The Whidbey News-Times is today officially unveiling its new Web site that has been a work in progress for some time.
Anyone who has logged onto whidbeynewstimes.com recently will have noticed more than a few changes.
As part of an online redesign throughout Sound Publishing, we overhauled our website to bring readers improved access and enhanced services.
The site will now provide even more local news for online readers including breaking news, web extras and features.
Already, viewers of whidbeynewstimes.com have seen videos of an Oak Harbor Filipino community celebration and two reporters’ commuter trip from Whidbey Island via bus, boat and train to Seattle.
In addition to improved site layout, there are numerous enhancements to our online product.
As well as providing news and photos about the Whidbey Island community, readers can see the most-read stories in the area and from across Western Washington. There is also online entertainment including plenty of puzzles, games and comics. We’ve added horoscopes, an up-to-the-minute lottery feature, and weather.
Readers can now be even better informed about their region and their state, by clicking over to PNWLocalNews.com. This news site has fresh news daily including breaking stories provided by reporters at more than 30 community newspapers around Puget Sound.
We’re not stopping there. In recent weeks, we’re expanding to include video coverage of news and features. Watch in coming weeks and months as whidbeynewstimes.com and PNWLocalNews.com continue to evolve, with features soon to include blogs, reader comments, opportunity for readers to post their community events directly to our sites via an interactive community calendar, and much more. The goal is to ensure our website is as dynamic and changing as our local community.
As part of our commitment to our community, we have designated a fixed number of positions in our online paper for local advertisers only. Those ads from local businesses will be served on the site using the most advanced technology on the web today.
Marcia Van Dyke, News-Times publisher, said the website has seen tremendous traffic growth. Now, with its online content frequently updated, she views the bi-weekly publication as a significant daily news resource for anyone interested in what is happening in Island County and throughout the Puget Sound area.
“We have more than 117,000 page views every month, which is a phenomenal number,” Van Dyke said.
“It really speaks to the opportunities. And the fact we are investing significant resources in this initiative shows our commitment to continue to be your number one news and information source – both online and in print.”
Manfred Tempelmayr, president of Sound Publishing, agreed.
“We want our newspapers to continue to be the leading provider of local and statewide news in the Pacific Northwest by expanding and leveraging our considerable news-gathering capabilities,” Tempelmayr said.
“We have identified and developed strategic partnerships and relationships with the world’s leading technology companies to enhance our content and services on the web.”
Check out our new look at www.whidbeynewstimes.com today. For online advertising information call the News-Times office at 675-6611.
