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Changing Times - tell us your views
The Times has long set the standard for newspapers by matching relentless curiosity with an unwavering commitment to accuracy and fairness. These are our values: they will not change. That said, the history of this newspaper is also one of constant reinvention. Over the past 222 years, the paper has consistently been at the forefront of innovation: The Times invented the leading article. It was the first newspaper to employ a foreign correspondent and, rightly or wrongly, it brought Su Doku mania to Britain.
Today, we continue that tradition of self-improvement. We have revamped times2 to create a daily magazine covering life, style and the arts. We have added more space for games and puzzles and introduced Young Times, a new page for children. Our readers tell us they value the independence of mind, humour and insight to be found on our Opinion pages, so we are expanding them - and because we value our readers' opinions, we are giving greater prominence to the Letters page. We have excavated the original name of the paper - The Daily Universal Register - to serve as a modern miscellany for readers wondering about things to do, where to go and what's happening away from the headlines.
As you will have noticed, we have also moved leading articles to Page 2 of the newspaper. We have done so in the belief that a modern newspaper is about information and the ideas that make sense of it. Ever since John Walter, the newspaper's founder, printed his address “To The Public” in 1785, The Times has sought to present a clear, considered view on the issues of the day (see 'How the Thunderer felled a government and freed Mick Jagger').
If you have comments about these changes, please e-mail them to editor@thetimes.co.uk or send them to The Editor, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1TT. The success of The Times is underwritten by the intelligence of our readers.
Is it part of the "New Times"? to restrict comments to 300 characters? One of my better comments-on being 1950s wife has appeared in 3 different countries. I couldn't have conveyed the point in 300 characters.. Trust me.
Venise Alstergren, Melbourne 3142, VICTORIA, Australia
Every day I mourn the loss of the old T2 - in my opinion the best features' supplement of any national newspaper and always jam-packed full of articles that I wanted to read by writers whom I respected. I am absolutely dismayed by the new 'content' and cannot understand why you chose to downgrade it
Jane Clare, Petworth, UK
I have never really trusted the Times since you shifted the Classified ads from the cover page, just as I deeply regret the move from Printing House Square where .I had the good luck to write for a splendid Editor- Trefor Lloyd Williams - in The Times Review of Industry.
John Raven, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
I have only rarely bought The Times since you went tabloid because I hate the format. Not everyone reads your paper on a crowded commuter train - but even there the thing is likely to explode into a mess of random pages. Any chance of re-introducing a broadsheet version for civilised readers?
Tony Hewitt, Dunblane , Scotland
In my opinion Times is the best newspaper in the world, it has always being a quality paper. Ones a Time reader, always a Time reader. Congratulations to you high standards of excellent JOURNALISM , carry on with your fist class work . Thank you for giving us a free chance to express our opinion
Daniel Salaman, NICOSIA, CYPRUS
If I wanted a comic I would buy one; if I wanted a magazine I would buy one of them as well. What I, and I assume many long-loyal readers, want is a quality newspaper.
Philip Grant, UK,
I realise that this doesn't count as one of the day's weighty issues, but what on earth has happened to the Times Crossword?
Martin Kershaw, Scotland,
The new layout of the Times (purchased, not on line) has a very much altered cryptic crossword design. It is larger (which is good) but the layout - vertical with the clues below the actual crossword is not very easy to use.
Mike Lofthouse, UK,
What have you done to T2? It has lost all the appeal that drew me to read it before the main body of The Times. It is now difficult to read, if one would want to read the articles which appear vacuous and aimed only at a 'younger market'. And why so much white space?
C. Beare, UK,
The new look Times appears to be the victim of the assumption that colour photography is an improvement on black and white. Discarded is the fact that some of the most evocative images in photo journalism are those where the distraction of colour has been set aside
Irene Smith, East Yorkshire,
Why don't you act on your reader's wishes and put the crossword back so we can more conveniently fold the paper horizontally. If this doesn't happen soon, I, for one, will be forced to switch to the Telegraph
David Burgess, Liverpool,
However, I do have a gripe about your racing pages which are an important source of information for me. The Times has never been very impressive in this area, but I can put up with that if only you would print the names of the runners and riders more clearly.
Colin Daniels, UK,
I want to write and say that, whilst on the whole approving of the new Times layout and finding it more logical and easy to navigate, I do deplore the new layout of the cryptic crossword on the inside of the back page of the main paper.
Sarah Maitland, UK,
The new format made me immediately renew my
subscription, what a change to times2 it was much more readable. Times
paper was set out to encourage you more to read without getting bored.
The Times new format is a joy to read.
Dave Richardson, Doncaster,
This is just to say that the content of the new Times 2 is excellent, however, I find the print smaller and not so easy to read.
Eve Willman, UK,
If I want a girlie magazine (age group 5-17) with my breakfast, I will go out and buy one. Except for the splendid puzzle page, there is NOTHING in Times 2 for me and my husband now has to break up his Times to give me some news, which he HATES.
Celebrity chat and film reviews are not news. Come on
Gay Heaton, Masham, UK
The crossword location is obviously unpopular. Please restore it to the bottom or top half of the - ideally back - page. It's a real pain trying to do it on the tube - people keep bumping into it as its so unwieldy. If the layout changed overnight, it can change back overnight. ASAP please.
Nick Hare, London,
The Editorial Comments which are an essential summary of the current news events cannot be easily read in any back or side lighting situations because the necessary prominent display of the front page headline and accompanying pictures shows through, causing partial or total obliteration.
John Hanner, Usk,
I have communicated recently regarding the new Times which i do not like and find difficulty in wanting to read anything. Today my wife said that she had got to Page 14 of T2 and not read anything.
I am about to make enquires with regard to subscribing to the Telegraph
Peter Martin, UK,
May I ask that your printers/distributors here in Ireland actually sell us the whole paper? A year ago the times2 was dropped/discontinued. We get four pages of it instead. Ditto Saturday, the sections are pared down to a pitiful ten-page selection and no Knowledge. For the same price!!!!! Pathetic.
Kate O'Hara, Dunlaoghaire, Dublin,
The Times still does not sit well as a Tabloid.
Hard to read - I feel that I am reading articles in-between adverts.
Overall composition is uninspiring and uninviting.
Not fulfilling its potential.
John Seiler, Crewe , Cheshire
Can you please put the crossword on the back, as requested by a reader last week. It is most inconvenient being on the penultimate page, especially when the staples are badly positioned,
Philip Godliman, UK,
Please return the T2 crossword to the back page. Its new position involves too much origami and trying to do this on a packed train is very tricky indeed.
Robin Browning, London, UK
I'm disappointed with the new layout of your newspaper. Apart from its bulging 70 odd pages it has become festooned with oversize advertising and colour-dominated triviality. When I read a newspaper I want facts first before opinion which is why your leader page is totally misplaced.
Donald Berry, London,
I could just about accept the Guardianistic revamp but the up to date photographs of your by-lined writers, coming on top of Cherie Blair's unwanted revelations, are too much to bear. You might have left us our illusions.
