[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n print, I recently mentioned that we were embarking on a redesign of our current, and frankly, archaic-like website. And, if I remember correctly, I also told you that we were nearing the end of that lengthy revamp process and would be ready for launch in the not too distant future.
Well, that time has arrived. And with it, the dawn of a new era for the Review.
So, let me be the first to introduce you to the new, and vastly improved, www.harrisonreview.com.
In a matter of transparency, the website is part of a larger-picture vision that I’ve had for quite some time here at the Review. After taking over the editor’s chair in April 2013, redesigning our print publications to reflect the Review identity was my No. 1 priority. But also on my checklist was creating a new and engaging website, and devising a more modern strategic approach to conveying news to our readership.
People have told me I often use the word “vision.” They’re probably right. But, in my defense, I’m a strong believer in collectively having a singular focus to achieve a goal.
My vision for what we’re hoping to do here at the Review hinges on a specific synthesis of a few things: our new digital product, a re-energized social media presence and our traditional print publication. It’s an ambitious project that neither this company nor any other weekly news publication in the area, in my opinion, has implemented with real effectiveness.
So, there’s a brief overview of what, I believe, are our tools for success. But the sum is only as good as its parts, and our success will be a credit to the small but hardworking staff I have at the Review.
The goal: to be a catalyst for community engagement.
We want to drive the talk of the town. Yet, how to achieve that type of success with an online model is something that has been often debated.
And, here’s how we plan to do it.
Specific to our newly enhanced web product, we want to offer more content, more diversity in our coverage of the community and provide a brand new component to our arsenal: news briefs specifically designed and exclusive to our online readership.
Our overall goal is to supplement The Rye City Review with a now daily interactive website. Not an easy feat, considering the staffing limitations of weeklies.
The new site will offer a modern feel—it actually looks like a newspaper website—it’s clean; interactive; engaging; and it offers new features and options that will likely make our readers forget about those clunky Review websites of old.
Armed with this new product, the hope and belief is we will become timelier in our delivery of news to you, the readers.
But besides all of that, we simply hope you enjoy the new site. We’re pretty proud of it.
