Grading the Niche Web Sites

By KEITH FERRELL

Is the New Media a new publishing medium? Publishing—as in newspapers, magazines.

Well, sure. It’s obvious, isn’t it?

Depends on who’s doing the publishing.

How are our leading local publications doing on the Web? As with any transition, some are thriving, others struggling, some don’t seem aware that the game has changed and is continuing to change.

As the newest print publication in the region, Valley Business FRONT decided to take a look at some of the print community’s Internet incarnations. The FRONT is included in the evaluations and even though it pays me for this story, I was instructed to be fair, honest and straightforward.

That look, with grades, follows, but first a caveat:

How we respond to Web pages is as subjective as our response to other media. A feature—or lack of one—that annoys me may please you.

Bear in mind that Web sites—good ones, anyway—change constantly: today’s flaw may be repaired or re-designed tomorrow.

So take a grain of salt as you take a look at, in alphabetical order, the Webward migration (or at least presence) some of our area’s print publications.

Bella Magazine
www.beckmediagroup.com
Editorial Content: None
Depth: Single Web page
Web Specials: None
Evaluation: Not every publication has to be on the Web, and with its no-content page, Bella has clearly chosen not to be
Grade: Not Enrolled

Blue Ridge Business Journal
www.bizjournal.com
Editorial Content: Some articles and columns
Depth: More promised than published: the Archives have been labeled “Coming Soon” for years (you can still get former Editor Dan Smith’s column, though)
Web Specials: Current weather, stock market, online subscriber survey
Evaluation: Minimal design, next to no Web styling of what content is available online, lack of archives have plagued the Journal on the Web forever, and continue to
Grade: C-minus

City Magazine
www.citymagazineonline.com
Editorial Content: Everything you see in print is here
Depth: Easily navigated and exceptionally rich arts, culture, entertainment, dining listings; thorough almost to a fault
Web Specials: Whole issue archives back to August 2006 available (and viewable) online
Evaluation: Commitment to thorough listings/coverage makes this a real resource for Roanoke residents and a good recommendation for visitors
Grade: A

Prime Living
www.primeliving.net
Editorial Content: Less than you’d expect from the homepage; some columns and articles but not a large selection of current material
Depth: Archive of columns, but only through mid-2005
Web Specials: Good blogs, but too infrequently updated; good archival material regarding genealogy, but also in need of updating
Evaluation: An attractive site that promises more than it delivers
Grade: C

New River Valley Magazine
www.nrvmagazine.com
Editorial Content: Issues can be downloaded but not viewed online
Depth: Not much online
Evaluation: Failure to update the online newsletter regularly sends a clear signal that the site is moribund
Grade: C

Our Valley (Various publications including Cave Spring Connection, Christiansburg News-Messenger, Fincastle Herald, New Castle Record, Radford News-Journal, Salem Times Register, Valley Sports, Vinton Messenger)
www.ourvalley.org
Editorial Content: Feature stories re-used across multiple papers; currency of community-specific news varies by community
Depth: Depends on the community; editorial features could be updated more frequently
Web Specials: “Do It Yourself Community News” is a resource that could (and should) be better promoted
Evaluation: Ambitious site portal site that, with more regular attention and updates, could become an important resource for smaller communities
Grade: C

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
www.theroanokestar.com
Editorial Content: News consists of teaser paragraphs with links to other sites
Depth: Not much original editorial content; good use of online forums
Web Specials: Cam-Links to area video feeds; ambitious effort to spark online commentary and discussions, but little participation
Evaluation: Good effort to provide an outlet for locals to sound off on large array of subjects—lack of response may say as much about the audience as the Web site
Grade: C

The Roanoke Times
www.roanoke.com
Editorial Content: Daily newspaper (local and regional news, sports, etc: national news and columns, comics and other syndicated materials not here)
Depth: Excellent for local/regional news; searchable archives
Web specials: Blogs, searchable classifieds, obituary guest books
Evaluation: Straightforward if not particularly ambitious translation of newspaper to Web; easily navigated
Grade: A-minus

The Roanoke Tribune
www.theroanoketribune.com
Editorial Content: Minimal and in need of a good copy editor
Depth: More advertising than editorial (and aggressive in its use of popup ads; most material is undated, making it difficult to determine its age
Web Specials: Mostly advertising links
Evaluation: Unfulfilled promise and in need of a redesign (and a copy editor)
Grade: D

Roanoke Valley HOME
www.westwillowpublishing.com
Editorial Content: Next to none
Depth: Page is aimed at advertising sales
Web Specials: None
Evaluation: Essentially an advertising brochure online
Grade: Not Enrolled

Roanoker Magazine (and Blue Ridge Country)
www.theroanoker.com
www.blueridgecountry.com
Editorial Content: Primarily a “teaser” site designed to promote print publication; most current editorial content offers a brief sample followed by instructions on how to acquire a copy of the physical magazine
Depth: Not as deep as one would expect from a publisher with such a rich archive of good material
Web specials: Nice “Best Of” selection of past articles, complete and readable online; some Web-only content, including interviews
Evaluation: Well-designed and easily navigated, but the heavy use of “excerpts” carries high frustration factor
Grade: C-plus

16 Blocks
www.16blocksmagazine.com
Editorial Content: Blacksburg arts, culture and entertainment magazine completely reproduced online
Depth: Back issue archives available online
Web Specials: Online-only content, reader comments
Evaluation: Hip, breathless style (and design) works well for university-town street-scene content; in your face but easily navigated
Grade: A

Valley Business FRONT
www.vbfront.com
Editorial Content: Print magazine can be displayed online (in a click-launched viewer: pages turn with sound effects, but otherwise no interactivity; no original editorial content
Depth: Back issues (all four of them) can be viewed online
Web Specials: Links to editor’s and publisher’s blogs
Evaluation: The new area magazine may be breaking ground with its print contents, but the Web site, while clean and well-designed, takes less advantage of the medium than it could—Web addresses in articles, for instance, can’t be clicked when viewed online
Grade: C