Michael Cole, Suffolk,
Following on from the recent comments complaining about the repositioning of the crosswords (by the by, my wife is greatly upset by this) I am now inconvenienced by the new positioning of the back page sudokus! Why have they been moved form the horizontal to the vertical?
Mike Ferris, Essex,
The only thing I don't like about the new layout is the fact that you have left ADELAIDE out of the world weather readings. Every day I look for Washington and Adelaide where I have two sisters! Please return my Australian sister to me.
Felicity Leakey, UK,
Is it really necessary to have staples in the various sections of your lovely paper, especially on a Saturday.
They have no apparent benefit and cause trouble in the recycling department.
Derek A Brooks, UK,
In the main the improvements are to be welcomed, however, my main concern is the future pricing policy. I wish to have a paper to bring me good news reports from around the world, I do feel that The Times is going beyond my needs with all the extra section witch I through away.
Colin Cottle, UK,
with particular reference to Times 2. We are finding the fact that the Times 2 Crossword is on an inside page very irritating, it was much better with it's original layout on the back.
D.E.Woodford, UK,
Please reinstate the Times 2 crossword on the back page with codeword and polygon or give me a good reason why you can`t ! Domestic harmony is at stake!
RWHunter, UK,
It is now more difficult than usual to complete the crossword as someone has deemed it necessary to put the clues beneath the grid. I am sure I am not the only person to complain about this. Please may we have the clues next to the grid?
Kathleen Wood, UK,
There is too much emphasis on the Arts, to us a waste of paper as it goes unread.
There is too much airy fairy stuff we like articles by fairly serious journalists, health and social articles and current affairs discussion.
There are also too many large pictures.
Colin and Marian Green, UK,
I am not a lover of 'comment' and thought in the past, there was a balance of comment and good interesting features. I particularly enjoyed reading fully 'The Face' Penny Wark. The graphics and content were very enjoyable and informative. Where has it gone !!!!!!!!!
J.A.Lee, UK,
Re-vamp excellent
Puzzles good
Universal Register catchy
Motoring coverage remains inadequate-surely you could manage at least 2 features per week given that almost everyone in the country runs a car(if not several) !!
Peter Colquitt, UK,
Please, Please, Please put the puzzles back on to the back page of Times2 as they were.
Having to open the paper and fold back in order to do the crossword puzzle is messy especially when you do it in bed!
Don Carter, UK,
I love the new version of the paper - much clearer layout. I read the opinion page now (I used to glance over it) because it's the next item when I open the paper.
Anne Fox, UK,
My immediate comments for a better style of paper is to revert back to a number of years ago when the main section and the sports section were separate parts. Now we have to wait for one member of the household to finish reading the paper before another can start.
Ian Lachs, UK,
For the past 50 years I have only read The Times but I am being driven mad by the daily paper not being stapled. Ninety pages fly all over my bus ride to the office!
Is there no way you could copy The Evening Standard - so easy to read and I have to say with fewer advertisements.
Ronnie Andjel, UK,
The placement of the thought-provoking leading articles is ideal, and the expansion of the Opinion pages is a real bonus, as is the greater prominence given to your Letters section. The introduction of "The Daily Universal Register" was inspired!
Christopher and Elisabeth Richmond, UK,
For more than forty years I have enjoyed tackling the crossword. The recent changes have made it impossible to do this while holding the newspaper on my lap. The whole thing is too long. Not only does the bottom third of the page crumple up, but my arm is blackened from the constant rubbing...
Christine Iutz, UK,
I have to say that I'm sick and tired of the way your sports pages are geared to focus on London clubs, Chelsea and Wasps in particular. The back pages are just full of headlines hardly worthy of a mention compared to the reporting of sport North of Watford.
Stephen Baum, UK,
I agree with your correspondent who considered that the Leader items should follow the news and not precede it.
John W Underwood, UK,
My lasting complaint, whatever the layout, is the Monday supplement entitled The Game.
I know, I know, all I need do is throw it away unread - which I do - but my objection is the hallowed treatment which you give to soccer and all its ghastly ramifications and manifestations.
Peter Moore, UK,
Re-vamp excellent
Puzzles good
Universal Register catchy
Motoring coverage remains inadequate-surely you could manage at least 2 features per week given that almost everyone in the country runs a car(if not several) !!
Peter Colquitt, UK,
The times new look is fine - but - please - oh please!!! - Can you put staples in the various sections so that they can be separated easily without dropping a shower of sheets on the floor.
Alan Afriat, UK,
Why did you have to move the crossword from the back page, where are the usual article writers and why a whole page for children? then today I find that the pages are stapled
Julia Perl, UK,
I know editors have the right to publish their views in a leading article but I have never understood why I should read it. I don't want to know what the editorial opinion is.
Edith Rutherford, UK,
First of all may I say that I like the new layout.
However, I would like to suggest a brand new feature. All newspapers have letter pages as you have albeit but usually on world and political matters.
I really think that a sports letters' page would be poular. Sport is such a major topic
Tom Workman, UK,
I have always assumed that the Times was a newspaper for grown ups. So why is so much coverage, (particularly in Times 2) aimed at "youth". This is most noticeable in the fashion where there seem to be an inordinate number of stick insect models on show , and in the obituaries.
Garth George, Basingstoke,
My initial impression is that there is much less proper genuine News in the paper and more chat and opinion.
For me this is a loss. The world is full of opinion, I very much appreciate some of your top columnists. But this must be based on fact and knowledge and this is what I expect
Ann Dent, uk,
I have not become fonder of the new format after a week's trial. The crosswords need to be returned to their previous slots, The leader page needs to be restored to it's previous slot. get rid of Times 2 and make that the Sports section and put the crosswords and puzzles in that section.
j.turner, spalding,
Are you so strapped for cash that you have to have that huge coloured advertisement on the back page? Bring back the crossword and Codewords on that page and make the ink darker.
M. Packman, mayfield,
In three words: awful, awful, awful. I shall move to reading articles online as much as possible because of this new format (and save myself quite a lot of money to boot).
CFG, WGC, UK,
The raft of changes seem fine and, as with all significant changes of this kind, the sections that one is initially unhappy about will grow on one! However I'm not sure that's the case with the very poor redesigned position for the crossword.
Chris Robins, UK,
May I please ask you to make one more viz. produce the business section so that it is a separate supplement or a pull out section of the paper so that it can be removed in it's entirety without interfering with the layout of the rest of the paper.
P Spreadborough, UK,
I still have to search your 72 pages for items which do not appear on any index. Thank goodness you have done away with puzzles on page 2 and I might have hoped for a comprehensive index instead of the old 'quickfind' which I had considered a 'quick not-find'.
Bill McClean, UK,
Firstly could we have the Sports section as a separate pullout which I can hand on to someone interested.
My other suggestion is to reduce the amount of paper by banning all full and half page advertising on
environmental grounds.
W. Wolff, UK,
My only criticism is the new position of the leading articles. Firstly, the outside page of a newspaper is often damaged in transit or in the rain etc etc, which might result in obstructing the print of one of the most important parts of the paper.
Penny Housley, UK,
So far not too bad - it will take time to get used to. Font and colour better.
BUT please please put the easy Times crossword back to its original place on the backpage along with the polygon and codeword...
