Today's topic: Site design and layout
To make a long story short, The Observer-Dispatch's website has way too much going on at once. It is sometimes difficult to separate featured reports from advertisements, and - in my opinion - a lot of the staff's best work (i.e. news features and special reports) is buried among too much clutter.
The OD is a medium-sized publication with a circulation of just over 40,000 and does not have a particularly large staff, especially when it comes to what we're talking about: the online department. Because of this, much of the burden (practically all) for maintaining and updating the paper's website falls on the shoulders of a few individuals. That is likely one of the biggest reasons for the site's (particularly the home page) relative disorganization.
Here is an example of what I'm referring to when I say the site is "cluttered" and certain features are buried:
At first glance, I mistook "Wicca" banner for an ad, and as I do with most ads, ignored it. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it is indeed its own special feature complete with a story, photo gallery and slide show. But, its close proximity to the banner ad above it (and the ad below it to the right) keep it from sticking out to the viewer (especially the online scanners).
Another aspect that is hidden among the clutter is the box to the right containing "News Features," "Extras," and "Special Sections." While these sections highlight some of the paper's best work, they are unfortunately missed by many readers simply because they blend in with the rest of the page too much and don't catch the viewer's eye.
1 comment:
Interesting dilemma. The site is actually pretty simple and well organized, compared to many. But you're right, it's hard to see what's what. Perhaps you could make some simple suggestions. White space, font sizes, etc.? What could they take off?
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