New site design

[Contralamontre]

Please explain...

Where are the adverts now?

I bet the advertisers have noticed an all time low in click throughs - if I cant find them by looking how is someone going to find them by chance.

 

[Mishenka]

Not seeing anything on Live Reports

I wanted to follow the Tour de Suisse yesterday, and when clicking on Live Report, there was nothing there. I tried several times using 3 different browsers, but no text appeared at all at anytime, only the reporter's name.

Is this function working properly, or am I missing something? This was the main way I stay up to date on the races while I am at work!!!

By the way, I like the new look!! The site definitely needed an upgrade!

 

[Greg Johnson]

I wanted to follow the Tour de Suisse yesterday, and when clicking on Live Report, there was nothing there. I tried several times using 3 different browsers, but no text appeared at all at anytime, only the reporter's name.

Is this function working properly, or am I missing something? This was the main way I stay up to date on the races while I am at work!!!

By the way, I like the new look!! The site definitely needed an upgrade!

There was indeed a mix up with yesterday's planned live coverage which means it didn't go ahead. Everything is ready to go for today's stage though.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

 

[Contralamontre]

Quote from managing editor, Daniel Benson:

Quote from managing editor, Daniel Benson:"Of course you’d be correct in assuming that there are commercial reasons for the new format too. It’s a fact that ad revenue, , is used to run, develop and maintain the site, We employ journalists in Australia, the UK, mainland Europe and North America which is expensive. It’s expensive to generate the depth and breadth of our coverage that we offer. While a lot of companies are standing still or cutting back we’ve followed our passion and backed it up with a new and exciting design with new and exciting features. It’s a fast-moving world where change is inevitable, and CN wants to be at the front of that force."

Are the commerical reasons just that you now have no advertisers and dont want any in the future?

You should resign as if you sanctioned this you are not up for hte job.

 

[antonia]

Just for the record

I still remember the excitement years ago when I first discovered the plain, complete list of results on CN. It's not just about my favourite rider coming in at 105th place, it's the essence of the sport. Having to click "show more" might be a minor change in accessibility, but it's a fundamental change in attitude. It's about whether you love cycling or headlines.



... Yes, I heard, it might be changed back.
Certainly appreciated.

 

[Contralamontre]

Another quote from CN Editor

"I can't of course promise that you'll love it, but remember it has been designed with you, our loyal audience in mind, and as always your feedback is important to us. "


Yes - over 55 pages of negative comments proves just how much thought went into designing with the user in mind doesnt it.

I can only imagine the girl who came to sell the services of the **** poor web design company was very pretty...


WHAT PART OF IT IS ABSOLUTE CRAP DONT YOU UNDERSTAND?

 

[Greg Johnson]

Having to click "show more" might be a minor change in accessibility, but it's a fundamental change in attitude. It's about whether you love cycling or headlines.

Yes, I heard, it might be changed back.
Certainly appreciated.

You almost heard right. It is being changed back. I need to check what's going to be in today's roll out, but I think it could be on the cards for today.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

 

[lucybears]

The new site seems to think that we don't want to know who is racing, as no startlists are avalable now. Another vast improvement for the benefit of the readers....

 

[frameforum]

Drupal doping

I blame the widespread availability of Drupal.

Spare a thought for the users. They're the real victims of its evil, mind-bending properties. It may seem like an easy solution at the time, but all it takes is one 'hit' and its victims are lost for ever. The damage is irreversible.

It's the pushers you should target; drive them out in the open, confiscate their assets and make sure they can't damage any more lives with this dreadful scourge affecting not just the inner cities, but wrecking communities worldwide.

Come on UCI, is there nothing you can do?

JUST SAY NO TO DRUPAL!

 

[wdymtlrt]

The old one's not coming back, sorry.



Define ready. When building a website, if you wait until it's perfect, you'll never launch. There are always things that can be better, or improved further. The project stake holders deemed that the site was ready enough to launch. That doesn't mean it's in any way, shape or form 'finished' - it'll hopefully never be!

Not available stage profiles, maps... (still not!)
The Photo navigation problems... (still!)

I think you should have seen these things before the launch.
I don't think that it can be perfect, finished whatever. And I appriciate that you communicate with us and try to improve the site. But with these easy to spot errors, it seems to me you launched to early.

 

[wdymtlrt]

So, if the website was to have a carousel - which was a stated requirement - choosing flash was a straight-forward decision.

Who ever required it, it was not me. It is simply useless to me.

[Guessing/]
Regading new readers: you should think about the idea, that you already had all the readers you can get, as there is no alternative that offers the same
the huge information content, the tons of photos, the (although some think they are not as good as their used to be, still) best available live reports. To get more readers you need german, italien, french editions, as everybody, who is interested in what you offer, might already be your reader.
[/Guessing]

 

[wdymtlrt]

Cyclingnews isn't covering the Tour de Suisse live. This would be the same regardless of whether we had the old site or new one - as a result it's completely unrelated and of course we will be covering the Tour de France live, daily.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

You did last year, why not this year?

[EDIT]
Think you answered this.
Should read before posting.

 

[lucybears]

Cyclingnews isn't covering the Tour de Suisse live. This would be the same regardless of whether we had the old site or new one - as a result it's completely unrelated and of course we will be covering the Tour de France live, daily.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson Today, 09:07

Originally Posted by Mishenka
I wanted to follow the Tour de Suisse yesterday, and when clicking on Live Report, there was nothing there. I tried several times using 3 different browsers, but no text appeared at all at anytime, only the reporter's name.

