Front-page hierarchy

The front page is the newspaper’s clearest editorial statement. Aeon News uses a fixed three-column desktop structure combining the principal feed with two flexible columns. On mobile it becomes a deliberate reading order rather than squeezing desktop columns into a narrow screen.

Start with the lead

Choose one lead that represents the most important current editorial priority. Give it a headline and image treatment that are proportionate to its importance. Do not promote a story merely because it is newest or has the most assets. A strong lead makes the rest of the page easier to compose.

Make supporting stories distinct

Use secondary positions for essential follow-up, local service reporting, analysis or a contrasting topic. Avoid repeating the same picture, angle or headline structure across adjacent cards. Section labels should guide readers without doing the headline’s work.

The principal column

The main column is the editorially dimensioned news feed. Editors choose large image, right-aligned image, no image or columnist treatment per story. Fixed content surfaces can sit before the feed and after defined positions, including after the third, sixth and twelfth article.

Native articles can use slower-moving positions so an agreed campaign does not disappear as quickly as live news. Sponsored identification must remain clear.

Columns two and three

The remaining columns are configurable widget areas. Common modules include:

• chronological Latest News with time, category and headline;
• Popular Posts or trending stories for a selected period;
• permanent Opinion, Analysis, Culture or other section blocks;
• polls, video slider, live feed or an editorial quote;
• advertising surfaces with known dimensions.

Give each column a clear job. Filling both with similar article lists wastes the structure.

Latest News and ticker

Items in Latest News can also feed the compact ticker above article views. It may be enabled globally and on mobile with localised time treatment. Keep ticker headlines concise.

Reassess through the day

News changes. Review the top positions after major updates, scheduled publication bursts and shift changes. Move stories when their value changes, not just because a different item has arrived. Keep evergreen or explainers visible when they add context to a live event.

Test the reader’s path

Preview the hierarchy on desktop and mobile. Check that the first screen communicates the edition, that links lead to the intended articles, and that a change has not left an empty or repetitive visual slot.

Continue with news dimensioning and advertising and native content.