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NYTimes launching redesigned website on 8 January

On 2 January, The New York Times announced plans for major design changes to its website, NYTimes.com, effective Wednesday, 8 January. A small number of readers would immediately begin seeing previews of the new designs, the company said.

by WAN-IFRA Staff executivenews@wan-ifra.org | January 3, 2014

“With more prominent video and photography, the new features are highly immersive and enhance our readers’ ability to share and comment throughout articles,” said Executive Editor Jill Abramson, in a statement announcing the redesign.

Added Denise Warren, Executive Vice President, Digital Products and Services: “We plan to continue making improvements, including introducing personalised navigation options that will allow users to customise their NYTimes.com experience to better suit their interests.”

In a related story on NYTimes.comLeslie Kaufman wrote “The redesign will also contain a platform featuring content paid for by advertisers. Such content, known as ‘native advertising,’ has raised concerns among some journalists that it could blur the lines between the editorial product and material provided by advertisers.

“In a letter to employees last month, however, The Times’s publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., promised that native ads would be clearly distinguished as paid posts and that the content would not be produced by newsroom employees,” Kaufman added.

The design changes were previously announced in 2013, and Poynter’s Andrew Beaujon published some images of the planned new look in late October, which had been part of a preview for NYT employees.

In the statement announcing the changes, the company points to 10 highlights of the redesign:

  • A cleaner, more engaging look
  • Responsive designs optimised for desktops and tablets
  • Richer integration of photography, video and interactive story elements
  • Faster loading pages
  • More efficient navigation and improved ability to scan and discover content
  • Persistent ability to share and comment
  • Improved comments with ability to read articles and comments side-by-side
  • New messaging system to keep the user better informed
  • Larger and more impactful photography and video
  • Improved expression of brand through font and typography
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