Comments on: Newsquest relaunch local newspaper websites… is that it?

By: Links (9th July 2008) « James Thornett

Links (9th July 2008) « James Thornett — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:27:09 +0000

[...] Newsquest relaunch local newspaper websites… is that it?The Online Journalism Blog is not particularly impressed with the latest website re-launch from one of the UKs main local newspaper groups. July 9th, 2008 | Tags: links | Category: links [...]

By: Lancashire Evening Post - more interactive than The Times? | Online Journalism Blog

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:33:15 +0000

[...] Blogging recently on Newsquest’s relaunch of its websites, I feel I was a bit harsh on the Lancashire Evening Post… [...]

By: paulbradshaw

paulbradshaw — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:53:37 +0000

Thanks Kathryn for a well informed and illuminating comment.
P, there is space in the Lancs Telegraph design to have another search box next to the main one – or a drop-down so users could select what to search – or you could configure it to return results from both.
I agree that advertisers are starting to take video seriously – and I think this could be a growth area, particularly if newspapers sell the production of ads as well.

By: Kathryn Schlieben

Kathryn Schlieben — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:44:31 +0000

Regarding the use of the 15 second pre-roll on the video in place of the lead picture I think we’re already identified there are two issues here. One is can a video replace the lead picture. The other is how to monetise it. First, I do think a video can replace a lead picture but the editor needs to keep a watchful eye on how this affects engagement. Are people watching the video? Is it encouraging them to engage futher? How are click throughs from the homepage affected? Are people visiting the homepage and leaving after watching videos rather than going deeper into the site?

As for monetising the video, I don’t necessarily agree that overlays are the definitive answer. They are one option. Looking at The Lancashire Telegraph’s site there are already several revenue mechanisms here. They have sponsored links from Yahoo, a local advertisers module, and room for a banner in the header of the site. The video window presents another opportunity for revenue however they could choose not to have a pre-roll in favour of a post-roll or serve the ad before a second piece of content is selected thereby giving the first piece of video content to the audience without the trade off. Overlays are certainly a possibility, they’d still need to consider how to treat sensitive and user uploaded content. For example, on MSN Video we can actually supress pre-rolls against pieces of content that may not be suitable for advertising – for example scenes of natural disasters or war images if the content owner so chooses – and we don’t monetise user uploaded videos. The verdict is still out on pre-rolls vs overlay but I believe in the end there is a time and place for both. Heck, even YouTube might be considering them.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121557163349038289.html

“Google plans to begin accepting “preroll” and “postroll” ads, which will run before and after some YouTube video clips, according to one person familiar with the matter. The plan under consideration, this person says, would give companies that post video clips the option to sell such ads, and share the revenue with Google. YouTube has long forsworn such ads because consumers don’t like them. But advertisers consider them highly effective.”.

By: P

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:19:33 +0000

A few more comments if you don’t mind…

“I think you’re hiding away a terrific feature of the site by not making it a first point of entry.”

Agreed – the Local Info section is a great feature, and it’s surprising that no other newspaper group has sought to follow suit in the 18 months or so it’s been running.

Unfortunately, there is only so much space on a home page. Do you drop the live traffic and travel information (which feeds from the Local Info section, by the way) so it displays ‘below the fold’, and bring in a search box? Tough choice, but I think the current set-up is better.

“All videos also come with a frustrating 15 second pre-roll advertising”

You could alternatively look upon it as a sign that mainstream advertisers are taking local newspaper websites’ video offerings seriously enough to want to spend money advertising with them.

“”Register to post comments” hardly makes it sound like they’re keen to hear your thoughts”

A little clunky perhaps, but the new Newsquest sites have gone from having no registration to post comments (like this website) to requiring registration. This is why links to the registration sign-up can be found everywhere.

By: paulbradshaw

paulbradshaw — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:47:23 +0000

Sorry Paul, I didn’t mean to imply that the sharing options were new.
But Local information *search* is not at the top – the *link* to Local Info is. Search boxes tend to work best in a particular place – and given how much people rely on search to navigate, I think you’re hiding away a terrific feature of the site by not making it a first point of entry.

By: P

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:08:20 +0000

“national news more imp. than local comment?”

National news is at the foot of the homepage, below all the local content. How does that make it more important?

“Dave Lee wonders if the new homepage is flexible enough to allow a video to be used in place of the lead picture. ”

Yes it is – see http://www.prestoncitizen.co.uk for a current example.

“bookmarking/sharing/email to a friend; related links”

Have been in place on all Newsquest sites for the last 2 years – not a new thing.

“‘Local information’ search… Shouldn’t this be right at the top?”

Yes, it is at the top of every page – see link to Local Info’ – as well as in the right hand column of every page.