Jane Moseley, UK,
Love the changes, the text is so much clearer and the pictures are so crisp it is now even more of a pleasure to read.
Well done
L.Maguire, UK,
My first impression is that there are similarities in layout and format to that of the computer web pages. However, change keeps us on our toes and that is a good thing!
Elizabeth A Galley, UK,
I have to say that after three days my wife and i have come to the conclusion that we do not like the new look Times. Yet I don't know why. The typography and layout does not make me want to read and when i start reading a piece I lose concentration quickly.
Peter Martin, UK,
Please put crossword back on the back page of the paper!!
E.Polikoff, UK,
I was disappointed to find so much space devoted to football in Times2 yesterday and trust that we are not going to be bombarded with yet more sport/football in the future. There are plenty of pages in the main paper devoted to this.
Wendy Forman, UK,
Overall, quite positive about the changes BUT 2 niggles.
1. Derwent May has been relegated to a part of a column - not good enough!
2. Times 2 crossword should be on the back page of Times 2 for convenience, not inside.
Chris Bancroft, UK,
I would like some method to enable me to separate the sections. at present it takes too much time to sort out prior to reading.
Suggest a colour triangle printed on top corner. But I am sure you or someone could come up with an idea that would save my poor fingers.
David Swain, UK,
My feedback is negative on the new look.
The new format for T.2 looks more like an advertising journal with too much white space. The Pictures do not contribute anything extra they have just been enlarged taking more space and not drawing you in to read the articles.
Angela, UK,
The 3rd page of the business pages seems to be an improvement (need to know page). I am glad to see on the Sudo Ku page usually a fiendish one and a difficult each day! Still not mastered the super fiendish though (Friday as usual?).
The weather page seems to be crammed in more than before.
David Wyatt, UK,
My wife and I both like the changes you have made, not least the additions to Times2.
Congratulations!
A.R.Ranzetta, UK,
my only real comment is that we seem to have lost the list of contents which used to appear on page 2. it was, for example, useful to know where to look for the law report
peter fidler, UK,
I think the changes you have made are impressive and I like the new format very much. My only comment is that there is a paucity of classical music reviews. Have you given up reviewing classical music concerts?
Lisa Peacock, UK,
I commend your changes to the main Times newspaper - the position of the Leading Articles on page 2 is very sensible, and the rest of the format is easy to find your way through.
Sister Mary Helen Jackson, UK,
The changes you have made are not altering the image of the Thunderer.They just make it more readily usable.I have only one gripe,that is that I have to turm back several pages to get to the TV/Radio section.I would like to have that information on the inside of the back page of Time 2.
Ian Hardman, UK,
What I do think is inappropriate is the use of that particular intensity of colour on the Obituary pages, I would probably prefer if it were not in colour at all...
Hilary Phillips, UK,
You frequently report on publications of one kind or another but frequently fail to give any bibliographic details (Title, publisher etc.) which would enable one to order the publication or at least find it in a library.
Michael Fleming, UK,
Changes generally excellent, although we would point out that the loss of Wattisham from the 'Around Britain' weather stats does mean that there is now no record for East Anglia between Lincoln and Southend.
Roz and Bob Clark, UK,
Just to let you know that we are not at all happy with the new format of The Times. We have paid by yearly subscription for several years but will have to think very carefully about renewing our subscription next year.
Norman , UK,
Please, please change the main crossword from a vertical layout to one which allows solvers to see clues and grid by folding the paper laterally rather than vertically. It is horrible and incovenient in its present form,
Philippa Seligman, UK,
When I came to England, five years ago, I only knew The Times. It's like the London Underground or the Tower of London, an icon. Soon, however, I learned that it was very uncool to be seen reading it, and I changed to The Guardian. Now I'm back to The Times -the others are simply too parochial.
Jamie, London,
Thank yuo for the opportunity to comment on the New Format.
Can live happily with what you have done to fit your paper to compete withe the communication crises that is now testing the whole of the paper world.
May I request that you restore the Times 2 crossword back the back page...
Gordon Ramsay, UK,
The Crossword. I have to agree with today's correspondence on your letters page: whoever put the crossword down one side of the page, with the clues underneath the grid, surely couldn't be a crossword-lover. Try to do today's crossword yourself and I'm sure you'll agree...
Andrea Sarner, UK,
Your newspaper is nearly always a refreshing experience. I know, however, that many of your readers are frequently exasperated by the bulk of the paper, especially on Saturdays.
A.D. Insull, UK,
what a shame, you have missed the wonderful opportunity of having the sport section as a pull-out or a separate section. As a result, my husband and I will continue to fight over the Times at breakfast...
Mrs D. Ryley, UK,
My partner and I very much enjoy the times2 Jumbo crossword on Saturdays and would very much like a similar crossword in the Sunday Times.
jill miller , UK,
In general I think the new format is excellent but there is one major failing in that the new position of the main Crossword is completely impractical.
It is now very awkward to do the Crossword other than by resting the whole page on a flat surface.
Maureen Potter, UK,
In general the data presented on the new Weather page are useful and informative - particularly the synoptic chart. However, the forecast charts are useless unless one lives in the vicinity of Galway, Pitlochry, Sheffield or Plymouth.
Julian Everest, UK,
Thank you for your letter and indeed for the new look Times. Very positively received, keep up the good work.
Kevin Hayes, UK,
I must complain about something that has been annoying me for a long time. My Daily Telegraph is delivered to me in two separate parts: The Daily Telegraph and BUSINESS, including any other inserts. The Times, on the other hand, is delivered in one lump and is somewhat like a set of Russian dolls
Alastair Clark, UK,
I have always thought that the childrens section should include visual puzzles - as a child I was always facinated with picture puzzles (preferably in colour) e.g. a painting of countryside scenery (showing trees, hedges,stone walls, clouds,farm buildings etc)...
Jay Cooper , UK,
Brilliant!
Gail Huntingford, UK,
I dislike the modernised T2. Far too 'busy' and why move the crosswords from the back page?
Sorry.
Sarah Wall , UK,
Well done. The changes have gone down very well in this avid Times reading household, specially the revamped Times 2 which is entertaining, informing, well set out, and a great read in its own right. Having a Lindsey Bareham recipé every day is a real treat, says my wife, and long may that continue.
Sir Patrick Cable-Alexander, UK,
In an ideal world The Times, The Saturday Times and The Sunday Times would all come wrapped in polythene with every section completely separate ! That way the newsagent would not be able to leave sections out and the delivery boys would not be able to mangle the paper or get it wet.
Elisabeth Marcuse, UK,
We like very much the new look Times! Just one or two suggestions - great to have Opinion near the front but why not on page 3 - it is so difficult to read page 2 with the light behind it, especially in bed in the morning (our paper arrives early!)
Margaret and Stewart Young, UK,
The first job in the morning before breakfast can commence is to set about separating the various sections (careers/appointments/law etc) and consign them to the recycling bin.
Is there a way that each section could be colour coded (for instance) in the top right-hand corner?
Tim Bent, UK,
Excellent new format - but do try to fold the pages in the blank spaces between the pages as the pages come to the thicker part of the paper.
