Dan's dashboard

Dan started following the problem "ANNOYING ADD" in Chicago Tribune.

Dan replied on August 25, 2009 00:28 to the idea "DISLIKE NEW FORMAT" in Chicago Tribune:

sucks

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
sucks.

Dan replied on August 25, 2009 00:28 to the idea "DISLIKE NEW FORMAT" in Chicago Tribune:

sucks

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
sucks.

Dan posted a topic that has since been removed from Chicago Tribune. see the change log

Dan posted a topic that has since been removed from Chicago Tribune. see the change log

Dan replied on August 23, 2009 20:30 to the idea "IPHONE ISSUES" in Chicago Tribune:

When will there be a mobile friendly version of chicagotribune.com? I am not talking about an app for the iphone or other apps. Just a simple version that I can look at on my mobile phone in opera mini.

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
mobile friendly version of chicagotribune.com?.

Dan replied on August 20, 2009 15:53 to the idea "Expandable ads." in Chicago Tribune:

I do find this pretty funny they put an add in that area, but they won't move the Breaking News there.

I guess where the is a chance of making money that will over ride any news content, regular or breaking news.

Dan replied on August 17, 2009 19:10 to the idea "Comparison with the LA Times Site" in Chicago Tribune:

I have been checking out the LATimes.com too.
First thing I noticed was no Feedback widget and no GetSatisfaction.com system anywhere.

I have been doing some searching about GetSatisfaction.com and I am not impressed at all. They seem to be pretty heavy handed in their business dealings and like to take a lot of liberties with using other companies logos and like to become 'Unofficial Support' for companies that don't even deal with GetSatisfaction.com. After reading this I am very surprised the Tribune used this company as their feedback system.

Dan replied on August 17, 2009 14:20 to the question "Looking for a 1 week status on the new site feedback, good AND bad." in Chicago Tribune:

Bill, thanks for the update, but I do have a couple concerns.
The Tribune is a newspaper and this is the online version of that.

Sometimes we have to throw design to the wind and put in certain places the most important parts of a site like this, Breaking News. Where it is positioned now is equal to having the speedometer on your car way down by your feet. That doesn't make any sense and either does this.

Please make the front page look and feel like the Nation/World page. The way the front page is with the green bars sections makes it look and feel like you are hiding the news. The second people start feeling like you are hiding the news youmight as well close down the website. While it is nice to have the top navigation bars at the top, they can be a pain in the butt if you do not stay exactly on the correct part of the bars.

One last thing, if you still want to use Get Satisfaction for your feedback, please get rid of the smiley faces. Your readers who want to take the time and effort to leave feedback are not in kindergarten or on MySpace. It feels like we are being looked and talked down to.

Thanks for listening.

Dan asked a question in Chicago Tribune on August 14, 2009 21:00:

Looking for a 1 week status on the new site feedback, good AND bad.

The 'new' design has been running for a week now. There have been many suggestions and comments made about changing placements of certain items and making it easier and quicker to access news and how it seems the new design is really 'hiding' many stories that on the old design had right on the front page.

Most of the feedback from the Tribune staff has been 'use it for a while and we know you will like it'. I am getting the feeling that no matter what suggestions have been made here in the 'myspace' type feedback system, nothing will be changing at all. Is this true?

Maybe an article should be written about the first week of the new design, the feedback you have received and if/anything at all will be changing, and why.

I know how I feel, I have posted my comments before. Please tell us, your customers, the ones that come to your site, why we should continue to visit this site when it does take longer to find the news we are looking for.

Thank you!

Dan replied on August 10, 2009 13:24 to the question "Why can't the front page be designed like the Nation/World page?" in Chicago Tribune:

I just checked you sister web site, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ which was 'updated' a couple months ago with the same poor design, and what do I see, their Breaking News banner is at the top of the page!!! It looks soo nice there, no need to scroll down and try to 'find' it.

So if you are looking for some indication as to how moving the Breaking News banner would look and feel, look no further.

Dan asked a question in Chicago Tribune on August 09, 2009 15:45:

Why can't the front page be designed like the Nation/World page?

Why can't the front page be designed like the Nation/World page?

Make the top part local news, and the rest of the page with simple sections and story links with as many stories as possible? Leave the right side for all of your ads but do not make the fly outs or cover half the page. All of the green title bars and multiple clicks to see more stories will only push people away because you are hiding the top stories with the current page.

News is important for people and they will come back often, but trying to be fancy and cute does not cut it. People will not click multiple section bars, they want it right in front of them, simple and easy. And put the time the page was updated, and Breaking News bar where is belongs, at the top.

Just because the Tribune staff likes the way it looks does not mean the readers will, and a lot of feedback is saying that. And the second you reply with a web page link you have lost that person for good. Listen to your readers, they are your customers.

One last thing, people would not leave replies and feedback if they did not care. A better feedback system would help too.

Dan started following the problem "National and International news needed" in Chicago Tribune.

Dan asked a question in Chicago Tribune on August 07, 2009 12:10:

There are 3 real problems with the redesign. And belittling feedback.

There are 3 real problems with the redesign. Too much unused space, the feedback system you are using is very childish and make people fee like they are using MySpace, and there is too much clicking needed to get to more stories. Why should I have to click on the green headers to see more stories about a certain subject. You are not refreshing the entire page when clicking on the links, so just list all the stories in that area so we can click on the links we want to read. The more you hide stories like this the less the website will be used.

And by the way, in replies to people feedback, I don't think it is nice to say 'just try it and you will get use to it'. I am not a 5 year old that mom is pushing me to eat green beans, and that is exactly how it sound and feels. Sometimes businesses forget that the customer is who pays their salaries and by belittling the customers will only send them away. You may want to think about that before responding with those types of replies.

Dan asked a question in Chicago Tribune on August 06, 2009 16:02:

mobile friendly version of chicagotribune.com?

When will there be a mobile friendly version of chicagotribune.com? I am not talking about an app for the iphone or other apps. Just a simple version that I can look at on my mobile phone in opera mini.

Dan started following the problem "Using Email on Posts is TOTALLY inappropriate!" in Chicago Tribune.

Dan asked a question in Chicago Tribune on August 06, 2009 12:47:

The 'Get Satisfaction' feedback system - real bad!

The 'Get Satisfaction' feedback system has to be the worse software package I have ever interacted with. It feels like I am dealing with a freshman high school cheerleader's MySpace page. Smiley faces, sad face, sticking my tongue out at people?

I thought this was a newspaper that had pride in it's news offerings, this feedback system brings the Tribune to new lows. Find something else, quick!