Newspaper & Mailroom
The Washington Post Furthers Engagement, Conversation with New Website Design
Monday 21. March 2011 - Enhanced Comment System Displays Most Relevant Conversation Around Post Content
Today The Washington Post announced it has unveiled a new website design intended to further reader engagement and discussion around Post journalism and showcase more multimedia content. A major part of the new design is an enhanced comments system that ensures that thoughtful, on-topic comments around Post reporting receive special prominenceallowing readers and Post writers to easily view and participate in more meaningful conversations.
“We continue to grow and evolve in both our journalism and how we interact with readers. This year, we are dedicated to reshaping our website not only to provide a more essential news experience but also to further enable user participation in new, innovative ways,” said Raju Narisetti, Managing Editor, The Washington Post.
The enhanced comments system allows each Post article, column or blog to feature and highlight top commenters. While commenting is open to everyone, Washington Post editors and staffers identify select commenters, based on the quality of what they have previously posted, and invite them to take part in open forums around articles with other readers, Post reporters and columnists. Readers can also request to participate in these discussions.
The updated washingtonpost.com, which is the most significant redesign it has seen in the last decade, also features a new blog powered by Tumblr. “@Innovations” invites readers to experiment with The Posts latest digital endeavors, whether it is a social media experiment or a behind-the-scenes look at editorial projects including “Recession Road,” where reporters and users use crowdsourcing to capture the recession with photographs from their mobile devices.
With the redesign, readers can also look forward to
New navigation that points to
The Posts destination hubs for Politics, Opinion, Local and Sports.
A Conversations tab that takes readers directly to social content around the site.
A World section that combines The Post’s award-winning International and National Security coverage coupled with daily content from Foreign Policy.
A new Investigations section that highlights The Post’s enterprise and investigative journalism.
Improved organization of arts and culture contentThe Posts popular Style, Food and Travel sections plus wellness, home, and advice will be featured in a new “Lifestyle” section. Celebrity news, the Going Out Guide, reviews, puzzles, horoscopes and comics including the new “Reply All” strip featuring DC-based artist Donna Lewis, will be under “Entertainment.”
“Todays Paper” where, for a free introductory period, readers can experience the print edition of The Post including the Sunday Magazine and Local Living.
“The Post Most” which presents the most e-mailed, commented and shared articles and features throughout the site.
New Multimedia section to showcase video and photo galleries and more of them, including Post Today, a video on the days top local stories and features.
A more logical and intuitive arrangement of content; for example, the popular blogs On Faith and On Leadership can now be found under National in the main navigation bar; obituaries can be found in Local; and pets and weddings can be found in Entertainment.
Throughout 2011 there will be ongoing enhancements. Coming soon, users can compare and purchase tickets to Washington sporting events with PostTickets powered by TiqIQ. Readers will also be able to experience an improved search capability, including the ability to search all content from The Washington Post archives.
“News websites and newsrooms should be in a permanent Beta with a simple goal: improve ease of use,” said Narisetti. “This redesign is the first stage in a continuous effort to enhance engagement and we are looking forward to reader feedback to make their experience even better.”