JB, Norwich,
Why cannot the Sports section be separate and included inside the main paper in the same way as other specialist areas - e.g. Public Agenda etc.
Many couples share their paper and of them I am sure most detach the Sports section for the men.
P. Holroyd, UK,
We do not like your new layout.
The format throughout is akin to The Metro which available free and very downmarket.
News should come first not comment.
Peter Blackmore, Yalding - Kent,
There's just one aspect of your makeover to which I would like to draw your attention.
On the weather page, in Around Britain, there is now no weather station report for Wattisham. In fact East Anglia seems to have been missed out altogether, the nearest town being Southend.
Janet Barwell , UK,
I note that the leader column has moved and perhaps I am a traditionalist but I prefer the former location along with the essays and comment.
That said I very much like the other improvements which make for a very enjoyble and informative read.
Kevin Newman, UK,
Just got my airmail edition today (Friday) here in California.
Who says newspapers are dead?
What a great remake of the world's most famous newspaper.
Tastefully done! A great read! Bravo!
Jeff Prescott, La Jolla, California, USA
Just one query: along with the increased info tit-bits that abound in the times2, could the paper carry the Q and A feature more frequently, perhaps reverting to the former daily slot? I missed its weekly appearance today (Fri) but perhaps it has been relocated?
Charlotte Dean, Ely, Cambs,
i have been a faithful reader of the times - back two generations. i like the new format, but could something be done about enriching the overseas times, the edition of which i subscribe to for three months of the year when in corsica. it is unfortunately but a very pale replica of the real thing.
diane johnston, UK,
I particularly dislike the effect on the Times2, and also the move of the leader page. The whole thing seems to feel much more like the Guardian in its look, and I've never been able to read the Guardian since its redesign many years ago.
Peter S, UK,
Crossword needs to be on the back so that the paper doesn't have to folded awkwardly to have paper to lean on!
How I agree with that remark.
Paul Abraham, UK,
If I want a comic Ill read the Beano
Jeni Lofthouse, UK,
On every page you have a coloured heading with a blank line directly under the date, for example with the heading NEWS. This just seems to call out for some kind of text to be inserted into the gap, similar to an Internet RSS feed or ticker tape...
Joe Keerthiratna, Bexleyheath, Kent,
I support the importance attached to the Opinion pages as set out in your Editorial but do you have sufficient writers of the calibre of Matthew Parris, Libby Purves, Mary Ann Seighart, Camilla Cavendish and Anatole Kalesky to support expansion?
David Whitehead , UK,
Regarding your latest revamp, kindly add my name to the list of those NOT in favour. I particularly regret the reduction of the World news section from 8-9 pages to its current 7 since it involves considerably fewer stories about fewer countries...
P Gordon Smith, UK,
Why have you fixed something that wasn't broken? The new T2 just doesn't go with the main paper. The typeface and presentation were models of clarity. Now there are distracting colour inserts everywhere and the format is more difficult to read.
David Armour , UK,
We cannot understand putting the Leaders into the graveyard of newspapers on page 2 unless you want to bury them - you seldom have anything earth-shaking to say. Your news reporters continue to deny the proper use of the English language
David Casstles, France,
I just commented online but would like to feed back particularly on typography - the overkill on italics is making Times 2 unreadable and I'm contemplating a return to The Guardian.
You wouldn't want that, now, would you?
Jo Pearson, UK,
like the changes you have introduced this week, particularly the leading articles on page 2. They are much easier to find now. The headings on the top right hand side of each page are also very useful.
S Bostock, UK,
On a more general note - the greater part of the paper today could be placed inside the cover of the Daily Mirror of 1948 and would appeal to the readership of that paper! Not a criticism of the Times but of the times!
WFS, UK,
I find your new format in the main highly satisfactory. But I agree with the individual who said that Leaders should come after news. What was the reasoning that made you take that decision?
Mona Clark, UK,
All the improvements to the paper count for nothing if I cant do my crossword- its the reason I have a subscription. As John Goldsmith said in Tuesdays letters, the vertical layout makes it impossible to do, unless its laid on a flat surface.
Val Allen, Ilkeston, Derbyshire,
Quite frankly, you appear to trying to emulate The Independent! I dislike the layout and typography and overall appearance and garishness of the "new" Times and Times 2. I dislike the switch of the leader column to page 2 of the newspaper - I prefer to read the news and then your opinions...
Andrew Jenner, Upminster, Essex,
Having bemoaned losing the stable base for The Times crossword on the backpage five years ago and struggled with it since then at the bottom of the penultimate page of a loose-leaf format I now find it has moved again to the full length at the right-hand side of the page.
Ray Long, London,
I agree most strongly with John Goldsmith (Letters, 3 June). PLEASE put the Crossword at the bottom right of the page, preferably the back page.
BRIAN BRINKWORTH, Waterlooville, Hants,
Please return the Times Modern Crossword in the Times2 to the back page.
Many thanks
Anthea Benfield, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough,
With your new layout, fresh contributors, old favourites and intelligent discourse you cannot fail to impress 'middle England'.
Ronald Dury, Newark,
The Times Crossword belongs on the back page in the lower left quadrant. That is by far the most practical position for solvers to be able to reach it easily and fold the paper in half HORIZONTALLY so that all the clues are readable and the grid is visible.
Elizabeth Caplan, Soulbury, Bucks,
Why put the opinion page on page 2? You form opinions after you have read what is in the paper.
What is the point of the 'Universal Register"? Who is it aimed at? People who do not read your weekend editions, people who never read the Evening Standard, Time Out, local papers?
A.I. JOHNSON, UK,
Overall, a great revamp, giving a feel of much more of everything. However, my children are not happy with the new location and content of 'The Workout', I am not happy with the new location of the crossword...
Odette Katrak, Glasgow,
The fundamentals are still there: you have failed yet again to separate out the business and/or sport from the main paper - (apart from The Game on Mondays and please remember that some of us are not football fanatics.) If you can do that when it suits why not try to please us other readers as well.
Jean Robson, UK,
Please restore the crossword and Su Doku to the back page of Times2 - it used to be far more comfortable doing these puzzles on public transport when there was no need to fold the paper.
G. White, UK,
The positioning of the crossword as a portrait half page does not work.
Barbara Webb, UK,
In your issue yesterday you said that your readers had told you that they liked the "opinion" pieces and that therefore you were going to have more of them.
Well, I wasn't asked about this and I don't even read them. I value The Times for its high quality and informative news...
Oliver Westmoreland, UK,
Your new format is impressive, but of greater importance, my hands have remained unsoiled by newsprint. Congratulations!
Vivien Cosh , Southbourne, Dorset,
Your new look newspaper design has meant a change to the weather reporting from around the world. I note that several Australian cities have disappeared from the world list.
As I have family in Brisbane I looked at the temperature every day, but now, of course, cannot.
Patricia Marcus, Stockton-on-Tees,
Every Saturday for some years I have been enlarging the Times Prize crossword to A3 size on a photocopier for an elderly friend with macular degeneration. With your new layout I can only enlarge it by 150%, whereas previously it was 180% and consequently the type was larger and easier to read. Progress, but not for everybody
William Lack, Shrewsbury,
I would like also to see more 'lifestyle' personal articles which are educational and informative.
