is an easier-to-read type called Lucida Bright. The primary headline type has been changed to Californian, which fits much better. Many of the detail elements are in variations of Franklin Gothic.

. The Opinion page remains on Page 4, but look for more local editorials and commentary to anchor the page. On the days we don't have a staff-written editorial, we'll pick the top letter of the week for special treatment.

. Sports and Outdoors has found a home on the inside back pages of the front section.

. Obituaries can be found on the inside back page of the first section (usually page 7).

. The first two-plus pages of the second section are being reserved for the events and activities within Trinity County. As you look to find out what's coming up for the weekend — or if you're trying to answer your children's age-old refrain of "there's nothing to do" — we're confident those pages will answer the question. The Community Calendar, formerly on Page 2 of the first section, has been moved to page 2 of the second section.

. Following the events stories and listings will be all of the community columns. Instead of bouncing around the paper, as they have in the past, you'll be able to find them quickly up front in the second section.

We recognize change is always difficult, and the new Journal may take some time to get used to. In many respects, with some notable improvements, the design hasn't changed much from the 1980s and 1990s — a long time in the newspaper industry in which publications normally redesign every five to seven years.

As always, we welcome your feedback.