本文主要目的在分析從1952到1996年間，臺灣報紙(daily newspaper)頭版( front page)的版面設計趨勢。我們希望了解新傳播科技及社會變遷對報紙頭版設計的影 響。 本研究採內容分析法，來分析《中央日報》、《中國時報》及《聯合報》的頭版版面 。抽樣方法採隨機抽樣，從1652到1996年的三報中，每年隨機抽出七天的報紙進行分析。 共分析三報的931個頭版，及頭版上的6713則新聞。 研究結果顯示，臺灣報紙的頭版版面設計深受電腦排版及社會變遷的影響，版面設計 逐漸採用較大的標題、較少的標題行數與新聞則數，重視照片、圖表與彩色，並用矩形方 式編排，使版面變得較為賞心悅目，更適合讀者閱讀。

　　　　　The purpose of this study is to discover whether the leading daily newspapers in Taiwan have adopted modern graphic techniques and therefore changed their appearance. The study also attempts to explain how the lifting of martial law and new technology have contributed to these changes. Using content analysis, the researchers have identified the design characteristics of a sample of the front pages from three dailies from 1952 to 1996. This study confirms that the three newspapers have adopted modern design practices and therefore changed their appearance on the front pages. New technology has had its impact on the changes. But without the lifting of martial law, change would likely not be so significant.