Through an intensive research process including surveying the entire editorial staff, researching best practices of regional and national newspapers, and thoroughly evaluating user experience and expectations for content, Medium developed an information architecture & strategy for the web site to complement and strengthen the print newspaper.
Recommendations ranged from a new web address -- changed from "tfponline.com" to "timesfreepress.com" in order to more closely associate the site with the brand -- to a design and technology framework that allows future expansion into a wide variety of content paths. After the consulting phase, Medium built a site that fulfilled the editors' vision for the site, integrating abilities for podcasting, audio news shorts, video, photo galleries, slide show and more. The result is a site that offers a more robust experience of the news, yet in ways that are friendlier to both experienced and inexperienced web users.
"When we decided to update our Internet site, the Times Free Press knew that the talent was local," said Tom Griscom, Editor and Publisher. "Creativity, implementing new features into a new web presence, was a key component that Medium brought to the project. Our viewers see their work."
"Not only is it a pleasure to work with a client of the Times Free Press' stature, this project has also been gratifying because it involved pulling many factors into a single, unified site," said Medium President Josiah Q. Roe. "Combining the many varied opinions of the editors with the many tools and functions that should be at the disposal of the staff -- and all in a way that is user friendly and beautiful -- this was a challenge that we embraced and enjoyed. It is a delight to see the site live and serving the newspaper well!"
