Newspaper Website - Drafting

This is a 'plan' for my homepage. My remaining two pages (which will be linked to this homepage), will follow a similar structure to this.

Newspaper Website - Ideas

Click on the image to enlarge it.

This image is a spider diagram of ideas for features that I could include on my website for Task 2. I have taken these ideas from my research and comparison posts.

Newspaper Website - Extra Audience Research

Newspaper Website - Original Audience Research

This video includes audience research to see the thoughts of people on newspaper websites.

Newspaper Website - Original Research

In this blog post, I will perform research into newspaper websites in detail, and examine how they are different compared to print newspapers. I will use evidence by looking into several newspaper websites.

Difference between Print & Online version

Articles: Local Newspaper websites include the major news articles from a local area. These news items may have been taken from an earlier edition of the newspaper, or will appear in the upcoming newspaper. This is good because if some people are unable to purchase a print copy of the newspaper, the articles can be found online. However, not all articles in the print copy can be found online. These news articles will follow the format seen in print; a headline, sub-heading, and article. Some online articles say: 'read more in this week's paper', to help promote the newspaper, and allow readers to learn more about an event.

Photograph: On newspaper websites, all news articles have an image associated to the article. This may help readers understand more about the article. However, in the print newspaper, not all articles include images. This may be due to how the newspaper is structured - there may not be enough space for an image, so an image is not included.

Advertising: Newspaper websites usually include adverts to advertise companies. Most of the adverts included are usually in the form of a video, while others are in the form of images. This can be good to get a company to advertise through a newspaper website, because it is another way companies can communicate with their audience.

Articles on a Daily Basis: Newspaper websites are able to write and publish articles on a daily basis. This can be good because it means you get quicker access to news articles aimed at a certain area. These articles can sometimes be published into the paper website, in extended detail, to allow readers of the print copy to find out about the article. Exclusive content about an article may be included in the print copy. This may be to promote the newspaper, to get more people to purchase it.

Videos: Newspaper websites can use the medium of video to help with articles. These could be video interviews, with people affected by an event, or to show an event occur. For example, sport articles are more likely to include interviews with sports players, while an event, such as a fire, may include amateur footage of the fire. While videos cannot be seen in paper print, a transcript, or a written version, of an interview, can be written.

Users Can Sign-Up: Website visitors can sign-up to the newspaper website. This allows users to comment, and get involved in articles. This can be good, because it can allow the audience to get involved in the article. Social media links also allow users to keep up to date on newspaper articles. Also, email updates can be sent to users, to allow people to get more direct access to news articles.

Looking into Newspaper websites

All newspaper websites tend to follow a similar structure throughout the website design.

Halstead Gazette
The Halstead Gazette newspaper website has a series of news article, based on news in the Halstead town and surrounding areas.

The top article features a recently published article focusing on a vehicle crash on a major road in the area. An image of an ambulance is featured, which could show the idea that people have been injured. A sub-heading is included below that introduces the article.

Following this, there are several other newspaper articles seen below it, written in the previous few days. These articles are stories about a recent burglary, upcoming events, another traffic incident, among others.

Alongside this, there is a column, which feat



ures the front page of that week's newspaper issue. Below that, there is a list of the most-read articles, showing what the majority of the website visitors read.  Links are also included in this column, which allows readers to get involved and post their own news articles, which may be included in that week's newspaper.

The header of the website includes a series of links, allowing readers to get information about local businesses and a place to add an advertisement, which might feature in future newspaper issues. Users can also create an account and sign in, here. There is finally a search button.

Below this, there is the newspaper's masthead, and a weather feature next to this.

There is also a banner, near the top of the website, where users can jump to certain articles - these links include 'News', 'Sport', 'Events' and 'Competitions', to name a few.

Liverpool Echo

The Liverpool Echo website has a similar structure to that of the Halstead Gazette.

The top article is focused on a recent crime news article in Liverpool city, with an image of the two prisoners involved. A sub-heading follows to introduce the article. Below this, there is a link to a related article. This is good because it means website visitors can learn more about the event, by looking at previous articles relating to the incident.

Following this, there are two columns of recently-published articles. However, this newspaper is released on a daily basis, because of the larger circulation area, meaning there are more articles to be written about the area.

Two of the articles are 'live' articles, meaning it is regularly updated by a journalist(s) throughout the day. These articles can be good for when an event has just happened, because it means more information can be published throughout the day. These 'live articles' can also be found on national newspapers too, as well as other news websites.

