The Kingsport Times-News recently unveiled their new website, and I must say that I am quite disappointed in what they have presented. My biggest problem is the lack of actual news stories from the paper; the only articles that I can find written by Times-News' staff are the five listed on the front page. The old site had five major stories on the front page followed by an entire section for "Top Stories," another section for "Business," another one for "Sports," and one for "Community Features." The news sections that are on the front page comes from the AP and is no way local news. I could always depend on the Times-News to keep me updated of my community while I'm away at school, but it looks like it no longer will. I think that they have done this so that you will purchase their online edition of the paper (and I won't). The one part of the new site that I do like is the response-type things. People can create profiles, leave comments on the few articles listed, and communicate with others. Besides that, I don't see much of an improvement. The Times-News will probably be losing web traffic from me. I'll probably spend that time at etricities.com.
filed under: news, technology
We welcome your traffic and enjoy reading your posts. We have some exciting new plans and welcome any input that might make us better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr. Rocky Top!
Hi Mr. Rocky Top.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting our new site and we appreciate your feedback. There are plenty of new things coming for our new web site too as well as the ability promote your blog to our audience and that should come later this week.
The new website has a different strategy than the old one.
Newspapers basically decided some time ago to publish their news and content for free on the web. After a while, it became obvious that many print subscriptions were being lost because of this early decision. People were cancelling their print editions, because they could get it for free online.
It doesn't take long to realize that if newspapers create content for free that reporters and staff members don't get paid. Same thing on any community forum...if you don't get paid...passion will only take you so far before owners say...where's the ROI?
With that said, our owners have challened our staff with the opportunity to create something completely different online and we plan on doing that by allowing people, people like you and the organizations and businesses in our region with an opportunity to publish their content for free. You have the ability to comment on articles, start conversations, upload photos and there is a long list of other ideas that will unroll each week too.
We will also use this material in print in the very near future and that should create a unique relationship between the two mediums.
I'm sorry you're dissapointed. Change is never easy and it certainly was a tough decision. The content you enjoyed from the old web site which republished news, obituaries and other relevant data is available for at a rate of $5.99 per month which is a 75% discount from the print model.
With the help of our audience we will work toward improving the site every day and we appreciate your feedback.
David Cate
New Media Director
The Times-News Online - http://www.timesnews.net
The GoTriCities Network- http://www.gotricities.net
Well, I understand the economic decisions that have to be made, but this creates a problem for people that consider Kingsport home except now live in another location. This website was my only connection to events going on back home in the Tri-Cities (besides from my parents). I cannot afford to have a monthly subscription for an online newspaper that is in my old community. I used your website to stay connected and informed, but I guess that won't happen now. I really doubt that people in my situation (calls Kingsport home but currently lives away) will be jumping up and down to buy the subscription. I guess I'll have to depend on word-of-mouth to stay informed on happenings back home. I do, however, like your ideas concerning integrating citizen journalism. That seems ahead of the curve and should be commended. I just wish, though, that we could still get our local news!
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