Five decks over one leg?

As I've seen some dailies in my neck of the woods this week, I'm seeing more papers start to run a five deck headline over one column. I remember from my brief sojurn at another shop that the rules were as follows:

Five and four columns: One deck
Three columns: Two decks
Two columns: Three decks
One column: Four decks

Obviously, if you could use no more than two decks over a one column story, that was fine. But did someone pass a new edict that allows five decks over one leg? Or am I dreaming?

 

I've seen papers do it. I don't like it. At all.

 

Ever since I got that list of rules I listed above, I've bent over backwards to follow them. I think I slipped up and used three decks over three columns once since then. After my reporter changed a hede around, it became four decks over two legs instead of three decks over two. I mentioned it to her when we had our staff meeting.

At least it wasn't some new edict from The Gods of Design that said five decks over one leg is OK.

Then again, I was just in the Newseum today and saw The Washington Post's 9/11 hede. Talk about broken rules of design. But I seriously doubt anyone gave a flying frig.

 

five decks barely work on a group of condos, much less on a story.

stop. now.

 

Our nearest competitor has been known to have seven! desks in one column.

Craptastic.

 

solid.

 

Before I got here, my paper was known for having 15!!!! decks over one column.

 

That's unpossible

 

I wish it were.

 

speaking of sidebars.

 

USA Today's headline for the Titanic:


Miracle: 675 survive