The Change

A few months ago the BBC News launched their new look website which features various changes to the layout and functionality. This is considered the first new design since 2008 and the biggest change since 2003. Some of the new features include the ability to personalise the homepage to display news and weather in your local area. However, the main change has involved moving the navigation menu from the left hand side to along the top of the site.

As a result, this has provided more space for main news stories and together with the better use of images and videos, this has made breaking news more prominent to the user. As well as changes to the front end, there has reportedly been a lot of work to the back-end of the site. A new content management system has made it easier for journalists to upload their stories and videos, thus enabling them to stay relevant and up to date.

The Impact

While the new design is cleaner, more attractive and gives added prominence to images and video, there has been a great divide in opinion since the launch. Many opinions on the change have been voiced via Twitter: “Where previously there was simplicity, clarity and uniformity there is now a disjointed & ugly disunity”. “What happened to the internet generation being one of change? If people don’t like it, they go elsewhere.” The latter comment is interesting as it’s the norm for how people respond to websites they don’t like – they go back to Google and look elsewhere.

However, we are better at reacting to change than we think. A couple of years ago, Facebook underwent a similar transformation and unsurprisingly many were also against this change. However, soon after, many forgot about their issues and adapted to the new look site. This will no doubt be how BBC News users will view the latest change - as Luke Pollard (Labour candidate) suggests:

"New look BBC website is like new look Facebook - I hate it today but will love it tomorrow."

The Reason

When asked the reason for change, the BBC stated the new design was another step in the direction for them achieving their goal of a ‘global visual language’. This is a mission they set out on a few years back and has the aim of having all BBC services looking and feeling more consistent.

However, it will ultimately be down to the user to decide whether the BBC achieve this.