Jamesina Rooney, UK,
Love all the changes except the back page of T2. Please restore the polygon, codeword and T2 crossword as soon as possible.
Tom Grant, UK,
The letters page has long been one of the best pages of The Times, a principal reason for sticking with The Times rather than a competitor. When more space is being given to everything else, why reduce the space for letters...
Henry Haslam, UK,
Why do you have to include a children's section in the main part of Times 2 - it feels like a carton paper now. If you must cater for children, why can't you have a pull out supplement within Times 2. You used to do this years ago in the Sunday Times and it was much better.
Shelagh Nisiforou, UK,
May I suggest you now put Mr Robsons bridge column in the Times 2 section where it properly belongs.
G.L.Harvey, UK,
Would it be possible to put the Times 2 daily quiz back onto the internet, as it used to be? It must exist in electronic format in order to be printed daily to the paper version, so uploading it to your website would not be that much effort.
Oliver Rees, UK,
"Now with colour on every page." Turning to page 34, there is an entire page without colour. This is also true of two other pages. Granted these pages are ads and I assume the advertisers did not wish to spend the extra but then your assertion is sadly wrong!
Gary Cook, UK,
One small comment! You have now concentrated all the puzzles on to the last pages of T2. This means that it is no longer possible for two people to try solving the puzzles of their choice at the same time. Could you separate them?
Michael Lord, UK,
I don't think your "artistic" department or whoever decides on the new layout actually does the crossword. I am still struggling with the logistics of holding/turning over the main section to (attempt to) write in the answers to the cryptic.
Helena Kay, UK,
I am appalled at the new form of your pper. It denies some regular features of space, such as Derwent May's Nature Notes and On this day which is so whittled down as to be no longer interesting.
G Leigh-Browne, UK,
The new print size and style is, unfortunately, harder to read for a rather older person such as myself, even when wearing prescription varifocal glasses. As a result, I am less inclined to dip into a report, article or feature to see whether it is worth reading in full.
Robert MacAndrew, Guildford, Surrey,
It seems you echo the BBC weather forecasters in feeling that the South East of the Country doesnt exist given all that is shown on the 5 day maps now is a temperature for that region and no indication of whether the day is going to be wet or dry. The old style maps were much more informative.
Mavis Rose, UK,
Please, please, PLEASE, put the crossword back to its rightful place on the back page, of a size and shape so the folding the paper in half (sadly its no longer possible to fold it in quarters) shows all of it. Nothing else is acceptable.
Hugh Tonks, UK,
I am afraid that the weather statistics in the new format have been severely mucked about with in that the headings do not correspond to the data presented.
Jack Wilson , UK,
While the content of The Times remains superior to other newspapers, the new layout is not an improvement at all. The Leader on page 2 before Ive had a chance to read the news itself? Illogical. Italics and blank space everywhere? Hard to read and unnecessary.
Nigel Morgan, UK,
We're not too happy about the editorials being on p.2. The main reason is that the first page of our Times is often mangled and badly creased, and it's jolly difficult trying to read the lines between all the creases.
Your editorials were much 'safer' when they were further in.
Mary Bosworth, UK,
Dear Sir, the new Times format is excellent. Do not be put off by the nay sayers, the Leader at the front forces one to start thinking straight away and the revamp of the subsequent pages has brought a much more consistent and fresher style.
Frank Brownsdon, UK,
I am writing to enquire if the feature on poetry, previously published on Mondays, will no longer appear in the new format of The Times.
Judyth Knight, UK,
I enjoy the Times most days here in Dublin but I'm giving it a rest this side of the Lisbon referendum. I will be back though.
Con Logue, Celbridge , Co Kildare
Unfortunately proof-reading seems to have died a death. I have lost count of the number of spelling and typographical errors, both in print and online lately.
Emily, Ipswich, UK
Lol you can tell that all these people read the printed edition, they all start their comments with "Sir,"!!!
Dom, Bath, UK
What have you done to my beloved Times! Particularly T2 -increased white space, a plethora of coloured photos, irritating mixture of typography. The over-sized arrows with italics look very juvenile and the font and layout of the editor's cut is most annoying to read (I gave up!) I am devastated.
Lindsey Whyte, Prestwick, Scotland
I have never written to you before but I am so dismayed by the new layout of the T2 that I can hardly contain myself. For years, every morning, I used to love sitting down with the paper and the Times 2 was a real pleasure but now I can hardly bother to open it, let alone actually read the articles.
Lesley Heritage, UK,
Sir
What have you done to Times2 - the new format is dreadful. Where has the super features by Lucia van der Post gone - and Anne Ashcrofts review of current shops. I think I may have to look and see what other daily papers produce.
Helen Penney, UK,
Sir, 5th June 08
Is classical music no longer considered by yourselves to be an art form?
I note with dismay the absence of classical music reviews in the "new look" Times.
Oliver Galpin, UK,
On the whole I like the new format of the paper, as does my husband; but I do have two niggles:1) why are the page numbers so small that I have to raise the page nearer my eyes to make out whether it's page 26 or 28? 2) The shape of the crossword is now more difficult to manage.
Jackie Chinnakone, UK,
Dear sir, It took me ages to get used to the smaller sized pages of 'The Times' some while back.
This new format though was excellent from the first page.
I really find somehow more to read. Its modern and somehow sedate, more informative and easy on the eye.
Its good, very good.
CAROL SYMONS, UK,
Sir
Never mind the latest "Mind Games" page in the Times 2, the greatest puzzler of the new layout is how to do the crossword without being able to lay the whole paper flat on a table. Has anyone cracked it yet? It's more maddening than the most fiendish of clues.
Tobias Beer, UK,
Sir, Can someone explain to me the purpose of priniting (P.4, today's The Times) a list of most read at timesonline? Surely of little or no interest to those who read the paper version, and won't be read by those who read on line; the words navel and gazing come to mind.
Simon Lanyon, UK,
While I appreciate that the format of newspapers - even the Times - are not set in stone, I am very sorry that we appear to have lost Dr. Thomas Stutterford from T2. His writing is so good and his advice so helpful.
Enid Desert, UK,
Crossword needs to be on the back so that the paper doesn't have to folded awkwardly to have paper to lean on!
Also the Ken Ken classification needs to changed - Difficult is probably the equivalent to mild in Su Doku.
Oliver, Chester,
It's always nice to have a change and it's great that my favourite paper is taking bold steps to stand out from the crowd.
However, I ask that you put all the puzzles back on to the last page if Times2. It's rather irritating having Su Doku and the Polygon on different pages.
Andrew McCaughan, Belfast, UK
Please would you make the two lines at the top of the page the same colour as the tab between them. (E.g, blue lines for the news pages, red for the opinion pages).
Not too keen on the enlarged capital at the beginning of articles. Apart from that very eye-catching.
Many thanks
Anthony Andrews, Portchester, Hampshire
Sir, I have been an avid reader of The Times for the last 20 years. And yes I think it is yet another improvement! The layout is excellent and contents impeccable as usual. Format is very user friendly without losing the quality and tenacity of it's journalists. Onwards and upwards!
