Archive for the ‘internet’ Category

A tale of two papers

Posted: December 15, 2010 in Bermuda, internet, iPad, media, Technology
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It’s been interesting week for online news junkies.  Here in Bermuda, The Royal Gazette gave its website a much-needed makeover on Tusday while in London, The Sunday Times launched what is arguably the most impressive iPad version yet of a major newspaper.

Of course we’re comparing apples and oranges here in terms of resources and readership but I think it’s interesting to see how two newspapers, both established in the 1820s, are trying to figure how how to stay viable and relevant in a rapidly-changing media landscape.

The Gazette site really couldn’t have got any worse – although at the time of writing a poll on the site embarrassingly showed that 38% thought the new version was either “worse” or “much worse” (57% said it was improved or much improved).

At first glance, the site certainly looks cleaner, more readable and better organised but it doesn’t take long to realise that the changes are little more than cosmetic and that the Gazette still doesn’t really get the internet, digital publishing and just how disruptive and game-changing the technology will continue to be to the media business as a whole. (more…)

Hot news …

Posted: December 2, 2010 in Bermuda, internet, media
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Looks like things are going to get interesting on the local online news front again.

The Royal Gazette is about to (finally) ditch its dog’s breakfast of a website with a total revamp – although the planned Dec. 6 launch has been put back to Dec. 13 for some “technical adjustments”. The mockups I’ve seen look clean and well-organised and at first glance a vast improvement on the existing one – but it’s hard to tell until it’s live on-screen and we see how user-friendly it is – and whether the content will reflect the philosophical shift the Gazette must make – from thinking of itself as a newspaper first to a multimedia news organisation that thinks 24-7 screen first, whether that screen is the web, tablet or smartphone.

Meanwhile, everyone’s favourite upstart, Bernews – which has been kicking the Gazette’s butt for most of the year – is planning some changes. With some financial backing, an ad sales team and a handful of part-time editorial staff now on board, the site is looking to up the ante again. They’ve recently added some nice touches like text alerts, Portuguese translation and I understand plenty more changes are in the works.

Watch that space …

bermuda.com goes local

Posted: September 23, 2010 in Bermuda, internet, Technology, travel
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Went to the launch of the new-look Bermuda.com tonight. The tourist-focused site has been overhauled and aims to be a lot more dynamic in terms of content. There’s better integration of Google Maps and social media-type tools and the leaner redesign should be faster to load and the site claims to be optimised for better search engine results.

The site is aggressively going after the local market and Yellow Pages in particular with its bermuda.com Local section which offers users impressive search, rate, share and review functions for local businesses. Click on a business and you get map location and turn by turn directions.

Advertisers themselves can dynamically add text, images and video and have access to an very useful back end that tracks their online presence across the internet and what people are saying about their business on various websites, blogs and social media networks. Online reputation is critical these days and this is an easy-to-use option to keep track of it.

A new Onions section aims to draw more locals to the site with things like flight status, off island travel deals in conjunction with Expedia, Bermynet-style party photo pages, contests and what it claims is a simplified guide to what’s on at the movies – something no one seems to get right. This attempt is better but infuriatingly there is still no “at a glance” guide to what’s on – you have to click through to the Bermuda Sun’s movie reviews to find out where the film is playing [Bermuda.com and the Sun are both owned by Media House].

All in all though, a lot of useful improvements but it remains to be seen whether local users will gravitate to it in any great numbers. As their Facebook page has only 411 followers (as of 10.15pm tonight),  it suggests they may have some work to do.

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