Many of the articles seen on the website are sport related - mainly football - due to the high interest of sports in Liverpool, and the surrounding areas (Merseyside).

A column on the far right is titled 'Live Breaking News', and includes live breaking news incidents throughout the day. This is good because it means visitors can find out live information and news stories. This is currently focused on live traffic news, which will help people travelling.

The top header allows users to visit certain parts of the pages: lives to the most read articles, the events articles (what's on), general news, sport news to particular football teams, among other links.


Plymouth Herald (The Herald)
The Plymouth Herald website uses a similar structure to the above newspaper websites, but the design again is different.

There is a single column dedicated to articles, which users can 'arrange' by the news articles by the date they were released, by the most commented, and by the most active.

These articles are all stories from the Plymouth and surrounding areas. The top article focuses on a traffic incident, and are followed by articles on crime, a fire,  and technology.

A column on the far right includes a list of vouchers for local businesses, including a leisure centre, and beauty salons. This could be good because it means online users can get something exclusive from their online website, instead of the website.


Once again, standard features such as links to other pages can be seen in a row at the top. Readers can find articles by a certain genre of news story (e.g. readers can be linked directly to stories relating to crime, education, business, health, politics, among other thing.

A search bar for users to search for individual news articles, or to find businesses in a certain area. A weather feature showing the day's weather can also be found. Both of these are next to the masthead.

The website uses a red and grey colour scheme throughout the pages on the website.



Suffolk Free Press
The Suffolk Free Press uses a slightly alternate structure to those of the other paper websites.

The main article seen at the top of the newspaper frequently changes every few seconds. Users can interact with this feature and manually change it, to focus on a story they like. They can then click on this story to read it in further detail.

Below this, there are two columns of stories: the stories include a burglary, a weather story, and a vehicle crash.

At the bottom, there is a group of stories associated with sports in the local Suffolk area.

On the far right, a column shows the most popular stories among readers (under the title Trending).

Again, a series of links on the top to take readers to individual pages; these include Latest News, Community, Events, among others.

Again, a search bar, a weather widget, the mast head, and social media links for readers.

Billboards - Final Billboard Posters & Self Evaluation

My final billboard posters are seen below.

This is my horizontal banner. I like this idea (above), because I have used an image of the castle in the Hedingham area. I feel this is a good image to use, because the castle is a major tourist attraction in the local area, and is important in the area historically. I feel the use of the masthead is important within the billboard poster because it helps identify the billboard to show what it is advertising. I could improve this by adding other images of the local area to help my target audience identify who I am targeting with my local newspaper. I could improve this poster by changing the colour of the text in the top left to match the colour scheme of my masthead.

This is my headline billboard poster. I like this idea (above), because I feel this has got a simple layout, which has a small amount of information. Having a small amount of information is good, because it means the person who looks at this poster is not overloaded with information. This poster was popular among my audience feedback videos, due to the colour scheme and bold font, which I fully agree with. I could improve this poster by changing the text colour of the website, from black to blue, to match the information strip on the top. I feel the use of the black and blue is good, because they are colours I have used in my masthead.

Billboards - Audience feedback on Horizontal Banners

Billboard - Drafting and Ideas for Horizontal banner

These are my two ideas for horizontal billboard designs, which tend to be seen on building walls. I like the bottom idea because it has got a bright colourful photograph of the castle, which is an important tourist facility within the Hedingham area.

My first idea is a cartoon-style graphic showing the newspaper masthead, and a slogan to explain the purpose of my local newspaper. I like this idea, because it is bright and colourful, and there is a cartoon graphic to show a part of the area. The masthead also takes up a large proportion of the banner, which makes it stand out. However, this could be improved by using an image of the actual castle, in Hedingham.

My second idea is an image of Hedingham Castle, surrounded by a slogan and the masthead. I like this idea, because there is a bright and large photograph of the actual castle, which makes the newspaper relevant to the target audience. However, the masthead is included in the newspaper, but is quite small, so can be hard to notice. The fact the masthead is on a white background also makes it basic, and does not look visually appealing. 

Billboard - Audience Feedback on ideas

I performed five interviews in an attempt to learn more about people's thoughts on my idea. 