Michael McDermott, UK,
Dear Sir, Regarding the new format, specifically T2. Thank you for some puzzles I can do at last!
Victoria McNamara, UK,
Dear Sir
In response to the recent changes, I would like to express my continued support for what I believe is the best newspaper money can buy. I have had a growing interest in the daily paper and found The Times provides an excellent balance between detail and clarity.
Peter Sainsbury , UK,
Dear Sir:
My favourite page has gone no birds, bees and flowers and no news of what took place in 1904 shame on you. Bring them back forthwith and thats an order!!
Yours truly,
Robert Street, UK,
What have you done?! Change it back!
Rebecca, Cambridge,
Sir,
Why on earth did you have to dumb down the paper from a serious format to a technicoloured mish-mash?
I agree with a previous correspondent too about the new irritating new layout of the crossword.
All in all an error of judgement.
Elizabeth Fuller, UK,
Sir
I note that your new-look Workout has dropped both the number pyramid puzzle and challenging target completion time. Is this another example of (to quote your Do the Maths leader, 3.6.2008) one little fact among many, which shows that mathematics standards in this country are slipping?
Peter Long, UK,
Dear Sir,
Looking at the apparent increased use of white space within the "new" Times, are we buying more paper or less content?
Yours etc
Adrian Lucey, UK,
Dear Sir,
Can you please arrange for the T2 crossword to be transferred to the main section of the paper, so that I can drop the new girlie section into my newsagent's recycling bin on the way out. Many thanks, Yours sincerely, Ralph Smallwood
Ralph Smallwood, UK,
Not too bad - but PLEASE restore both crosswords to the back pages, in their old formats. I could not find Modern Morals at all, has it been expunged?
Ken Mackenzie, LUTON, Beds
Sir,
May I congratulate you on the new look Times 2. A shout of delight could be heard from my house with the introduction of the 'Young times' page. The demise of the Funday Times was a loss to my daughter. Something which attracts young people to pick up a newsapaper must be a good thing.
Helen Melville, Wigan, Lancs
I want to comment favourably on the neater and brighter appearance and the now consistent page size and accurate folding and unfavourably on the extreme distortion at the deep gripper holes, which make it difficult to separate one page from the next in the second half of each section.
Philip Garfield , UK,
Why not go the whole hog and print News, Comment, Business and Sportssections as pull-outs? One could then easily customise one's paper for the day, leaving special interests for a quiet read in the evening and the rest for wrapping fish and chips. It would save carrying a lot of weight around.
Peter Lloyd, BLACKER HILL, South Yorkshire
Please reinstate the very good articles on nature and natural history subjects,especially those by Derwent May.
J E Sellars, London, UK
T2 now looks like a 6 year old's first attempt at using a Desktop Publishing tool
Richard, Shrewsbury,
It is quite evident that those responsible for the new format know nothing about solving the Times crossword. The grid and clues must be contained in one half of the page laterally for folding purposes
Pamela Moffatt, Lymington,
Times2 is now awful... looks like a bad version of The Guardian and the crossword on the inside back page isn't just annoying it's stupid...
Fred David, chelmsford, essex
I couldn't agree more with John Goldsmith (today's Letters) about the crossword. The previous version when folded was manageable even if inconvenient, but the new arrangement is so diabolical that I may be forced to transfer my loyalties to one of your rivals
David Gardner, Warwickshire,
This week - more change. I now need a magnifying glass to read the amaller print and realised that it is easier to read justified than aligned text.
I'll try the new format for a week to see if I can get used to it. If not - Iam not prepared to pay the price and will change
Cecily Mills, South Shields,
Absolutely great but please, please redesign the inside back page so that I can fold the paper horizontally to do the crossword.
Geoffrey Wheeler, West Sussex,
The colour coding of sections is nice, but the serif typeface is too light (and,incidentally,verytightlyspaced) to be reversed out. Funny how you use your nice, chunky sans in other places (pull-out info panels, for example) but not here. It leaves you looking rather too much like the Indy.
Matthew, Bishop's Stortford, England
I have to agree with many of the comments here. PLEASE PLEASE return the crossword to the lower half of a page (preferably the back page) so that the paper can be folded.
Stuart eden, Sevenoaks,
Although I still have not forgiven you for turning tabloid - this latest change is elegant.
1) The pages that I want to read are well signposted with the colour coordinated tags (Opinion, Letters etc)
2) "The Daily Univeral Register" is a delight - and will (I trust) remain a continuing diversion
Dr. Mark Shackelford, West Sussex,
You ask for feedback. I have been a loyal reader for about 50 years, and wonder what the average age of your readers is. In Times 2 please may we have more features for the older generation which must outnumber the children Young Times will attract. My age group is overlooked, especially women.
Diana Bourdon Smith, UK,
It is sad to see that your columnists now have to have colour photos of themselves heading their articles. These are not an improvement on the previous ones and in most cases they would do better to enjoy faceless anonymity. Will they not write for you unless they receive such self-publicity?
David Shaw, UK,
The change to format and presentation are retrograde. There is a reduction in clarity/visibility which makes for more difficult reading. I believe the new Editors should concentrate on improving the quality of the Paper, especially the content, and not make format changes for the sake of change
J.Steel, UK,
Your asked for comments about your redesign. I have simply one: absolutely first class. The paper looks fresh, new and even more interesting than The Times I have come to regard as Britain's premier newspaper. Your use of colour is particularly good. Understated, cool, a bit like at Audi A4!
Patrick Otter, UK,
I had hoped that on redesigning your journal, you might have taken the opportunity of re-introducing the practice of numbering every page, not just the pages which take your fancy! It would help the reader to navigate his way around the huge number of pages that the tabloid
format necessitates.
John A P Whinney, St Albans,
One of the joys of reading The Times' leaders is for informed comment on something you have read earlier in the paper. It is absurd to read opinions on items of news which you will only discover later in the paper.
Rodney Applewhite, UK,
I do hope that you will rethink this.
I look forward to reading about what is happenning in the world but last night I found I was just turning page after page, finding nothing I wanted to stop and read.
The overall impression is of chunks of comment isolated in a sea of adverts, hardly any news
Clarissa Gosling, UK,
What have you done with Nature Notes?
Michael Croxford, UK,
Return Times 2 crossword to back page.
Move all sports to separate sports pull-out.
Have summary of news stories on back page of main paper (like revamp before last)
Nick Russell, Epsom, UK
What a mess! The Thunderer doesn't know if it's trying to be the Metro, the Guardian, the Independent or the Telegraph. A newspaper should start with the news, not half-baked opinions.
Susan Solomon, UK,
Having survived the trauma of the crossword moving from the back page in your newformat I cannot now find a way to fold the paper into a manageable size to attempt any puzzles while commuting - and I cannot find the letters page to ask why this has happened
Stephana Branson, Faringdon,
With spurious historic self-justification, The Times has now become but a blatant adverising sheet in place of a once great newspaper.
A Blue Top?
The Revd Canon Dr R John Elford., Liverpool,
I approve apart from two items.
I think that the Register belongs in Times 2.
