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Come 1 July, The Straits Times will have a new look on digital and print platforms

By Koh Wanzi - on 5 Jun 2015, 4:36pm

Come 1 July, The Straits Times will have a new look on digital and print platforms

Starting 1 July, readers of The Straits Times can expect to receive their daily news alongside a revamped design on both the paper’s digital and print platforms. The major S$1.6 million overhaul will ensure that readers enjoy a more seamless experience, regardless of whether they are perusing the paper in print or on their various mobile devices.

Breathing new life into print

This version of The Straits Times' desktop site won't be around for much longer.

While it may be fashionable to sound the death knell for print media, broadsheets aren’t quite prepared to give up the ghost just yet. By implementing a new design that confers a consistent look and feel across the variety of reading platforms and devices, ST is unifying an often fragmented reading experience.

The move also confers a new relevance to the print edition of ST. When readers can switch more seamlessly from print to online and vice versa, the physical paper no longer seems like the odd one out amidst multiple digital platforms. Instead, it will be put on the same level as its digital counterparts as one of the gateways to a new, unified collection of content from Singapore’s flagship paper.

Richer content and better UX

Editors and designers from ST worked with Lucie Lacava, an award-winning designer from Montreal, Canada to come up with the new design. The change will apply to all sections and covers – readers can expect a bolder design and a new font called Silane, designed exclusively for ST.

Furthermore, ST worked with international digital user interface specialists Tigerspike to rebuild its digital apps and website from the ground up. Readers today expect intuitive and responsive interfaces, and the new user experience is designed to be faster, more stable, and more customizable.

ST's digital apps are also going to receive an overhaul.

There’s also a focus on rich multimedia content like video, photos and interactive graphics. News doesn’t have to be conveyed in just words any more, and ST is looking to take advantage of technology to deliver rich, multi-faceted content.

The Sunday Times is also getting a fresh new coat of paint on 5 July. The paper is being re-organized and will be divided into three distinct sections. Local and international news will go in the first section, and be anchored by an expanded Sports section.

The second section will be anchored by a news analysis segment called Insights and feature existing Invest pages as well. Section Two will be home to thought pieces, commentaries and features on the issues of the day. What better way to round off the news of the week?

Finally, the Life section will be devoted to more light-hearted content topics like food – a good six pages will be dedicated to it – and travel.

Metered paywall, expanded focus areas

ST is also switching to a metered paywall, which will give non-subscribers access to a limited number of free articles a month. This system is already in place on papers like the New York Times. It’s a good move, because it places content within reach of a wider audience. And if you’re a more avid reader, you can simply opt for a paid subscription.

To cap things off, readers can look forward to expanded and more in-depth local and international coverage. There will even be a new international page for readers who want to focus on global news instead.

Source: Singapore Press Holdings

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