Newsquest revamps local websites and extends archives

LONDON - Newsquest Media Group has overhauled its 150 local websites and made four million extra articles available in its digital archives.

The online revamp has given a fresh look and clearer site navigation to the local websites, which include TheNorthernEcho.co.uk and TheArgus.co.uk.

Changes to each site include improved classified sections with upgraded search capability and browsable archives going back up to ten years.

Journalists have been given an upgraded content management system to create work for the new sites.

The changes are a result of feedback from focus groups and Newsquest journalists.

Nigel Vincent, head of online editorial development, said the latest changes mark the completion of a series of major improvements to Newsquest's local site network.

Vincent said: "We are working hard to keep our site visitors online for longer and have focussed on helping them discover more local content by leading them through the best of editorial and classifieds, pointing them towards related articles and showcasing our multi-platform approach."

publishes more than 200 titles including Glasgow's The Herald and The Northern Echo, and the group's latest ABCe audit shows an average of 4.72m unique users accessed the Newsquest network each month during July 2008 to December 2008.

The group's finances have suffered in recent months, with total ad revenue tumbling 36.9% year on year in the second quarter, following a 38.7% fall the previous quarter.

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