For Channel 4 News,
Where do you start with a website overhaul? For Channel 4 News, which has spent nine months revamping its web presence, the answer was to distil the show into its "unique points of difference", as its exuberant editor, Jim Gray, puts it. It may not be the biggest bulletin in terms of audience or budget, but those differences – big personality presenters with an often irreverent take, and the in-depth special reports – help it punch above its weight.
Besides displaying improved navigation and a decluttered look, today's £500,000 relaunch reflects a recognition of the limitations of bashing out versions of the same news as every other site. "We've ditched doing short-form news stories," says Ed Fraser, senior editor at C4 News Online. "Trying to cover all the news doesn't work for us – we're working on core area stories, really building as much depth around them as we can."
The online team of 15 includes three reporters on FactCheck, led by political correspondent Cathy Newman, two on the exploratory Who Knows Who site and a new infographic designer. Presenters are expected to blog when on assignment ("Of course they mind – they're being asked to do more," says Fraser) and encouraged to film their own video for the site. Special reports are highlighted in a new section.
With David Abraham, C4's new chief executive, apparently amputating any projects not deemed to be core output, how safe are the show's spin-off websites, such as FactCheck? Gray insists C4's mission is "truly multimedia" – and that C4 News is ahead of the game in making that happen: "The heavily shaped programme at 7pm is core, and a fantastic take on the day's events, investigation, surprise, mischief. But throughout the day the site follows how a story is developing, picks a story apart and projects the value and personalities of our talent."
Unsurprisingly, Twitter has a high profile with every show tweeted live. But the site still doesn't allow you to watch live online, and the 7pm time slot has always been a drawback, Gray admits – "Everyone here watches it at 8pm on C4+1."