A Metaphor for News Site Navigation

Posted on July 22, 2008 by Danny Sanchez

I ran across this image on Smashing Magazine tonight. I think it eloquently describes one of the biggest challenges specific to news site design:

What do you think? Is creating an effective way for users to find enormous amounts of content and features the biggest challenge news sites face?

[Photo by cutthroat7]

Share this post

This entry was posted in newspaper design. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to "A Metaphor for News Site Navigation"

  • By Howard Owens July 22, 2008 - 10:50 pm

    If you want to get some insight in to how to approach news site navigation/taxonomy, read the book “Glut.”

    My take: We need to provide multiple ways to find content; no single navigation system fits all needs.

    Also, I notice you’re promo for “Good to Great”. crap book. Read “Halo Effect” and you’ll understand why.

  • By Danny Sanchez July 23, 2008 - 7:56 am

    Thanks Howard; I’ll definitely check out “Glut.” I’ve currently got “Designing Web Navigation” on the backburner too.

    Re: “Halo Effect” you’ll be glad to know I already received it from Amazon after you gave it a shoutout on your blog some time ago. Haven’t gotten to it yet, but I will!

    While we’re on the subject of books, the Fark book has been a fun read. I’d especially recommend it to anyone who is new to journalism and to assignment editors. :)

  • By jack lail July 23, 2008 - 8:09 am

    Not sure if it is the biggest challenge, but it is a constant one. The hidden in plain site problem!

  • By Danny Sanchez July 23, 2008 - 9:14 am

    @Jack There are also the nagging revenue issues regarding how to best serve advertising on news sites. However, from a user perspective, a lack of findability is the near-universal complaint I tend to hear. Although we’ve got that funky left-side navigation on OrlandoSentinel.com, I often hear near-identical complaints about other sites. It makes me more and more convinced that the entire framework and user experience of news sites needs to be rethought.

  • By Journalistopia » Google’s ‘Knol’ is direct challenge to media companies | Danny Sanchez July 23, 2008 - 6:02 pm

    [...] Comments Danny Sanchez on A metaphor for news site navigationjack lail on A metaphor for news site navigationSpokesman-Review report and multimedia | News [...]