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How the BBC News website has changed over the past 20 years | How the BBC News website has changed over the past 20 years |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Twenty years ago this week, when the BBC News website launched, there were fewer than eight million people online in the UK - there are now about 60 million. | Twenty years ago this week, when the BBC News website launched, there were fewer than eight million people online in the UK - there are now about 60 million. |
In 1997, it was the age of Tamagotchis, Minidiscs and PalmPilots. | In 1997, it was the age of Tamagotchis, Minidiscs and PalmPilots. |
Mobile phones at the time included the Nokia 6110 and the futuristic Motorola StarTAC flip phone. | Mobile phones at the time included the Nokia 6110 and the futuristic Motorola StarTAC flip phone. |
Most people used dial-up internet connections with top speeds of up to 56Kbps. | Most people used dial-up internet connections with top speeds of up to 56Kbps. |
On desktop, screen resolutions were pretty small - but they would get bigger. | On desktop, screen resolutions were pretty small - but they would get bigger. |
Below there's a selection of the website's pages from 1997 to 2017, showing how it has evolved to meet the changing needs of users while still offering the latest news, features and analysis. | Below there's a selection of the website's pages from 1997 to 2017, showing how it has evolved to meet the changing needs of users while still offering the latest news, features and analysis. |
1997 - Rising star | 1997 - Rising star |
BBC News Online launched in November 1997, following several forays on the internet, covering: | BBC News Online launched in November 1997, following several forays on the internet, covering: |
CNN 's website was already up and running. The Guardian was also among the early internet pioneers. | CNN 's website was already up and running. The Guardian was also among the early internet pioneers. |
The BBC News website was only 620 pixels wide at its launch - that is slightly more than half the width of the current site. | The BBC News website was only 620 pixels wide at its launch - that is slightly more than half the width of the current site. |
In the first week or so, stories published on the new website included: | In the first week or so, stories published on the new website included: |
1999 - Blue to red | 1999 - Blue to red |
In November 1999, the site had its first revamp. The old blue banner and red star was replaced with a red header more in line with the rest of BBC News, and the search function moved to the top of the page. | In November 1999, the site had its first revamp. The old blue banner and red star was replaced with a red header more in line with the rest of BBC News, and the search function moved to the top of the page. |
The website's then executive editor, Mike Smartt, explained the changes to users and promised "ambitious plans for audio and video news". | The website's then executive editor, Mike Smartt, explained the changes to users and promised "ambitious plans for audio and video news". |
2001 - Terror attack | 2001 - Terror attack |
The attack on the Twin Towers in New York in September 2001 shocked the world, and large numbers turned to the BBC News website to find out the latest information. | The attack on the Twin Towers in New York in September 2001 shocked the world, and large numbers turned to the BBC News website to find out the latest information. |
Several years before social media, thousands of people emailed the website with their thoughts - including many caught up in the attacks. | Several years before social media, thousands of people emailed the website with their thoughts - including many caught up in the attacks. |
For the first time, content from users became central to online coverage, with compelling witness accounts and photos published in stories and in a special report on the disaster. | For the first time, content from users became central to online coverage, with compelling witness accounts and photos published in stories and in a special report on the disaster. |
2003 - Major overhaul | 2003 - Major overhaul |
In 2003, the old linear format was dropped in favour of a wider, horizontal layout. The aim was to make the site easier for users to find their way around and see more stories at first glance. | In 2003, the old linear format was dropped in favour of a wider, horizontal layout. The aim was to make the site easier for users to find their way around and see more stories at first glance. |
2008 - Cleaning up | 2008 - Cleaning up |
In 2008, the site got even wider, and for the first time video could be played from within story pages. The world map in the navigation was dropped a couple of years later. | In 2008, the site got even wider, and for the first time video could be played from within story pages. The world map in the navigation was dropped a couple of years later. |
2010 - Major revamp | 2010 - Major revamp |
In 2010, the website got a "fresh, updated design", which also offered "easier ways to share stories with others", according to the then editor, Steve Herrmann. | In 2010, the website got a "fresh, updated design", which also offered "easier ways to share stories with others", according to the then editor, Steve Herrmann. |
By now, increasing numbers of users were coming to the news website from Facebook and Twitter. | By now, increasing numbers of users were coming to the news website from Facebook and Twitter. |
The BBC News app was launched in July 2010, giving users quick access to all the latest headlines from across the world while they were on the move. | The BBC News app was launched in July 2010, giving users quick access to all the latest headlines from across the world while they were on the move. |
The biggest story of the year was the UK general election, which had its own special report site. | The biggest story of the year was the UK general election, which had its own special report site. |
2015 - Mobile friendly | 2015 - Mobile friendly |
In 2015, the website became "responsive" - meaning its layout was designed to display well on different devices and screen sizes. By this point, about 65% of users were coming to the news website from mobiles and tablets. | In 2015, the website became "responsive" - meaning its layout was designed to display well on different devices and screen sizes. By this point, about 65% of users were coming to the news website from mobiles and tablets. |
NHS tracker 1999 v 2017 | NHS tracker 1999 v 2017 |
The look might change, but that doesn't mean we're not covering the same important issues. | The look might change, but that doesn't mean we're not covering the same important issues. |
Here's the NHS performance tracker from 1999, when the government of the day published a new set of clinical indicators giving death rates in individual hospitals in England for the first time. | Here's the NHS performance tracker from 1999, when the government of the day published a new set of clinical indicators giving death rates in individual hospitals in England for the first time. |
With the NHS under unprecedented pressure today, we still give users the chance to examine data on how services in their area are doing, using a more detailed, interactive tracker. | With the NHS under unprecedented pressure today, we still give users the chance to examine data on how services in their area are doing, using a more detailed, interactive tracker. |
Slice and easy | Slice and easy |
We managed to squeeze in a further redesign for 2017. News editors can change the number of stories in the full-width, horizontal slices, with the option of "dialling up the volume" during major news events. | We managed to squeeze in a further redesign for 2017. News editors can change the number of stories in the full-width, horizontal slices, with the option of "dialling up the volume" during major news events. |
We can now offer a more visual front page. Dropping the right hand side column and going full-width means video and news stories are integrated on the page. | We can now offer a more visual front page. Dropping the right hand side column and going full-width means video and news stories are integrated on the page. |
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