Email review
CNN vs. New York times
Two of the most renowned names in journalism are CNN and The New York Times. Let’s dive into the details and explore their unique features and design strategies.
First impression
CNN
- The CNN email captures attention with a bold header featuring the "Reliable Sources" title and a brief introductory paragraph summarizing the content.
- The overall design is clean and professional, with a predominantly white background and black text for readability.
- A focus on news credibility and media analysis is immediately apparent, setting an authoritative tone.
New York times
- The New York Times email starts with a polished header that emphasizes the brand name and the newsletter's purpose: delivering a morning briefing.
- The email’s layout is more structured, with separate sections featuring articles and corresponding images, giving it a more magazine-like feel.
- A personalized salutation at the top ("Good morning") adds a touch of warmth.
Usability
Email web version
Clickable images
“Follow us on socials” section
Clickable buttons for website links
Why are these points important?
Web version: Allows readers to access the email in a browser if they encounter display issues.
Clickable images: Boosts engagement by allowing readers to navigate via visuals.
Social Media buttons: Encourages interaction and builds a stronger brand community.
Clickable buttons: Improves usability, directing users to specific content efficiently.
Design
Email design goes beyond aesthetics; it plays a key role in delivering the message effectively and reflecting the brand’s identity. Let’s examine how CNN and The New York Times approach design to enhance their emails.
Brand consistency
CNN maintains brand consistency with its use of black, red, and white colors, mirroring its logo and website aesthetics. Text blocks are uniform, with consistent fonts.
The New York Times employs a clean and minimalist design, using serif fonts and professional typography to echo its printed newspaper.
Optimization for dark mode
Both emails are functional in dark mode. CNN’s design remains sharp due to high contrast between text and background.
NYT also adapts effectively, with its white sections becoming darker and fonts retaining legibility.
Mobile optimization
Both emails are well-optimized for mobile devices. However, CNN's compact layout feels more accessible on smaller screens, while the NYT's longer format with multiple sections requires more scrolling.
Email accessibility
Sans-serif font
Text readability
Line spacing at 150%
Single-color backgrounds
Alt texts for images
The “lang” attribute
The “role="presentation"“ attribute
Email copy
Texts on banners
CNN: Highlights the credibility and focus of the newsletter with brief but impactful headlines.
NYT: Uses headlines accompanied by images to make each section stand out, giving a more visually engaging experience.
Buttons
CNN: Features concise, clear buttons such as "Read More" to encourage click-throughs.
NYT: Offers links at the end of articles, blending them into the content rather than using distinct buttons.
Overall copy
CNN: Focuses on brevity and relevance, maintaining a professional tone throughout.
NYT: Delivers a more comprehensive narrative, with detailed summaries and visuals supporting the stories.
Legal requirements
Physical postal address
Unsubscribe option
Reason for receiving a message