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A few criticisms of the current journalism web site

Site in general:

  • It has an opening screen at www.umass.edu/journal that is useless.  And that makes the correct URL (http://www.umass.edu/journal/new/core.html) needlessly long and complicated.
  • The site does not make such critical use of graphics that a "text only" page is, or should be, necessary.
  • There is no sidebar for "macro-navigation," nor does any single element serve to unite the site.  Thus it is not designed to be entered through any way except the “front door:” the link to the main (and de facto navigation) page is labeled “back.”

Main page:

  • you can't see what you've clicked on and what you haven't.
  • "Journalism" changes to "Spring 1998" courses on MouseOver?  Even worse, the list really hasn't been updated since spring 1998.
  • The only link in the introduductory paragraph, "tradition," goes to long page on random history.  Huh?

History page:

  • An 'O' in 80?
  • And of course all those capital "N"s with "~"s

Faculty section:

  • Besides the annoying question mark and the way pictures appear only while the pointer is over the name, it appears that the page makes the pictures load before you see anything else.
  • We should make the "list" part separate from other biographical material
The journalism website is located at http://www.umass.edu/journal/new/core.html and using these links you can look at it in your current browser window or in a new browser window.
by Benjamin M. Melançon tell me what to change: melancon@student.umass.edu top navigation