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Front Page Coverage of the First Presidential Debate
Below is a summary of how the first presidential debate was covered on the front pages of some top U.S. newspapers (according to Burrelles Luce).  The newspapers were viewed the Newseum Today's Front Pages website (+).  Of 19 front pages examined the debate was the lead story in all but one of the papers (Houston Chronicle led with a local shooting).  The headlines emphasized the combative tone using words such as "fierce," "testy," and "acerbic."  Several papers picked up New York Times, Washington Post or AP reporting.  Front pages had analysis pieces and reporting on locals watching the debates.  The debate was the dominant, lead image on all but two of the front pages (Cleveland Plain Dealer featured Cleveland Indians celebrating and Denver Post had no front page debate photo).  Photos showed the candidates before, during and after the debate.  Seven of the nineteen papers led with images of the candidates before or after the debate (a medium shot by AP's Evan Vucci showing Clinton in foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling had the most occurences in this small sample, three).
Six of the nineteen papers ran separate shots of the two candidates side by side.  Four of the nineteen papers led with wide or medium wide shots of the two candidates at their podiums.


Newspaper
Headlines/Reporters

Photos/Photographers
The Wall Street Journal
"Trump, Clinton Trade Fierce Blows:  In animated first debate, candidates get personal on wealth, tax return and emails; battle over trade, energy and economy" - Janet Hook, Peter Nicholas, and Reid J. Epstein
[Analysis] "Debate Exposes Voters' Stark Choice" - Gerald F. Seib


Dominant, lead photo: Medium wide shot of Trump and Clinton at their podiums, both gesturing.  Clinton is in the foreground, shown partially from the side, while all of Trump shown - Rick Wilking/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

USA Today
"FIGHT NIGHT:  Clinton, Trump tangle over jobs, race in first of 3 debates" - David Jackson
[Analysis] "Restrained or red hot?  Fiery Trump is back in action" - Susan Page


Dominant, lead photo: Medium wide shot of Trump and Clinton shaking hands after the debate - Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY


New York Times
[Late Edition]
"CANDIDATES PRESS POINTED ATTACKS IN ACERBIC DEBATE:  Trump Raps Clinton on Trade and Emails--She Counters on His Fitness" - Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin
"Interruptions and Little Guidance on Where the Truth Lay" - Jeremy W. Peters  ...analysis



Dominant, lead photos (2): Side-by-side medium shots of Trump, Clinton - Doug Mills/The New York Times


Los Angeles Times

"A TESTY OPENING ROUND:  Clinton and Trump engage fiercely over their pasts and their plans" - Mark Z. Barabak, Evan Halper and Michael Finnegan
[Analysis] "One came with an attack plan and executed" - Cathleen Decker
 

Dominant, lead photo: Medium shot of Trump and Clinton shaking hands before the debate  - Justin Lane European Pressphoto Agency
Secondary photo: People at a debate watch party in Westwood - Gina Perazzi/Los Angeles Times


Daily News (New York)

"FACE OF THE NATION  Hillary's look says it all as Trump buries himself in bumbling blather" [tabloid; refers readers to pages 2,3,4,5,6,7 & editorial]


Tabloid: Full page MCU of Clinton looking; small inset MCU of Trump

San Jose Mercury News

"Attacks, sparks fly in first debate: Combative Cinton Puts Trump on the Defensive"
"Bay Area Viewers see billionaire fade as barbs exchanged" - Matthew Artz and Ramona Giwargis
"Temperaments, racial sensitivity receive scrutiny" - Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan, Washington Post
 

Dominant lead photos (2): Side-by-side medium/MCU shots of Trump, Clinton - DJT: Paul L Richards/Agence France Press via Getty Images. HRC: Julio Cortez/Associated Press
Secondary photos (2): Bill and Chelsea Clinton; Melania and Ivanka Trump and Mike Pence - Joe Raedle/Agence France Press via Getty Images

New York Post 



Washington Post  "Attacks fly in testy showdown"
"Clinton's Jabs Put Trump on Defensive" -
Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan
"Trump started off subdued, then his cool quickly melted" - Jenna Johnson
"Memorable exchanges and substantive differences" - Dan Balz, The Take
"Clinton's plan: Poke at tender points in opponent's thin skin" - Karen Tumulty



