News organizations often use semi-generic graphics for articles and video when there is no actual photo to accompany a story. They help communicate at least the general subject of the article. Some of these graphics look cool, while others are lame. And some are simply baffling – like this one that the Great Falls Tribune recently began using:
OK, we can tell that the Trib thinks that something is “breaking news,” that much is clear. But the scattered images in the background of what appears to be newspaper clippings – they seem to be…Russian? What an absolutely bizarre choice for a newspaper (in the United States, written in English) to use. I know the Trib is printed in Helena, and if memory serves, their graphics department is in Arizona (?), but this simply makes no sense.
(And semi-related: the term “breaking news” means virtually nothing anymore. I am so sick of news organizations using the phrase. Some of you may note that I never never never use the phrase “breaking news” in any headline or Facebook post that I have control over. )
