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Evolution of a television station Web page
(screenshots by Bob Stepno)

1995

Journalism professor Bob Stepno, calls this graphics-heavy screen the "happy valley" approach to Web Design. Each of the link areas was linked using what was then fairly complex server-side map code.

 

 

1997

The page looks more like a newspaper, with lots of links and columns. Top side transparency is a little weak.

 

  

1998

Now the TV station's Web site is looking like a TV. It could be progress.

 

 

1999

Top header is more condensed, the content seems more under control.

  

2002

Highly controlled, tight design, more reliance on smaller text and photos.

  

 

 

 

 Note: By permission of Bob Stepno, Ph.D., "Happy Valley and Beyond: Establishing Local Identity for Online News," MIT Communication Forum, Media In Transition conference, December 1999, http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/papers/stepno.html