How the Nation’s Front Pages Showed the Boston Marathon News
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, the front pages of America’s newspapers didn’t differ in subject matter this morning. The newspapers barely even deviated much in terms of the photos they displayed. The same wire images were used again and again. But there were slight differences in the treatment and the focus each editorial staff gave the news. They fell into a few distinct categories (all seen thanks to the Newseum):
1. “Terror.” Boston’s big papers, and many other major ones, tended to focus on the word “terror,” one that people were hesitant to use in the first hours after the explosions but have since adopted fairly universally. Here’s the Boston Globe with “Marathon terror”:
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
Here’s the Boston Herald, with “Terror at the finish line.”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
“An Act of Terror” reads The Washington Post:
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
The Virginian-Pilot went with a simple: “Terror.”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
2. “Terror Returns.” Several newspapers gave the story a similar treatment, but focused more specifically on the idea that this attack is unlike anything we’ve seen since 9/11. Of course, that’s impacted by how exactly we define terrorist attacks and whether mass shootings and other incidents have counted. But at any rate, USA Today went this route, with “Terror Returns” and a subhed “That Post 9/11 Quiet? It’s Over.”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
The Des Moines Register hinted at this theme as well with “Nation’s Fears Reawakened: Explosions put an end to Post-9/11 quiet.”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
3. “Be afraid.” A few places went in the “everybody panic” direction. The Indianapolis Star’s is a notable example:
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
4. “Who did this?” A few more led with what must be the biggest question on most Americans minds. As the Indian River Press Journal put it: “Who? Why?”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
The Chicago Tribune focused on the “who” as well:
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
5. Just the facts. Meanwhile New York’s big international papers pretty much stuck to recapping the day’s happenings without implying much of anything in their headlines. The New York Times reads “Blasts at Boston Marathon kill 3 and injure 100.”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
The Wall Street Journal says “Deadly Blasts Rock Boston.”
Photo Credit: Newseum Front Pages gallery
6. Tribune tribute. And finally, it’s not a front page, but the Chicago Tribune’s sports pages is too nice not to share:
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