[IMC-US] banners and width

Tue Jan 4 21:47:58 CST 2005

i think that the features could just be the titles of the stories.  
that is the way in which most websites and newswires present news
items.  they could have the imc they were submitted from or the
subject matter as a header. so the newswire could look like:

Is Cuba Next? (Santa Cruz)

Imagine a Sustainable Champaign County (Urbana-Champaign)

Maine Woods Named One of Nation's Biggest and Best Forests in New
Report (Boston)

or:

INTERNATIONAL
Is Cuba Next?

ENVIRONMENT
Imagine a Sustainable Champaign County

ENVIRONMENT
Maine Woods Named One of Nation's Biggest and Best Forests in New Report

and so on. I just think that the information is more presentable this
way, especially for those who are not familiar with the IMC format.

also, as far as my comments, i think there is a big difference b/w a
random person throwing something out there, and someone who has put
hundreds of hours into a project. so i respect the time and effort
that everyone has put into this.

best,    -Aaron

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 10:56:06 -0800, deva <drdartist at riseup.net> wrote:
> All comments should be taken solely on their wisdom or lack thereof,
> regardless of who it is from! Ideas and new concepts of indymedia are
> certainly welcome as far as I am concerned
> 
> It seems like the syndicated featurewire is an important feature of the
> US-Indy site - How would you see that working with your text-lite
> concept?
> 
> deva
> 
> On Dec 29, 2004, at 10:25 PM, Aaron Couch wrote:
> 
> > Hello US Indymedia,
> >
> > I have not been involved in the US site process but I think this is an
> > important discussion and would like to chime in.  Since I have not
> > done ANY work for the US site, I don't expect for my comments to be
> > taken as anything more than comments to be read soley on their wisdom
> > or lack thereof.
> >
> > I think that the US Indymedia site should be as text-lite as possible.
> > Why? Here goes:
> >
> > I think that the full-browser format that most indymedia sites use is
> > good for the local sites.   This is because most local indymedia sites
> > are directed toward local organizing and events, and need to feature
> > as much content as possible to provide a democratic balance b/w
> > newswires and features.  Also, most local indymedia's do not have
> > features regularly enough to have a text-lite site.   If features are
> > only posted every couple of days, then you want to get the most out of
> > each feature as possible.
> >
> > Local indymedia sites are great organizing tools. I think the US site
> > should be a portal to all that is happening in indymedia, for those
> > outside (and inside) of the organizing realm.
> >
> > The US site should look like a legitimate news source for people who
> > do not have experience with the indymeida network.  A text-heavy site
> > does not look like a legitmate news site.  Every other news site I can
> > think of, is very text-lite.  And this is not just for mainstream.
> > Democracynow.org, salon.com, workingforchange.org, fair.org,
> > commondreams.org, enn.org... (i could go on) all use text-lite sites.
> > It is simply easier to read and digest.
> >
> > I think that the san fran (sf.indymedia.org) site is the best example
> > from the indy network of what the US site should look like. (I really
> > like democraynow.org as well). I don't know the details of and don't
> > want to get intot the whole sf/indybay split.  I do think that the
> > indybay site (i read both daily) is a better model for a local
> > indymedia site.  but for the us site, I really feel strongly that the
> > sf site is a better model for the US site.  Newswire stories are
> > strictly the title of the story and not any of the text of the story.
> > I think the US site should follow the same lead.
> >
> > i have spent a lot of time over the last six months taking a close
> > look at indymedia site design as i have been redesigning the front end
> > of the PhillyIMC site (see below for link to latest draft), so i have
> > webdesign and IMC experience, and am eager to throw up some examples
> > of what i am talking about if anyone is interested, though i think the
> > sf site is a brilliant example of what shape the US site should take.
> >
> > and once again, if my comments seem critical, they should be tempered
> > with the fact that I am also truly inspired by the US site and what
> > you have put together.
> >
> > -Aaron
> >
> > Aaron Couch
> > PhillyIMC
> >
> > latest phillyimc draft:
> > http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~acouch/PhillyIMC/draft19.html
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:50:21 -0800 (PST), bradley at riseup.net
> > <bradley at riseup.net> wrote:
> >> I'll be another person to agree.
> >>
> >> I think that bannerb looks great, though i think i actaully prefer (a)
> >> http://rumpus.rackhost.net/bannera.png
> >> (but, i'll be happy with either one)
> >>
> >> sincerely,
> >> Bradley
> >>
> >>> I agree - with the text heavy site, it should expand as wide as a
> >>> persons screen
> >>>
> >>> also agree with the gradient so there is not a cut line
> >>>
> >>> deva
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Dec 29, 2004, at 10:23 AM, john duda wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> i agree with bht here. we need as much screen space as possible, the
> >>>> syndicated wire really needs to expand out.
> >>>>
> >>>> i like bannerb, i.e.
> >>>>
> >>>> http://rumpus.rackhost.net/bannerb.png
> >>>>
> >>>> it would look even better if whoever expands the banner does it such
> >>>> that the edges of the two images had a bit of gradient fading to
> >>>> black
> >>>> to make the transition smoother.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> IMC-US mailing list
> >> IMC-US at lists.ucimc.org
> >> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/imc-us
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > IMC-US mailing list
> > IMC-US at lists.ucimc.org
> > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/imc-us
> >
> 
>