GRAND RAPIDS, Mich- FOX17online.com has been unchanged for about 4 years, now a new design enhances features and makes the site easier for users to comprehend.
“Gone are the days of hard to use searching, topped with lots of different content scattered everywhere,” says FOX 17 Senior Web Producer Ryan Webber. “We’ve really cleaned it up and organized it for you.”
The new site layout offers users a new way to look at content. The homepage shows visitors recently posted material, complete with topic pages that allow visitors to fine tune what they’re visiting FOX17online.com for.
“We’re the first major news organization in West Michigan to offer a responsive design layout, it’s a site that you can take anywhere and everywhere, on any device,” Webber says. “We’ll be able to cover breaking news like never before, this includes you at home, and our reporters in the field.”
Responsive design means you can load the site on your mobile phone, tablet, or PC. The site will automatically scale to any platform.
“The new Watch Live link allows users to watch our award-winning newscasts on the go, right on their mobile devices,” Webber says.
Posts and stories are now categorized by topic, allowing users to easily find content they expect and rely on FOX 17 to provide.
Webber admits change is sometimes difficult for long time fans.
“I know it’s different, and most people’s reaction to different is usually negative at first, but give it a shot, especially on your mobile device. It will be very easy to fall in love. This is a web page that’s ready for multiple platforms, not just the desktop.”
FOX 17’s parent company, Tribune Broadcasting, is rolling out similar sites throughout the country.
“We’re still working on some minor design elements, and we’ll be updating our mobile app with a new feed. All of those things will be cleaned up in the coming weeks though.”