Please do not place the most important part of the Times - the crossword - like this, it must be horizontal to allow for efficient folding, particularly on the train
Alan Luck, UK,
I will become accustomed to the changes in time, but there is one change which I absolutely hate and that is putting the leader page on page 2. The leader needs to be inside where one can read those comments after reading the news items to which they refer.. Not only that, but it looks bad
Joy Turner, UK,
I have been reading the Times for many years and when i got to Times 2 i was horrified. What have you done to it? If i wanted a comic with a strip cartoon i would have brought a Mirror or a Sun!
John Mather, Kent,
Oh dear, whatever have you done to T2? May we have the old style back, please?
Derek Walduck, York,
There can be no greater need for colour than the suits of your bridge column, which is such a struggle to read, and yet the new version Times simply highlights Andrew Robsons name. It is not the columnist that needs illumination but the column.
Andrew Harris, UK,
Your new format is impressive, but of greater importance, my hands have remained unsoiled by newsprint. Congratulations!
Vivien Cosh, Dorset,
Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee put the crossword back to its old format!! Unless seated at a table one has to have the whole page open in order to do the crossword.
June Miller, Warks,
I much prefer The Daily Telegraph as I find that the layout is so much better than that of The Times, especially with it still being a broadsheet. Bring back The Times as a broadsheet & I may consider buying it again.
Christopher Hall, Essex,
Some very interesting changes to the Times, some of which I think are good. But please, please, please do not continue with the crossword down the page. Please reinstate it going across . How will it be possible to do the crossword on a train...
Ruth Parker, Penzance ,
Resolve domestic strife! Restore Polygon to the back page of T2 ! My wife likes to do polygon whilst I complete Sudoku!
Dr Paul Cartwright, Derbyshire,
I just hope you can do something about Saturday editions, which cost twice the price of weekdays and lack interest. Were it not for the crossword, I would have transferred to the Telegraph (which has the wonderful Victoria Mather) on Saturdays.
Geoffrey Bell, Cumbria,
It is not just the letters page that has moved. For the last two weeks, Dr Stuttaford and Suzi Godson have changed sides of the bed in Body and Soul. What is going on?
Roger Gullen, Walkern, Hertfordshire,
Do you have something against your crossword fans? Not content with moving it from the back page you have moved it again so it's impossible to complete on a folded paper.
Do you imagine we all sit up to a desk or table to do it? Did you consult any solvers before moving it? Cui bono?
Hilary Watt, UK,
I read with interest that, as part of your new formating, the Times 2 crossword has become the Times 'Modern' crossword. Is the Times thus following the general trend of this country, in which 'modern' is synonomous with 'easy'?
Stuart Mansfield, LONDON,
Please, please put the crossword back to the bottom of the page so that I can sleep in peace when I have done the puzzle in bed. At the moment it is impossible to fold it so that one can hold it in one hand and hold the pen in the other.
Sheila Logan, Gainsborough, Lincs,
Please take heed: I enjoy my daily Times and would not read anything else.
By the way, had you considered printing two Killer Sudokus per day? They are too great to remain a minority interest.
Colin Hall, Reading,
Diatribe hereby retracted Delighted to see in todays issue that yesterday was the aberration rather than the rule, and that Other Birthdays and On this Day have been restored to their rightful position.
John Fingleton, London,
Main section: re-design looks good, but 'Leader Comment' perhaps better later(after news item to which it refers)? Could Business section be formatted so that pages are detachable for reading separately?
R Pawley, UK,
My response to the 'new' Times is very positive. It must have been very hard work to decide how everything should look. I can imagine the discussions...
I like, in particular:
The letters page on the right hand side - don't quite know why it is better, but it is...
The editorial on page 2
Pat Rowley , UK,
I think that the maps on the Weather page are greatly improved by the new printing particularly the isobars one.
However I would like to suggest a change to the main map which continues to indicate wind speed and direction for the sea areas but there is no reference to conditions in-land.
Norman Williams, Rugby,
I always try to solve, and usually complete, the Codeword on the back page. Now you have moved this two pages forward.
In the "main" paper despite searching I cannot find the "today's birthdays" anywhere
Mary Sheila Martin, UK,
I would like to suggest that you send replacement vouchers for all unused times vouchers, and not only for full weekly blocks. I tend to take holidays mid-week to mid-week and long week ends but have been told that you only accept weekly blocks
Terry White, UK,
My reservations about the "Times" concern its intellectual depth. Is there room once a week for a serious essay on some aspect of domestic or foreign affairs? At the moment the "Financial Times" knocks you into a cocked hat in its coverage of these areas.
William Webster, UK,
I regret to say that the changes to"The Times" layout leave me unimpressed. Were they really initiated in response to readers' requests, or were they introduced as a change for change's sake? I happily navigated (seems to be the 'in' word) the paper as it was.
Paul Motte-Harrison, West Sussex,
I really like the new Times the layout is brilliant, very subtle even the black pages for Yves St L and the position of the leaders I find the whole paper flows well through... the information etc. Love the leaders on page 2
Belinda Harding, UK,
You have changed The Times for the better.
Could you now do something about the weather, please?
A glorious June, July and August followed by a pleasant autumn across the Midlands would do nicely. Westerly winds between five and ten mph and lots of thermals, please.
A.J.Colbert, Walsall,
In general I think they do improve the layout and presentation although the Leader on page 2 will take some getting used to!
Is there any chance that a similar revamp could be made to the weekend papers in particular the magazines content.
Paul Carter, UK,
I think that most of the recent changes to The Times are significant improvements and I really enjoy the new Daily Universal Register page and using the colour navigation scheme.
However, I intensely dislike the changes to the placement of the games and puzzles in Times 2.
Jill Kingston, Woodford Green,
Overall my initial reaction is that it is a great success. The paper has freshened up without dumbing down a trick that most modernisers fail to realise is possible or will be appreciated.
Graham Hooker, UK,
Sir, Would it not also have been possible to move short, amusing letters to the top left-hand corner - where one's eye first alights - and consign long, worthy ones to the bottom right ?
Mark Bellis, Essex,
Sir, a few observations from the T2 games layouts. You cannot help glancing at workout solution as you separate paper (his & her morning division) so spoiling puzzle when you get to it. When filling in either sudoku or ken ken, pen interferes with opposite inside puzzle.
Phil Sutton, Wokingham,
Please move the crossword back to how it was, the rest of the layout is an improvement
Tony Jacklin, UK,
Sir, Congratulations on your all-colour paper. But alas, I can no longer thunder: Well, its there in black and white.
MICHAEL BALFOUR, Bruton, Somerset,
Could you please publish SPORT in a separate pull-out supplement like many others so we do not have to carry ever increasingly heavier copies of our TIMES from the newstand.
Soonu Maneksha, UK,
You mean there's a printed version of this website?
Simon Patrick, High Wycombe, UK
Why where Add Up and Derwent Nature Notes removed? Please bring them both back, they don't take up much space.
