FT: Pink, salmon or bisque?

Chirstine Haughney of The New York Times examines that critical business journalism issue that has left us all sleeping at night – just what color newsprint is The Financial Times printed on?

Haughney writes, “According to The Financial Times’s Web site, the paper is a ‘distinctive shade of salmon pink.’ The paper, first published in 1888, tinted its pages in 1893 to distinguish itself from its rival, The Financial News, in what the Financial Times described as ‘a masterstroke which made it immediately distinguishable from its main competitor.’ David Kynaston wrote in the book ‘The Financial Times, a Centenary History’ that it grew progressively pinker over the years.

“‘As far as one can tell the FT for quite a long time from 1893 had a slight pinkish tint to its pages rather than rejoicing in that bold salmon pink with which we are now familiar,’ wrote Mr. Kynaston.

“But color experts politely disagree about the actual color of The Financial Times. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said The Financial Times is actually ‘bisque.’ She said it was a wise choice because its shade is considered a ‘ ‘tactile’ color — one that invites touch’ and “a warm, welcoming, nurturing color.'”

Read more here.