TAKEAWAY: Here are five determinants of what constitutes a great news website.
It was the subject of Lecture #9 for my Columbia University students. I am teaching a course titled Multiplatform Design and Storytelling. The media quartet is an important component of the class, as you can imagine. So, this week, while discussing responsive design, I decided to start the lecture with what I think are five determinants of a good news website.
Thought you might wish to hear them too.
Here we go:
1. Must be uncluttered. Less is best.
http://www.bostonglobe.com
http://www.faz.net
http://www.scmp.com/frontpage/international
2. It offers a clear navigation
http://www.theguardian.com
http://www.ilsole24ore.com
3. It surprises visually.
http://www.handelsblatt.com
http://nautil.us
4. It reflects immediately the look & feel of the publication it represents.
http://www.bild.de
http://www.nytimes.com
5. It uses texture, contrast and color to help the eye move thru the elements.
www.newsweek.com
www.usatoday.com