I mean, look at this: [arkansasmatters.com]

I've seen worse, sure, but this is supposed to be a news site, not a myspace page.

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Wow, that really does suck.

I've seen similar designs in some local news outlets. Somebody is using a template.... the 1990's called.. they want their .html back please !

Yes, it looks like crap, but think of how much money they saved by not using a professional designer!

It's not really a news site - it's TV station site and is absolutely typical of every other one that I've seen. TV stations... Radio stations and many (local) newspaper sites are just crap and are full of little widgets that some salesman promised would increase revenue/traffic for the site.

Well, honestly, it's not that bad. I know I'm usually the first to balk, but not here.

If you remove all of the ads and third party elements which the designer(s) had no control over, I give it a C.

It's not crap web design so much as crap project management or stakeholder management. The design works on its own, but any design would break badly if you crammed it full of that many ads and third party components like that.

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Though a bit advertise-y too, at least the NOLA page has the news in a readable setup: [www.nola.com]

That's my main complaint. I know these are seen as revenue generators and nothing more by these news shows, but you could at least have a little functionality built in.

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And is that really that much worse than this? [www.woodtv.com]

I'm not a fan of TV or radio station web sites, they make it too difficult to find things.

I didn't think it to be all bad. I thought it was going to be worse. What makes you not like it? This will help others and me in making better sites. And for WoodTV, I check them to see if we have a snow day.

I like it better than sites where there is a flash landing page with a loading meter. Then then an needlessly complicated webpage

For instance like Four Peaks Brewing

www.fourpeaks.com

Quote
bwicklander
I didn't think it to be all bad. I thought it was going to be worse. What makes you not like it? This will help others and me in making better sites. And for WoodTV, I check them to see if we have a snow day.

I'll hold up http://www.NOLA.com as an example of "with ads but usable". All the stories are along one side, it's easy to view the headlines and see what's up and what I want to read.

The KARK site is just a jumbled mess. It's hard to find information. I've seen worse -- much worse -- but being a local news source it needs to be a little more about news and a little less about advertising. Once you click on a story it's not bad, but that initial page is just not good.

Quote
particleman
I like it better than sites where there is a flash landing page with a loading meter.

Oy vey yes. At one point I think they were pretty cutting edge, now it's just a needless distraction. Not to mention alienating anyone trying to visit your site -- say to READ A MENU OR SEE WHEN YOU'RE OPEN -- on an iPad.

And this rule of web design should be gospel (i.e., the "Things People Go To A Web Site Looking For" part):



Whenever I consult on a web site (I usually do some dry run reviews), I always say (especially if it's a small firm with only a few locations) put your address and phone numbers on the FIRST PAGE along with your operating hours. I usually have the address a clickable link to a Google Maps page, and the phone number click will download a .vcf card.

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Quote
Sam3
And is that really that much worse than this? [www.woodtv.com]

I'm not a fan of TV or radio station web sites, they make it too difficult to find things.

That site is worthless on my iPad.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.