The Specialty Site Journalism award went to WebMD -- and rightly so. This site epitomizes interactivity -- from message boards and blogs, to quizzes and slide shows; you name it, this site offers it.
One particularly useful tool, not to mention a favorite of mine is the symptom checker. Just tell the good ol' web doc where your aches and pains are, and poof...you're given a list of POSSIBILITIES as to the cause of your ailment. You're also able to check a map to determine if your symptoms are statewide. Note the emphasis on possibilities, however, as WebMD politely gives the disclaimer that "This tool does not provide medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment."
Another useful tool offered by the site its "Top 12 Health Topics," with a different list for males, females and children. Perhaps the greatest thing about WebMD is that it's user-friendly, and useful to anyone regardless of age, race, or sex.
Monday, September 15, 2008
God-O-Meter rates high on Rob-O-Meter
The God-O-Meter, by beliefnet.com in association with Time Magazine, won for online commentary at a large site.
This caught my eye in particular because of the term “God-O-Meter.” Any site that combines cutouts of people’s heads with arbitrary meters has my attention, and I particularly liked this site because, as the description on the ONA site said, it covers the topic of religion in politics in a unique way. The design is snappy, and they make full use of the ability to use multimedia and interactivity. I feel like it’s an especially hard topic to present commentary on, but they do a good job showing both sides and being as objective as possible. It seems to be equally critical of both candidates for president, and that goes a long way in establishing credibility.
I also like the quirky “God-O-Meter” itself. Even though it’s really arbitrary, it amplifies the entertainment value of the material and allows people to get a gist of what each post is going to cover. For instance, when readers saw on Sept. 9 that John McCain’s reading was a “8,” which is practically theocratic, they knew immediately that on this day, religion was an especially hot topic for McCain. I enjoy that kind of functional quirkiness.
Spitzer scandal at NYTimes.com
The Online News Association's 2008 award for Breaking News, Large Sites went to NYTimes.com's coverage of Eliot Spitzer's resignation in March 2008. The New York Times broke this huge story, and its online coverage was comprehensive. It features stories about how investigators discovered that Spitzer hired a prostitute. There is also a video of Spitzer's apology and resignation on the page, which if I remember correctly was a big hit at the time.
NYTimes.com also featured a timeline/slideshow highlighting important events in Spitzer's career, such as his famous battles against Wall Street and organized crime. The timeline includes links to archived articles about the individual milestones in Spitzer's career- I think this is the most useful feature in this package, because the New York Times obviously covered Spitzer closely throughout his time as governor. This feature is not really interactive, though it claims to be, but it's informative and easy to follow.
NYTimes.com also featured a timeline/slideshow highlighting important events in Spitzer's career, such as his famous battles against Wall Street and organized crime. The timeline includes links to archived articles about the individual milestones in Spitzer's career- I think this is the most useful feature in this package, because the New York Times obviously covered Spitzer closely throughout his time as governor. This feature is not really interactive, though it claims to be, but it's informative and easy to follow.
Sites with Pleasing Interactivity
I particularly liked DallasNews.com. It was lively with bold picture and video links staring directly at you. It wasn’t hard on the eyes and wasn’t the a-typical page of words, like many other sites. It didn’t make me want to find something else to read. There were links that connected it to other blogs and news sources to compliment the various story. On the right side there is a fact box that seems to change on a daily basis.
I also liked USA Today’s site. It had photos, videos, charts and other visual aids to compliment its stories. Although the site contains all these features, it is extremely easy to navigate. Everything is clearly labeled and in plain view.
I also liked USA Today’s site. It had photos, videos, charts and other visual aids to compliment its stories. Although the site contains all these features, it is extremely easy to navigate. Everything is clearly labeled and in plain view.
Cartoons get Online Journalism Award
The award on the 'Online Commentary, Small Site' category went to Mark Fiore.
In my analysis Fiore's animated political cartoons have been awarded because of the interactivity and the multimedia capability they provide.
One of the jury members described the site as, "The winner is pretty funny. He engages his users and his users respond in text and sound, promoting the whole concept of discussion. He takes up different issues, and he does it every week."
Winners Announced for Online News Association Contest
The Online News Association announced its 2008 winners in D.C. this weekend. Take a look at which sites won here.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Welcome to Our Online Classroom
Our online journalism class at Merrill College will use this blog to comment on Internet news sites that we'll be studying throughout the fall semester.
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