The Record-Courier's new Web site is up and running with new features including the ability to post photos and videos, set up a Web log, post calendar items and share community events with others through the site.
This is our first redesign in more than six years.
We've been focusing over the past two years on bringing increased traffic to the site and improving its visibility. Now with the redesign, we have something that matches the work we¹ve done on content.
The photo in the site's banner features the barn on Ranch No. 1, the first
recorded property in Nevada, located in Genoa.
Registration on the site allows access to the new features, but is not required to read The Record-Courier online.
There¹s a lot of stuff we weren¹t able to do with the old Web site, include monitoring comments. With the new site, comments are posted, but other readers can block comments that are offensive and bring them to our attention.
I encourage Carson Valley's many community groups to participate on the site, commenting, posting photos and information. I hope that our readers will develop their own communities of interest, making the Web site a valuable part of Carson Valley life.
As with any new product, people are bound to have questions. We're going to try and answer a few of them before you ask. If you have further questions, feel free to submit them to help@sierranevadamedia.com or call us at 881-1265.
Believe it or not, we haven't removed any articles from the site. After an extensive reader research project, we took a different approach to thinking where our articles, opinion pieces, blogs, photos, and other areas on the site are. In some cases, the labels have changed a little, but we're fairly sure they make more sense than the old labels did. If you think we've overlooked something, or are having a hard time finding something, please let us know by e-mailing help@sierranevadamedia.com
The weather page is accessible by clicking on the little icon showing current weather. It's right next to the temperature reading that's directly below the search box in the upper right part of every page. The weather is provided directly from the NOAA, so it is very current and and accurate.
The archives are available through the 'archives' link that is at the very top of the page on the right hand side. In the archives, you'll be able to search by keyword or by specific date. The past few days are provided through simple links that only require one click.
The E-edition, which is a digital version of the printed newspaper, is available through a permanent link at the very top of the page.
I submitted an event to the calendar, but I don't see it online. What's the deal?
In order to keep the events calendar as accurate as possible, we're going to take a peek at events before they go live on the site. We review content several times a day, so it shouldn't take long. If it's been a while and your event still isn't available, it is possible that you did not provide correct contact information for us to verify the event.
With the change of the site architecture and layout, a RSS feed that you had previously subscribed to may no longer work. The RSS link is at the very top of the page, and offers all of our content categories as individual feeds. You can also subscribe to user blogs as well. The subscribe link to blogs is directly on the blog page, just right of the blog text.
Directly below the search box, there is a 'Welcome, Guest' message with a few links below. If you were previously registered on nevadaappeal.com, you'll simply need to submit your email address and password that you had previously registered and you'll be signed in. If this is your first time, or you'd like to start from scratch, click on the 'become a member' link and fill out the form.
We are using a much more robust commenting system now, and it does require that you register as a user in our system. We ask that you provide, at a minimum, a valid e-mail address, a screen name, and a password. There are some extra fields available if you wish to fill them out, but we don't require it.
Your screen name is part of your online 'persona,' or online identity. You're free to choose a screen name that either clearly identifies you or that disguises your true identity. Clicking on another user's screen name will be one of the best ways to learn about other users. If you click on your own screen name, you'll find a personal page where you can submit extra information for your online profile, upload photos to personal galleries, and even have your own blog that's promoted to all of the nevadaappeal.com readers.
Our commenting system is completely new, and it offers some great features. Comments appear live on the site directly after they're submitted, and users help keep things appropriate by using the 'report abuse' link when someone posts an off color remark. The 'recommend' link lets other users know what you think about certain posts. Clicking another user's name will take you to their 'persona' page, where you can see what other comments the user has left on the site.
Each user, when they sign up, is allowed a chance to place a profile on the site. While we don't require that you divulge any personal information, we will give you the chance to let other readers know a little more about yourself. Readers will also be able to enter other users as 'friends' which will enable some direct communication between users.