Dominant, lead photo: Wide shot of the two at their podiums speaking and gesturing, Trump head on, Clinton from the side, - Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Chicago Sun-Times

"THE SOUND AND THE FURY:  Trump, Clinton mix it up in raucous, no-holds-barred debate" [tabloid refers to Tina Sfondeles reports, 8-9; analysis by Lynn Sweet, 9, editorial, 19; violenc in Chicago takes center state, 10]


Tabloid: cover image  - Wide shot of the two at their podiums speaking and gesturing, Trump head on, Clinton from the side,  - Getty Images 
[very similar to the photo used by the WP]


Chicago Tribune
"Clashing visions over nation's future: Clinton and Trump square off in first presidential debate; Candidates press their competing cases, exchange verbal blows" - Mark Z. Barabak, Evan Halper and Michael Finnegan


Dominant, lead photo: Medium shot of Trump and Clinton shaking hands before the debate - Jewel Samad/Getty-AFP


The Dallas Morning News
"Clash of styles"
"Trump tries to project grit and policy competence" "Clinton, on attack, touts, preparation and experience
"Analysis: Attempts to unsettle each other eclipse jabs on trade, taxes, race, crime" - Todd J. Gillman


Dominant, lead photos (2): Side-by-side CU sshots of Trump, Clinton.  DJT: Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press.  HRC Julio Cortez/The Associated Press


The Denver Post
"Criticism gets personal  Trump and Clinton accuse each other of not having the right temperament." - Julie Pace and Jill Colvin, The Associated Press


No front page photo of the debate.

Newsday (Long Island, NY)
"HARD KNOCKS AT HOFSTRA: Harsh exchanges on taxes, economy, race, crime, ISIS"  [tabloid debate section wraps main news]

Tabloid; dominant, lead photos fill the page (2): CUs of Trump, Clinton - AP/David Goldman


Houston Chronicle
Lead story is report on a shooting in Houston
"Debate fierce from start: 
Trump, Clinton jockey for breakout moment in tight race"
"On the Attack: Candidates assail each other over trade, Iraq, taxes" - Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin, New York Times
"Analysis: Temperament at heart of first high-stakes showdown" - Kevin Diaz


Photos above the fold (2) Side-by-side medium/MCU shots of Trump, Clinton.  DJT: Win McNamee/Getty Images.  HRC: Paul J Richards /AFP/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Inquirer
"SHOWDOWN"
"The  contest brings partisans to pub" - Julia Terrruso
"Rivals clash over issues, experience" - Jonathan Tamari

Dominant, lead photo: Medium wide shot of the two candidates at their podiums, Trump partial from side/behind and Clinton full - Rick T. Wilking/Pool via AP


The Arizona Republic
"ON THE OFFENSIVE"
"Clinton, Trump battle over records, economics, race"  - teaser paragraphs to page 1B
"1st debate left some voters with unanswered questions" - Daniel Gonzalez and Dan Nowicki


Dominant, lead photo: Medium shot from before the debate of Clinton, Trump facing the camera, Lester Holt from behind; Clinton is reach out her hand- AFP/Getty Images


StarTribune
"Candidates battle over taxes, race and trade"
- Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin - New York Times
[Analysis] "Clinton scored more points, but race not  over"
- Dan Balz - Washington Post [Analysis]


Dominant, lead photo: Medium shot from before or after the debate, Clinton in foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling - Evan Vucci-Associated Press


Tampa Bay Times
"90 minutes; no holds barred:  Clinton and Trump make cases with sharp attacks."  - Alex Leary, Times Washington Bureau Chief


Dominant, lead photos (2): Side by side MCUs of Clinton speaking and gesturing and Trump lips pursed - Associated Press photos


The Plain Dealer
"Political brawl in first debate:  Candidates speak over one another; Clinton provokes angry responses from Trump"  - Mark Z. Barabak, Evan Halper and Michael Finnegan, Tribune Washington Bureau



Dominant photo is Cleveland Indians players celebrating in locker room after winning ALC title.
Secondary photo:
Medium shot from before or after the debate, Clinton in foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling - Evan Vucci-Associated Press

The Star-Ledger (NJ)
"Fierce first test:  Candidates tangle over divergent visions for America's Future"  - Julie Pace and Jill Colvin/Associated Press


Dominant, lead photo: Medium shot from before or after the debate, Clinton in foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling - Evan Vucci-Associated Press