Reader feedback on my website.

I asked locals of all different age ranges to comment on my website, many said they like how interactive and creative the website was. One girl said she liked how clear the website was as well as the links to the social networking site. Many liked how similar it was to the newspaper as they felt it created a brand and an identity. Others said they wanted to see more stories on the homepage of different genre and mix such as sport, politics etc. Over all everyone felt that the website was effective, easy to use and informative. I think my website is successful as it is clear, fresh and interactive it links to the newspaper and fits all ages. I believe it is easy to use and unique with its photo slide show and my own created adverts. Below is a couple of images to prove my research and feedback took place, one from an 18 year old female and a 40 year old male; showing responses from different sexes and age rangers.

Website

 

 

http://beccajane94.wix.com/gosfieldgazette18#

 

This is my website, I decided to record my website to show you all the features that it has. I used the same mast head and colours as my newspaper as I felt it would create a corporate and professional product. I decided to use a video advertisement from www.youtube.com advertising a local shopping centre, I did this as through research other local papers such as the Halstead Gazette did this I also felt it was creative and interactive. I placed an image of my newspaper front page this would change each week to match the paper so people would know what to look for when shopping, it also advertises the newspaper through the website. I decided to put a slideshow showing the local weather and storylines, this allows the reader to flick through and see stories at their own pace. At the bottom of my Homepage I added a `have you say' box where people can write in and share their views and stories, this is typical of local newspaper websites.

Website Research

I decided to annotate local websites to identify what I needed to include to meet the conventions as well as what I could do to be unique and original.

This is the homepage for Halstead Gazette, my main inspiration for my newspaper website,  I like the style, layout and colours of the website. I also like how it includes interactive tools such as have your say and the weather app.

Plans for my newspaper website

 

To design my newspaper website I decided to roughly sketch my layout influenced by the Halstead gazette website and my own individual inspiration. I roughly sketched the layout colouring in certain colours that I wanted to use, I then used the computer to clearly map out my final details. This is also a creative way to present my ideas it also helped me when creating the real website as it was clear and easy to follow. I wanted my website to be very interactive so I designed things such as `Have your say' boxes and video advertisements as well as social networking sites so the reader could feel apart of the paper and news.

 

Local newspaper websites around the country not just my local area.

 After researching local newspapers for my local Essex/Suffolk area, I decided to research further out of my area around the country. I did this as it showed me a broad range of local newspaper websites, representing the typical conventions and differences, allowing me to create a unique website.

Unlike local newspaper websites such as http://www.halsteadgazette.co.uk/ the Yorkshire evening post reports up to date news from all areas of Yorkshire not just one small town or village. The reader picks the area and stories they wish to read, headlines and images are shown but in an interactive manner, skipping through a slideshow showing that the news is for the individual; it's personal. Similarly to Halstead gazette http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ introduces its readers to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, allowing the locals to keep up to date with their local news as well as commenting and giving fed back to the editors. The homepage shows lots of contrasting headlines such as community, sport and events, it also informs you of the weather and breaking news just like http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/.

I found it interesting that http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ only has 4 tabs to be selected, whereas Halstead Gazette, Haverhill Echo and Braintree and Witham Times have 26+. This is because the individual tabs lead the readers to other tabs  allowing it to be more organised, I believe the differences are due to the website aiming to reach many different audiences in the large areas of Yorkshire. Whereas http://www.haverhillecho.co.uk/ only caters for a small populated town, allowing the editors and website creators to cater to a small group of people specifically.

Whereas contrastingly http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/ follows the same conventions, style and house colours as Halstead Gazette. This is because The Argus also caters for a small town in Brighton, the similarity to Halstead Gazette allowed me to identify the typical colours, style and layout of most local newspaper websites.

Research and analysis of local newspaper websites from across the country.

Gosfield Gazette App

I decided to be a more divers local newspaper that I would create a smartphone app, this would encourage a more younger reader and be accessible at all times for breaking news. The app is helping local newspapers to keep up with modern times and be in constant contact with their readers, it is also challenging the conventions of local newspapers as papers such as the Braintree and Witham Times do not have a smartphone app.

Facebook for Gosfield Gazette

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005518572645&ref=tn_tnmn

 
 
I decided to create a Facebook for my local newspaper for both my readers and myself. It would benefit my readers as it keeps them connected with both the newspaper and their local news, it would benefit the editors and creators of the newspaper as it allows them to identify their target market and readers through the age and location of their `friends'. Its a way of connecting the readers and editors creating a community based local newspaper.

Twitter Page for Gosfield Gazette

I decided to create a Twitter page for my newspaper, this is an up to date social networking site. I thought it would advertise my newspaper distributing it to a wide range of people and age ranges. I also used Twitter as it would be a way to keep in contact with the readers as well as informing them constantly of breaking news and the types of stories in the newspaper each week. I felt it would be a modern way to connect with the readers and promote the newspaper; its also keeping up with modern changes. I also used Twitter on my website therefore making me website more realistic as you can actually click on the icon to `follow' us!

https://twitter.com/followers#

I also decided to create a facebook account so I could use all popular social networking sites to advertise my newspaper, and so I could connect with all types of readers. Facebook is used by a more wide range of ages making it more broad and attracting a mix of target audience.

My own photography.

I decided to use my own photos throughout my tasks as I felt it was more creative and personal. I also felt it would make my products unique and individual. Below are some of my own photos which I may use for my newspaper, poster or website.

Image of a friends dog, for a `lost dog' story.

Image from a netball school team for a `Gosfield wins' storyline.

                               Image for `end of scarecrow trail' storyline, actual event in Gosfield.