www.newsitem.com is all new!

By News-Item Staff)
Published: July 1, 2009

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SHAMOKIN - The News-Item has rebuilt and redesigned its Web site from scratch to bring readers a cutting-edge online gathering place to discover, explore and share with their community.

The new site, which launched Tuesday morning, is still at www.newsitem.com.

Not only does the site look better than the old one, the entire navigation system has been revised to make it easy to find topics of interest. And the powerful Yahoo-driven search bar at the top of the page will find anything.

There are also more photo galleries and videos that have been integrated with other content throughout the site. Want to see a photo better? Just click on it from any story and it zooms up to full scale. Same with videos. Plus, reprints of any photo can easily be purchased.

The News-Item encourages readers to explore the sections, bookmark pages and share findings with friends and family.

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18 posted comments

I second the comment about the RSS feeds. I used to click through to this site daily from my iGoogle homepage. Now I visit on a weekly basis, if that.
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S,  07/08/09 12:21
I do hope you'll still put in the Property Transfers and the Divorce Notices... haven't seen them yet, and we need to keep up with all the local gossip!
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Florida,  07/08/09 09:10
I can't find an area on the new website that has a list of email addresses for Sound Off, the editor, etc. Can you point me in the right direction?
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steve,  07/07/09 06:48
Wow this is so vanilla but yet so user unfriendly. There is just way to many clicks to find the info I want to read.
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Mick Foley,  07/03/09 09:40
I like the layout, but

I don't like the search engine, it picks up other newspaper headlines instead of the just the news item
Where are the archived obits????????????????

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Lucy,  07/02/09 06:54
where is the forum discussions at now, the site is good
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jim,  07/01/09 11:21
"Noticeable change & only took a minute to navigate! Now let's see the locals who are resistant to change start nitpicking! "

I'm in the IT field focusing on computer programming and a large majority of it is ASP.NET and web design.... There are some things that are constantly drilled into our head such as easy navigation, simplicity, cleanliness and that it should never take more than just a few seconds (not minutes) to find what you're looking for on a web page.

1. On the new design, there is no easy way to navigate though the various pages - you have to click the "Opinion" page then navigate though that just to get to sound off - or you can scroll down for ages and search though the clutter on the left column to find it, either way are inefficient.

2. Simplicity - This website is very complex, and it's all comes down to navigation - you have to go to other pages to reach a certain page to reach your end goal - making the user think, which is a no-no in web design. As someone said, it takes MINUTES to find what you're looking for, web pages are not Easter egg hunts.

3. Cleanliness - Everything on the new layout is scattered... EVERYWHERE

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Jon,  07/01/09 11:16
What happened to the RSS feeds?
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Andrew Schmidt,  07/01/09 10:14
This looks a lot better than before. I grew up in Atlas and check this site from time to time for news from home.
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Liz,  07/01/09 09:47
Hi There,
I love the new layout, I read the news everyday in Utah, I am originaly from Centralia, and love the fact that I can keep up with the news of the Coal Region. I think the new site rivals any that I have seen!!! Keep up the good work.
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Jack Maloney,  07/01/09 05:03
I don't like the new site. I think it makes the site look cluttered. I will still use the site as I like to stay up to date on what's happening.
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Tammy,  07/01/09 02:39
i like it. i read it online everyday.
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Mary,  07/01/09 01:01
Excellent changes and upgrades, and I am a local who views it everyday, only one suggestion, would like to see a local weather section
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Steve,  07/01/09 11:28
Noticeable change & only took a minute to navigate! Now let's see the locals who are resistant to change start nitpicking!
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John Mahon, Bellefonte,pa,  07/01/09 09:40
As long as I can all my info about today's news...I'm happy. :)
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Amanda Meshell,  07/01/09 09:32
You lost that home town loving feeling.
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SAD,  07/01/09 08:53
I like your new website. It makes it easier for us transplanted Coal Region folks to keep up with the news back home. Good Job! Keep up the good work!
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Steve A. Alexandria, VA,  07/01/09 07:04
Wow! What a tremendous improvement. Nice job!
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Gary S,  07/01/09 06:36
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