The best thing about news writing is that it is simple. It not only helps the writer to fire out stories quicker, but it helps the reader to digest the information more easily.
The same is true of the design.
In order keep people interested there has to be simple layout with easy navigation. In this ‘digital’ era it is important for news websites to adhere to this rule.
Perhaps there is a reason why the BBC news website is so universal. It’s Sans Serif font at a reasonable large size makes it easy to read.
The whole site, excluding pictures, is made up of only three colours which are used to show the difference between links, headings and copy. It is very easy to navigate around, being split up regionally and different types of news.
In addition to written news and features which are easy to find, there are recent news videos available to view. This compact easy to use website is a gift to news hungry web users.
A close rival to the BBC, but by no means as user friendly, is the media guardian website. Again, a simple layout, but the site, in comparison the BBC, seems too ‘busy’.
In addition, it is not quite as easy to navigate. Perhaps it is the fact that the site does not seem as compact that gives this impression.
As our Senior Journalism lecturer, Delwyn Swingwood, always says ‘keep it simple’. But, these are small points, and to compare it just to the BBC seems quite unfair.
The reason it is important to make this point is because it’s identity is actually quite distinctive.
The colour code is consistent and fixed. The content is also quite extensive with a mass of features, but lacking in video and interactive qualities.
Regular readers will be pleased with the content of this site, but people who do not know the site very well could turn to other sources of news.
Simplicity is the key to good news sites. This is evident in perusing them. Perhaps our simple minds cannot deal with an abundance of colour and choice.
Restaurants that offer a lot of meals with complicated names, for example, confuses me. Give me some pub food any day - simple meals, that you know taste great. The same is true of news sources.
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Simple meals for simple minds David. I get great satisfacton from reading your blog. I hope you get payed well. Scope.
Comment by Anti Historyectomy February 5, 2008 @ 12:38 amNot really sure I agree with this area of the media. I understand that people want quick news, and the internet is the main tool in getting this. I don’t agree that “Simplicity is the key to good news sites”. If you look at the websites for most of the national newspapers, you’ll see that this isn’t really true. The Sun, for example, is full of pictures, video’s, links. The Guardian has a myriad of information, layer upon layer of articles, features and reviews. But I think this is a good thing, and I think each publication caters to its audience. The BBC might be used for quick news, but there are hundreds of other sites full of detailed and sophisticated articles for the voracious reader to enjoy.
Comment by purple07prose May 15, 2008 @ 8:42 am