Why is there so little mention of Easter in Easter Sunday’s News & Record? It’s mentioned in the body of Beth McKee-Huger’s piece, but not in a single headline. In a couple of other pieces, it’s used as a date reference. Can anyone explain the editorial decision-making behind this?
The Newseum in Washington, DC has a neat feature with front pages of newspapers from all over the world – but view them quickly as they are only available for that day. An interesting study would compare the coverage of Easter in various media outlets including social media.
North Carolina’s Newspapers’ Front Pages:
Asheville Citizen-Times Easter mentioned in bottom right footer
Charlotte Observer Easter prominent photo mid-page and article and advertisement in footer
The Daily Courier – Rutherford Walk to Calvary with cross being carried, prominent with photos
The Daily Dispatch – Henderson No mention of Easter on front page
The Daily Herald – Roanoke Rapids Prominent story with cross and photo
The Enquirer Journal – Monroe No mention of Easter, not even in their Today in History list with various events from today’s date
The Fayetteville Observer No mention of Easter
Gaston Gazette No mention of Easter
Herald-Sun No mention of Easter
Hickory Daily Record Prominent story titled “He is Risen” (top story and just below it is an even larger article titled Got Beer?), plus Easter ad in footer. **This is my favorite front page
High Point Enterprise Header and main prominent story about Easter, only other article on front page is about church pianist/organist world record holder, it is the only front page with all faith stories
Independent Tribune – Cabarrus Prominent Easter story with multiple photos
The McDowell News – Marion Header mention of Easter, story on a church mid-page
Mooresville Tribune Header mention of Easter, Christian music story
News & Observer Prominent story on Easter food
News & Record Story on right side about a church – passing Easter reference in article
News Topic – Lenoir Prominent Easter photo with cross, also header mention
The Star – Shelby Prominent Easter story with multiple photos including Christ on Cross re-enactment
Star News – Wilmington Brief mention of Easter’s Holy Fire celebration in Greece in bottom right
Times-News – Hendersonville Header saying Happy Easter with flower photo
Winston Salem Journal No mention of Easter
Are the papers responding to consumer preference in their markets? Are these editorial decisions? Will you see churches having to hire PR firms to promote Easter stories in the future?
greensboroobserver 
Depends on the paper, the year, and the news climate. In 22 years at the N&R, I did three big, blowout Easter-themed packages for front-page publication. Other years, other reporters did them. Some years the paper did little or nothing. At a properly edited paper, these stories should compete on their merits for front-page space just like other stories, in my opinion.
Any thoughts on no headlines with the word Easter in the entire N&R paper? It seems like there was ample space to regurgitate political questionnaires.
Easter was late this year, and it’s an unusually busy primary election season given the Senate and 6th Congressional District races. And, for whatever reason, nobody on the N&R staff had a good Easter story (there’s no official religion writer anymore) and apparently there were none on the wires, which happens..