‘Innovative’ But ‘Not Breaking New Ground:’ Strib Announces Ads on Front Page

In “a departure from our recent tradition,” the Star Tribune will begin running advertisements on its front page this Sunday, publisher Par Ridder said in a memo to staff Friday morning. Ridder  described the ads as both “creative, innovative solutions for advertisers” and a practice “well accepted by readers.” But “innovative” doesn’t seem to mean “new.” Ridder points to several other papers, including the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times, that already place ads on the coveted front page. “And, off and on throughout our 140-year history, we have run front-page ads, so we are not breaking new ground,” he wrote. The first ad, a promo for Macy’s, will have a premium price. Wrote Ridder, “[W]e are especially mindful of the value of this ad position and will be pricing it accordingly.”

Earlier: Front & Center: Metro Dailies Quietly Put Ads on Section Covers