Liam said the blue colour scheme stood out to him, although he liked most of them. Using the newspaper graphic did not appeal to him. He felt the yellow and blue colour scheme would be most attracted to most people. The story would suitable, with him interested in learning more about the 'local hero'. Fixing the font size in one of the designs would make that idea stand out more.

Dan 

Billboard - Drafting and Ideas

These first two billboard advertise the headline in that week's edition of the newspaper. These tend to be displayed outside shops that sell the newspaper. Both of these ideas displays the masthead and the newspaper headline. I like the first idea (left), because the yellow colour used in parts of the design allow this to stand out, and draw the attention of the audience. I have included the website in the design to show another way for readers to interact with my newspaper. However, I like the second idea (right), because there is a slogan that shows that this is a local newspaper for the local community to get involved in. The use of the blue colour allows the colour scheme of the masthead to be incorporated into the design.

These two billboard posters are posters that are set to be used at bus stops. These do not include any headlines or any information from a recent newspaper issue, these are posters that advertise the newspaper in general. I like the left idea, because it includes an image which could grab the attention of the audience. This also includes two banners - one is a slogan to advertise the newspaper's purpose, and the other is to advertise when the newspaper will be released - on Tuesdays. I also like the poster on the right, because it is a simple design that includes a slogan to explain the paper. A banner is seen at the bottom of the right design to display the newspaper's website URL (this will not be my actual website name, however).

Billboards - Audience Research

The headline of a major article, with lots of imagery and colour could be used to attract the audience. Important information (such as price, news stories, release date) would be expected on the newspaper. Others felt the front page of the newspaper will be seen on the billboard.

Billboards - Original Research

What is a billboard poster?

A billboard poster is a form of advertising a product or company, on a large scale. There are displayed across the country, outside shops or displayed on buildings. Billboards are used by newspaper companies to advertise newspapers and headlines, but are also used by movie studios to advertise upcoming films, or to advertise other products. These have been used in the newspaper industry since the early 1900s.

Billboard posters aimed at local newspapers will be displayed in the newspaper circulation area. These usually include a major headline included in that day/week's newspaper, written in a large bold text. These are very basic and include little information, with no colour or imagery included. Local newspapers include the masthead on the top of the billboard, to show what newspaper is being advertised.

For example, the Suffolk Free Press newspaper will have newspaper billboards within Sudbury and surrounding areas. A billboard poster for this would be irreverent in London, because the news within the newspaper would not affect London citizens. This example in the video shows the Manchester Evening News. Billboard posters for this newspaper would be seen in Manchester, but not London.

However, a billboard poster for a national newspaper would be seen all across the UK. Billboard posters for national newspapers, include pictures, making them more colourful and allow them to stand out more. Occasionally, they will display content in that day's newspaper. For example, The Sun will be advertised on a much larger scale compared to local newspapers, because The Sun has a larger demographic audience. These posters are much larger, to stand out more. These are usually seen on buildings in large towns and cities.

Billboards are useful because they provide information on a headline featured within that issue of a newspaper. They allow a target audience of a newspaper to discover about an event which could affect them. Headlines may draw the attention of the target audience, in local newspapers, by saying 'town', 'city', or 'area'. This will draw people in, because the event could affect people, so they want to learn more.

Analysis:

The Press:
The Press newspaper, that is produced in York, has a headline of 'Rescue Drama On York's River Ouse'. The billboard includes the newspaper masthead, on the top and bottom, with the headline written in the centre of the poster. Locals will be drawn to this because the headline mentions 'York', and the 'River Ouse', a river that runs through Yorkshire. The text is in a large bold font, allowing it to stand out. 'Tuesday' is seen below the masthead, which shows when the newspaper was released. This will draw people in because it will show that the paper includes up-to-date information.

Evening Standard:
A similar style can be seen in the London newspaper, the Evening Standard. The headline says 'Banks Rescue: City Reaction'. Again, locals will be drawn it due to the fact it says 'City'. This headline also talks about banks - London is a central hub for finance, so local businessmen could be interested by this. The mastheads are seen top and bottom, like The Press, but this appears to be hand-written. This could be because the paper regularly is released, so the billboard needs to be updated frequently. 'Wednesday' is shown below the masthead to help readers know if the newspaper includes up-to-date news.

Conclusion:
Billboard posters allow newspapers to advertise a headline included in a local newspaper. This could be a form of advertising, to help target their audience, and interest them. Local newspaper billboards are relatively simple in design, with a masthead and headline included.