Scooping the News evaluated the following five newspaper Web sites on their design/navigation, reader presence and evidence of continuous updates. Each newspaper received a score ranging from 1 to 4 based on changes in its Web site from five years ago to present (1 = no change, 2 = limited innovation, 3 = good innovation and 4 = significant innovation). The total of these scores provides an innovation composite score.
1. The Denver Post: This is what the Web site looks like today, and this is what it looked like five years ago. Area scores: design/navigation = 3; reader presence = 4; and evidence of continuous updates = 4. Innovation composite score = 11.
2. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: This is what the Web site looks like today, and this is what it looked like five years ago. Area scores: design/navigation = 3; reader presence = 2; and evidence of continuous updates = 4. Innovation composite score = 9.
3. The Salt Lake Tribune: This is what the Web site looks like today, and this is what it looked like five years ago. Area scores: design/navigation = 3; reader presence = 3; and evidence of continuous updates = 2. Innovation composite score = 8.
4. The Birmingham News: This is what the Web site looks like today, and this is what it looked like five years ago. Area scores: design/navigation = 2; reader presence = 2; and evidence of continuous updates = 4. Innovation composite score = 8.
5. The Seattle Times: This is what the Web site looks like today, and this is what it looked like five years ago. Area scores: design/navigation = 3; reader presence = 1; and evidence of continuous updates = 4. Innovation composite score = 8.
To review the five newspapers evaluated last Monday, click here.
To review the five newspapers evaluated June 15, click here.