‘Newsier’ tone more in line with websites of top newspapers
NEWPORT – Ocean State Stories on Thursday launched a redesign of its website intended to improve audience experience and reach. The updated look includes a new masthead, superior organization and presentation of stories, and a drop-down feature allowing instant translation from English into nine other languages, including Spanish, Portuguese and French.
“While our old site accomplished its purpose from our first day of publication in February 2023, it became increasingly clear that we needed a new look to better serve our existing readers and to find new ones,” Ocean State Stories co-founder and director G. Wayne Miller said. “Weeks of planning and work today paid off nicely.”
“In its first year of publication, Ocean State Stories has already distinguished itself with reporting that matters,” said Pell Center Executive Director Jim Ludes. “This work is central to the mission of Salve Regina University and the Pell Center—asking us all to walk with others through the challenges of life and informing the public to help bolster our democracy.”
According to Miller, the new site has a “newsier” tone that is more in line with websites of some of the top newspapers in the region and country. The masthead, which incorporates the Salve logo, also has a more news-like typeface and design.
“My more than four decades as a staff writer at legacy newspapers before becoming director of Ocean State Stories helped inform me,” Miller said, “as did a careful review of media websites by me and members of the Pell Center and Salve Regina’s Office of Marketing and Communications.”
Along with English, the new site can be read via the drop-down in the upper right corner of the home page in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. As with Ocean State Stories content, these languages reflect the diversity of Rhode Island residents.
Launched on Feb. 7. 2023, Ocean State Stories publishes journalism about issues that often are neglected or under-reported — stories that explore healthcare, education, public policy, socioeconomic and racial disparities and injustices, domestic violence, food and housing insecurities, the environment, agriculture, ageism, suicide prevention, mental health, immigration, veterans affairs, and developmental and intellectual disabilities, among others.
In January, Ocean State Stories was named a Silver Award winner in the third annual Anthem Awards competition, an international contest. The win, from the more than 2,000 entries from over 30 countries, was in the “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Public Service” category. Ocean State Stories welcomes feedback on the new look – and, as always, feedback regarding content or other matters. It can be provided via the “Contact Us” button at the top of the page.
