Willows Journal launches new website

Cyberspace is making the Willows Journal a better news source.

If you haven’t visited the Willows Journal website recently, you’re missing some big news about our website upgrades.

Log on today to www.willows-journal.com and check out the vastly improved website, designed to give readers a unique interactive experience.

New websites for each of the four Tri-County newspapers were launched Monday.

“Our new state-of-the-art Tri-County Newspaper websites are much more robust,” TCN General Manager Fred Crosthwaite said. “Breaking news updates will be posted more frequently and the sites will provide a community platform for citizens to express their own opinions and inform their fellow citizens.”

“A lot of thought has been put into the content, navigation and all the components on the Web sites to make them the best user-experience for readers,” said Courtney Lopez, Internet operations director for the Appeal-Democrat newspaper. Lopez oversaw the interactive upgrades.

The Appeal-Democrat is a sister paper to the Sun-Herald in the Freedom Communications Inc. family of newspapers.

“There are many more enhancements on the horizon for these sites now that they’ve launched,” said Lopez. “They’re in line to receive all the enhancements other Freedom properties receive.”

From local breaking news to daily national and statewide headline updates, the new Web sites offer TCN readers a complete 24/7 news and information outlet.

The format and appearance of the sites have been completely overhauled and upgraded. The enhancements make the sites more user-friendly and easier to view and navigate.

Readers can now submit their own photos, communicate story ideas or tips, and place classified advertisements online.

Readers can view all the same information available in the newspapers, in addition to some exciting only-online features.

Community interaction is a major point of emphasis for the new websites. Readers can rate and recommend stories and photos, as well as e-mail and print articles of interest.

Increased reader interaction will give TCN newspapers a better understanding of what Tri-County-area readers care about and want to know.

"The new Web sites will allow us to see what is read most, so we know what types of information are most important to our readers,” said Craig Purcell, a veteran TCN news writer. “We will then be able to give readers what they want in their news source.”

The new website increases the newspaper’s ability to provide breaking, up-to-the-minute news. The new sites will be updated as stories break, and Tri-County readers no longer have to wait for the twice-weekly print editions to learn about the latest in local news.

Readers can also search through local online classified advertisements, real estate information, upcoming yard sales, and search for local jobs with the new Google-powered search engine.

Opinions and editorials, columns, letters to the Editor, community briefs, and a searchable community events calendar will also be available on the updated Web site.

The new site also provides daily entertainment news, including local television listings, local theater show times and nationally syndicated movie reviews.

The online ‘Features’ section provides readers with updated information on issues ranging from national sports headlines, agriculture and business to religion, food, and medicine.

The new sites also offer national and statewide headline stories, including video reports, updated daily from the Associated Press.

This is the first time in many years that a Tri-County community news source will consistently carry national and state AP headlines.

"All the newspapers are really excited about the launching of the new Web sites,” Purcell said. “They will greatly enhance the way and the amount of information we provide, and our ability to be timely.”

Freedom Communications purchased Tri-County Newspapers on July 31. Based in Irvine, Calif., Freedom own more than 40 newspapers, including 25 dailies, along with nine television stations.