Star-Telegram Launches New Web Redesign - Popups Galore

Late Thursday night the green lever was switched and in a blink of a megahertz, the new web site came pouring out and took over. Yes Star-Telegram redesigned their web site and sure enough, it's packed with popups, ads and stuff to make MYSPACErs feel at home. 

What's New:

- The ads are now on the right side. So if you are blessed with a small monitor, just keep looking left. 

- The Black Navigation bar -s-l-o-w=l=y- drops down to reveal even more ads. But there is a text box.

- The search engine is on top... never mess with a good thing. 

- A new TV-sized box flashes photos.

- Below are blogs, more blogs, the whole place has been overtaken by BLOGS.

- Then finally, real news.. Local and State -- in bright blood red tabs. If it bleeds, it ledes...

- On the side, a grey box with even more BLOGS! Yeehaw!

- Where is the Fort Worth and Arlington news... where... oh yeah buried in the LOCAL red tab.

I guess its like driving a new car, gotta get used to it. It's not tiny tiny text like Dallasnews.com but by far, the ads are much more in your face.  Too much blinky, blinky.  Why don't web designers understand that what we want is this!

So is this better than before?

Star-Telegram to Unveil New Web Site Any Day, May Look Like This

IS THIS THE FUTURE OF THE STAR-TELEGRAM?

Design and Layout editors are putting the finishing touches and testing out the all-new redesign of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram web site which is expected to look something like the above mockup and take elements from the corporate McClatchy Newspapers or the Fresno Bee and be unveiled sometime in the next few days or sooner.  Expect easier and faster way to skim news stories and more interactivity, including more easier matching of news stories and more prominent daily blog reports and some Yahoo touches.

"Star-Telegram.com is undergoing a makeover we think you’ll love. Our user-friendly navigation will help you find your favorite features in local news, entertainment, sports, business and more. Keep watching: The countdown is under way and you’ll see the changes in just days."

The design above is based on a the newly redesign of the McClatchy Newspapers and an attempt to unite all their media web sites and will begin phasing in Yahoo services in 2008 and using services from "McClatchy Interactive."

Amongst the expected additions a new project, to be called "Trusted Voices," which will offer in-depth perspectives and coverage from Star-Telegram and McClatchy foreign correspondents based in select regions, including Iraq, the Middle East, China and Latin America. The coverage will include traditional news stories and will further tap the regional expertise of the correspondents through exclusive blog reports designed to guide readers in understanding the news from these regions.

One of the program's first initiatives will be the "Inside Iraq" blog written by native Iraqi staffers based in the McClatchy Baghdad bureau including former ST reporter Leila Fade, which has been operating continuously since the U.S. invasion.

Hopefully the redesign eliminates those terrible pop-up ads that chase you around. Well keep you posted on the final design.

NAHJ Region 5 to Sponsor Journalism Conference in San Marcos

You're invited to attend an NAHJ Region 5 Conference on Feb. 29 and March 1 at Texas State University in San Marcos to help journalists develop skills for the future, and move ahead in their careers.

The conference includes at least six multimedia sessions, ranging from blogging to podcasting to digital video for beginners and advanced. We’ll also have workshops for Spanish-Language media as well as print and broadcast media.

The conference opens Friday evening with a town hall meeting, looking at the impact of the Hispanic community in the November elections. On Saturday, we’ll open with a plenary discussion on the latest immigration issues that’s affecting our communities in Texas and nationwide.

Keynote speaker Gilbert Bailon, the editorial page director at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the current president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, will give us an update on the state of the industry and where we’re headed at the luncheon on Saturday.

Early registration through Feb. 18 is $15 for students; $40 for members of NAHJ and the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists; and $55 for nonmembers. Registration and more can be found at our web site at www.dfwhispanic.org

Post X-MAS Gift For BELO Shareholders, Same-o for Staff

Dallas Morning News, WFAA and AL DIA reporters got an email late today saying "the transaction was compleated and the board has approved a plan to seperate the Tv and newspaper businesses."

What this means for staff is unclear but it sure relieves anxiety. Rumors this morning were that BELO might make more changes to struggling TXCN, slash Quick or Al Dia publication production or worse, install another Network IBM server.