New Year, new era, new look
The Albany News has undergone many design transformations in its long history. From classic styles, busy designs to a more modern look, the paper has continually evolved to meet the changing times. As the new owner of The Albany News, I’m excited to start a new chapter with my own design style, while honoring the paper’s storied legacy.
Donnie and Melinda Lucas purchased The Albany News in 1977. Their first issue, published on April 7, 1977, marked the beginning of their ownership with an immediate update to the paper’s logo header. They replaced previous owner James Lenamon’s busy design with a cleaner, bold italic font—a modern touch that remained in use until the end of 2006. As a design minimalist, I can appreciate their swift decision to simplify and refresh the paper’s look.
After nearly three decades, the Lucases decided it was time for another fresh look and introduced a new design and paper size in January 2007, featuring the courthouse and a new font. That style has adorned the paper until today’s issue.
Graphic design has been a passion of mine for many years. My journey in design started during my time at the Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, where I worked in marketing and operations. With a small team, we all wore many hats, and as I took on the marketing role, I realized graphic design was essential. To learn more, I enrolled in the best school I could afford—YouTube—and became a self-taught graphic designer. As someone with an artistic background, I found that I had a natural talent for it. Looking back at my early work, I cringe, but I imagine every artist feels that way about their beginnings. If I could do it over, I might have pursued formal design education, but life led me here, and I’m incredibly blessed to be continuing this historic institution in the town I love.
Now, as the new owner of The Albany News, I wanted to infuse my personal style into this venture. As you may have noticed, the front page has a fresh overall look, with a simplified graphic of the courthouse and an updated font that blends classic and modern elements.
You will also see other changes throughout the paper as I gradually take full ownership and Donnie and Melinda phase out. I’m incredibly grateful for their help over the past two months. Without their support, I wouldn’t have had the guidance I needed to ensure a smooth transition. They’ve been invaluable, and I thank them deeply.
Over the next few months, I’ll be experimenting with new ideas for the paper, testing what works and what doesn’t. I invite you, our readers, to be my test subjects. Your feedback is always welcome as I navigate this exciting journey.
As I take these first steps, I ask for your patience as I find my “sea legs.” This new chapter in the Waller family’s life is something we’re thrilled to share with you. I never imagined buying a newspaper in 2024 would be part of my story, but a town like ours is different. The support from our community makes this venture possible, and I’m excited to continue serving you all.
