POPULAR MECHANICS


Overall Impression
The Popular Mechanics  give readers choices of 3D VRML or regular 2D  interface. The reader will view this site depend on the speed of his/her connection. Of course, the loading of 2D interface is much faster than 3D interface.  The 2D site is used JavaScript embed technology so it is loading faster compare to Java technology. However, this site has many graphic images cause slow down loading time. There are many choices here that are not covered on the printed version. You can search for specific topics or you can chat to other people on the web, or you can see the ad index. This is really cool website. Disadvantage of this site is you have to down load the 3D VRML plug-in for Netscape to your computer in order to view the 3D interface.

The level of writing and reporting the same in electronic as opposed to print versions. There is a list of articles lead  you directly to full stories.

This on-line version is totally different when appearing on the web as in printed version. There is no devided column for each article.

There is no fee to view the Popular Mechanics on line version. However, if you like the printed version, you can order from the web.

In what ways do these websites offer more than just an electronic republishing of the print versions? the Popular Mechanics  gives readers the chance to search for special subjects by keywords, link to many different resources, talk to people in the forum, and view previous articles.

Use of advertisements
Are they effective in creating interest in the product? Yes because the pictures are displayed in full color.
Do ads interfere with the main focus of the page? Yes. They slow down the page loaded to the readers' system.
Can ads compliment the page? Yes. They make the page look colorful and very abstractive.
Are banner ads (target ads) effective in leading to destination or other ads? Yes. This is very good idea in web advertisement.

Focus and length of stories on the web
Are shorter or longer stories more effective? short stories.
What types of stories and features seem most appropriate? sports, business, life, weather and classified ads.
Is in-depth reporting effective? Yes. Briefly summary the story and link to the whole story.
Can the web support types of journalism other than entertainment? Yes. But not as good as two traditional versions.

How is color used? Please discuss effective uses and potential uses.
To make the website colorful to attract attention to readers and make them to stay in longer. The color is also used to highlight the titles of the articles to attention the readers.

How are graphics used? Please discuss effective uses and potential uses.
In what ways do graphics enhance and in what ways do they detract or interfere with the page? The graphics are really helped the page to attract readers. However, if the readers have slow connection such as home PC users, they will loose their patience to load the full pictures. In this case, the pictures are useless.
How can and do graphics enhance the stories and how can this enhancement be maximized? Use small size of graphics - less than 50 Kb is very good.

Does web journalism seem to be closer in nature and usage of traditional broadcast journalism or to print journalism? No. The traditional broadcast journalism or print journalism give the readers more entertainment than the web version. The web version is only, in my point of view, for researching and studying cases. It is just a huge database on the connected internet.

Does the web need to be represented by a new synthesis of the two traditional forms? If so what forms might it evolve into? - (Please give some thoughts on the subject as there are currently no definitive answers to the question.) The web should be as a database with searching enable and its own look. It does not need to be like the two traditional forms.


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