The Wall Street Journal launched its redesigned format Jan. 2.

The slimmed down paper, at 48 inches wide, reflects consumers’ desires for an easier-to-use newspaper, WSJ officials said.

Wherever, whenever and however

“The Wall Street Journal is the first newspaper rethought for the needs of today’s readers, who seek news wherever, whenever and however they want it,” said L. Gordon Crovitz, executive vice president of Dow Jones & Co, and publisher of WSJ. “We’re launching a new kind of newspaper - one that goes well beyond what happened the day before and focuses more on what the news means. And through changes in content, navigation, and print-online integration, we will make The Journal even more essential.”

Web-width reduction

Dow Jones & Co. spent more than $40 million to reduce the web width of 19 presses from 60 inches to 48 inches as part of a massive capital improvement project (see Newspapers & Technology, November 2005 and November 2006).

Upgrades

Crews from Masthead International, Goss International Corp., ABB and Nela retrofit web widths and upgraded control software of the presses, a mix of Goss and TKS (USA) machines, at 17 sites.

Dow Jones said it hopes to save $20 million in annual newsprint costs as a result of the project, which began early last year.