Is this function working properly, or am I missing something? This was the main way I stay up to date on the races while I am at work!!!

There was indeed a mix up with yesterday's planned live coverage which means it didn't go ahead. Everything is ready to go for today's stage though.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

now, which is it ?

 

[Greg Johnson]

now, which is it ?

As I acknowledged earlier - I was incorrect in the earlier post and as the chronology of the posts suggests, there is a live coverage that will go ahead today.

The mistake I made - so we are clear - was based off a message earlier this week from one of my co-workers saying we weren't covering it. Not technically incorrect, but they meant the earlier stages of it. We're still covering the latter stages.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

 

[James Jordan]

We're listening to constructive feedback and making changes based on that. Some aspects we cannot change - like simply going back to the old website. We've welcomed feedback in the context of a new website with open arms, so far have only had to make one unpopular decision (spoilers) and continue to welcome feedback.

ICheers
Greg Johnson

Man I am glad I am not in your shoes at the moment, little sleep and a bunch of nasty comments which don't really help the issue. Having been there before I do have understanding of what you are going through.

Just a question in regards to spoilers. I see that you have said that you have had to continue with the spoilers and I have search for the reason why, but cant seem to find it. Just so I understand can you explain why?

On a different topic I can at least see the sight at work now. Looks like someone senior in the Department was not happy about the lack of access to the site and the IT boys have had to find a work around all the flash concerns. the carousel at the top is a bit iffy, but the rest works now at least. Is their a reason that you have to have this or is it negotiable?

 

[newsitedesignhater]

Very disappointed

Introduce flash to a website and I'll be gone in one (same goes for Silverlight and such).

Unless the web is all about design - where the design is the web site - some photo exhibits come to mind.

Good bye CN.

 

[Get-the-max]

Improvement

Site is looking a bit better today. Still no TdS maps, decent report or decent results - but better. As an aside .. chcekout the BCF site .. they've gone and done the same ! It now looks like one of those cheapo council or tourist sites. Dear dear.

 

[Greg Johnson]

Man I am glad I am not in your shoes at the moment, little sleep and a bunch of nasty comments which don't really help the issue. Having been there before I do have understanding of what you are going through.

James - having spent the last seven months only able to put one shoe, I'm actually just enjoying that I am in shoes (dislocated my right, then left, patella(s))!

It's not so bad. I do understand much of what's being said by our users and that it's emotive due to the relationship shared with the website over an extended period of time. It's just a matter of trying to facilitate the best outcome for our readers possible within the limitations that have been set, then try to convey that to the readership in a way that doesn't make them want my head on a pole. Not sure how successful I've been with the latter.

Just a question in regards to spoilers. I see that you have said that you have had to continue with the spoilers and I have search for the reason why, but cant seem to find it. Just so I understand can you explain why?

Here's the link to Daniel's address on this matter: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1331

The carousel at the top is a bit iffy, but the rest works now at least. Is their a reason that you have to have this or is it negotiable?

All of Future Publishing's editorial driven websites use carousels. They have become, particularly in the last 18 months, a very common feature of sites like ours.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

 

[Greg Johnson]

Site is looking a bit better today. Still no TdS maps, decent report or decent results - but better. As an aside .. chcekout the BCF site .. they've gone and done the same ! It now looks like one of those cheapo council or tourist sites. Dear dear.

I'm about to do a progress update so everyone knows where we are at - but there's a few things coming today that will get us a little closer.

Cheers
Greg Johnson

 

[yeagermeister]

Here's the link to Daniel's address on this matter: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1331

And still no reason why there will be spoilers. Many have asked WHY and not once have we seen an answer.

Daniel's comparison to all other news sites is completely invalid, especially for a site that covers a niche sport that isn't televised in every country every hour of every day.

 

[TShame]

This 'new' design is the absolute worst thing to happen here.
I want a reader poll, go back to the way it was.
Your headlines ruin the stage finish.
Before I could read stage 3 live report, I have to see headline 'McCewen takes sprint finish'????????????????

Personaally I say fire the guy.
It is also possible this design was deliberately poor to enrage fans so they will post on this useless forum.
Go back to letters to cyclingnews weekly page.

 

[Greg Johnson]

And still no reason why there will be spoilers. Many have asked WHY and not once have we seen an answer.

Daniel's comparison to all other news sites is completely invalid, especially for a site that covers a niche sport that isn't televised in every country every hour of every day.

Yeagermeister - Daniel has stated why in this post. While I appreciate your views might be at odds with his, there is an explanation there so claims to the contrary are incorrect.

Thanks
Greg Johnson

 

[yeagermeister]

Another note- the News Editions are great (kinda like the old, but kinda new, too). Can you put the Next/Previous links at the top AND bottom? If I see I've already read it, I can move on from the top, and if I finish reading, I don't have to scroll back to the top.

 

[TShame]

Greg Johnson, you have not addressed any key issues here.
Spoilers should be removed at ONCE. We aren't asking, we DEMAND it.
Why did you have to ruin this site?
It was so much easier to navigate.
It had more depth too.
I hate the mini articles that now take up a tiny left-hand side column.
Was this solely to make more room for ads??
Please take a vacation or something so you don't ruin the entire tour de france coverage.

 

[Greg Johnson]

I want a reader poll, go back to the way it was.

TShame, as a member of the forum you're able to setup such a poll and we have no issue with you doing so if you're so inclined. Two other members have setup polls on issues relating to the topic - although curiously neither directly ask about the spoiler issue.

Cheers
Greg Johnson