To be effective it should, like colour, be conserved and massed to illuminate a headline or to separate one feature from another. . . Advertisers have found that adding colour gives extra selling power. Colour should be used for emphasis. See General Information on newspaper design. The front page had a large picture with only one or two headlines, no text, with lead story on page 3.
Effective imagery is also a very important aspect of reporting the news.
We are just naturally lazy and prefer the easier way. Looking at the picture, instead of reading the story, may be a throwback to our picturebook days. There are some important guidelines for an editor to remember when selecting and laying out pictures. Harness the lines of force. Swifter motion, stronger lines of force.