Yule Blucky, London,
The Times now presents itself as a more polished, insightful and innovative newspaper. The lack of jokey, inyourface headlines is a relief and the layout and font are easy on the eye. But one sad result of the changes is the deminishing of Derwent May's column. It was, in its original form, unique
Rose Hunt, Bury St Edmunds,
When the last redesign of The Times was undertaken, several adverse comments, including from the undersigned, were made about the placement of the Crossword inside the back page.
The new design has made this position worse.
Andrew Dow, York,
The changes to the Times format look good so far.
I think a further way of helping the newspaper to appeal to more of the population would be to re-format the business pages. At the moment these seem to be aimed at an elete, not many of whom have ever seen dirt on their hands.
Chris Morris, Nottingham,
As an octogenarian, who have taken the Times all my working life, I continue to enjoy your newspaper. Points on which to comment: Crossword - my daily addiction - given more space and prominetly set out! GOOD!
Leslie Frizell, UK,
I found the puzzzles much more convenient to do when they were on the back page, particularly when travelling.
john p roe, UK,
The changes have increased the appeal of The Times. However, I have been meaning to write for some time regarding the plethora of inserts that have appeared over the years. No doubt your marketing people feel that this justifies the ever increasing cost of the paper
Richard Fidler, UK,
For years Nature Notes has always appeared under Weather Eye in the Monday to Friday editions.
I found Weather eye in yesterdays edition on page 54 (the Weather page!). However I could not find Nature Notes.
David Laskey , UK,
Further to my observations of yesterday,may I again point out to you that the "Around Britain" section of the weather page is still nonsensical.The only column with any pretence at accuracy is the middle one (max C).
J.R.G.Edwards, UK,
Oh, dear, what a complicated mess! I dont know how I shall get used to the new layout, which I have to say I find difficult to read, and lacking any cohesion - home news, world news, all seem to be muddled to me. Sorry, I really do not like it
Celia Fielder, UK,
New format OK but please please return the Polygon and Times 2 crossword to the rear page also what has happened to the Add Up puzzle in the workout ?
Bee and Jim Shuttleworth, UK,
The new layout gives the paper a fresh look, and I particularly welcome The Daily Universal Register.
Yesterday I noticed that the usual birthdays column was missing ( except for Mark Elder's), but I am delighted that today it has returned.
Antony Du Port, Chichester,
I am sure you will be inundated with mostly negative feedback, but just want to say that one of the reasons people choose their daily newspaper is that they know their way around, and they like it that way
The new layout is confusing and magaziney, and my main bugbear is the crossword
Christina Fraser, UK,
The new layout of the times is imaginative and pleasing, congratulations to all concerned. However I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to take a fresh look at your sports coverage. There were times during the last football season when your coverage,in my view, was poor
Gerald Cook, UK,
Congratulations. The changes are brilliant resulting in a greatly improved, informative newspaper. Please keep up the good work!
Ruth Myers, UK,
Sir, I am astounded to hear so many tales of woe regarding your recent re-design. I would hate to be you if you were to commission the up tempo, forward thinking re-brand necessary to engage the next generation of readers. I think you would have anarchy on your hands.
love the weather icon.
Stuart, Bolton, UK
What has happened to my regular Monday morning poetry fix in T2 - I am having serious withdrawl symptons already! Please renew
Marie Therese Pumfrey, UK,
But putting crosswords inside the back cover of Times 2 has instantly denied me the commuting challenge of a week-day morning. Folding over Times 2 to attempt the puzzle on bus or train was easy.
Colin MacDonald , UK,
I do the Sunday Times Sudoku but find the deep black borders do not allow me to mark potential numbers against columns & rows.
Could these be removed to provide writing space?
It would also save a drop of ink and help to save the planet
David Wakefield, Worcester,
Times 2 I find less appealing. The content has been getting more and more superficial and gossipy - too much about fashion, and too many puzzles, for my taste, at the expense of arts coverage.
Peter Buckman, UK,
I like what has been done with 'Opinion' and Letters; I like the Daily Universal Register - useful. I am relieved that the excellent Sport section remains as it is: it seems to me to be by far the best available, and in particular, its coverage of rugby.
Graham Butler, UK,
My biggest beef concerns the cryptic crossword. have you ever tried to do it in a crowded train, on a railway platform, or even in a deep armchair?
(Or have your designers?) It is virtually impossible if you have to fold the paper vertically; it must be folded horizontally.
RON JOHNSTON, UK,
just a quick line in support of the new layout. much improved all round although I have to take exception to moving Killer Sudoku, The Crossword and Polygon off the back page. Still we cann't have everything and at least the flyswatting/kill ratio appears to have improved...
John Young, UK,
PLEASE - where are you now hiding the Notable dates of deaths, births and historical events ?
Looked today to see if any reference to anniversary of Queen's Coronation on this day (?) in 1953. Can't find anything.
HELP.
Maureen Carroll, UK,
New format Ok but prefer crossword 2 on back page. On another point we pay by subscription but despite numerous promises you have never sent/or seem unable to send me an invoice for accounting purposes. Why is this?
Ian Teasdale, UK,
Thank you for your letter informing me of the changes you have made.
Please consider another change. The main section is far too big and collapses far too easliy. Why can you not have a business and sport section to complement Tmes 2?
MR A N GUNN, UK,
Your Weather Page has long been one of my favourites and one to which I regularly turn, frequently, before looking at anything else. I love Derwent May's NATURE NOTES, but I can't find them anywhere (am I being very blind?).
Amelia Cazalet, UK,
I think most of the changes made are good although it will take some time to skip the Leaders until I have read the news.
Times2 is particularly refreshing ( good to have a daily recipe ) .
But the new crossword layout is awful. It's a fair bet that this wasn't created by a regular solver.
John N. Whittaker, Eastbourne,
Horrors, your improvements still mark the first page of The World section by those words and a coloured strip on the left, invisible from the outside. When dividing the serious news over breakfast, this means fishing wildly inside to find The World (and often pulling out the wrong pages).
Anthony Checksfield, UK,
I think that most of the changes to the paper are excellent, particularly the colour and the leaders on Page 2. As an avid Times 2 crossword doer I am disappointed that it has been relegated to inside the back page.
B J Collinson, UK,
I shamelessly take this opportunity to propose an idea. I am surely not alone in spending my first moments with the day's Times hunting for, and removing, the various inserts some to be enjoyed later (Times2) and others to be recycled asap (The Game).
Peter Ingham, UK,
The new layout is excellent.'The Daily Universal Register' and the Archive photograph, in particular, are welcome additions.
Robin Kempster, UK,
I believe the new p.2 site for your Editorials is a poor choice.
Most reader wish to read the news first, your editorial comments seond.
D.L. Gardner, UK,
I wonder how many other regular readers will be disappointed by your decision to cut Add Up from your pages. For a minute every morning Add Up got my ageing brain in gear. It showed me that I was still capable of holding numbers in my head and doing simple arithmetic. I will miss Add Up.
Alan Taylor, UK,
The issue in our household is not so much the layout and changes, but your choice of sections.Since you gave up the sport and city news section there has been constant discord! Moreover, we obtain your Continental edition in Nice two weeks a month and sense it is a very downtuned version.
francis davis, UK,
I am a very longstanding Times reader and was happy with your recent changes save it seemed that some of the print is smaller. It may just be my failing