BBC News redesign will not be scrapped
- Thu, 22 Jul 2010
- Comments (7)
The BBC has admitted that that it has been inundated with criticism of the new-look BBC News website but insisted that it will not revert to the old design.
The redesign, which went live on 14 July, has already been slammed by hundreds of surfers, as well as dozens of Web User readers.
Many of the complaints focus on the large areas of white space, poor video playback and the move of the category index from the left-hand side of the page to the top.
The BBC News website editor Steve Herrmann conceded that much of the feedback it had received had been negative, but that it wasn't considering rolling back to the old version.
"Most of you commenting here on the Editors blog have been critical, with many urging us to change the design back to the way it was," said Herrmann.
However, he ruled out returning to the old design. "Reverting to the old design is not something we're considering, but building and continuing to improve on the changes we've made certainly is."
Comments on the blog were critical of Herrmann's attitude in the face of hundreds of complaints. "Typical BBC arrogance. The customer is always wrong. Silly of us to have thought otherwise," one wrote.
"Can you imagine Tesco messing up their website like this then ignoring well-intentioned feedback from their customers? No, I can't either," said another.
"Please be less defensive and more forthcoming in what you are willing to take on board of the many, many valid criticisms posted here. Either that, or simply remove the comments section, and put us out of our misery," wrote another.
Some commenters defended Herrman's stance. "The BBC's stance on refusing to go back to the old version of the site is right in my opinion. Sure, there are many problems with this new site but simply scrapping it and going back would be a bad move and would have a knock-on detrimental effect on all future BBC web content," one wrote.
Add your comments
Chris,
July 22 15:14
It always takes time to get used to change.
I wish the BBC would make it possible to comment under each story.
I imagine they reason they don't is that they would want to moderate the comments.
That would take a lot of additional staff, as the BBC churn out 100s of stories each day and much traffic.
Brian Webb,
July 23 10:07
Overall I think the new site is an improvement. Sure like many they have brought out a "beta" too soon. Had they delayed then probably people would be saying they got it wrong. They cant win.. But knowing the BBC portal it will be very very good soon.
Peter Scargill,
July 23 10:19
So the BBC is supposed to be making cutbacks - and off they go redesigning a site that most of us thought was perfectly ok - at horrendous cost to the taxpayer no doubt - only to get it wrong. On the likes of the iPAD the top menu is WAY too small now - don't like it - about time the TV licence was scrapped and the BBC pay their own way like all the other channels - then they may think twice about flying in the face of public opinion when they're not spending our money.
David,
July 23 11:25
Some people are not happy unless they are moaning about something
Mark,
July 23 23:46
David, please stop moaning.
dizt3mp3r,
July 24 12:44
last post - David, don't talk rot, the BBC website is often someone's gateway to the internet. Changing it arbitrarily is like going into someone's room and changing their wallpaper. They have a right to moan.
It would seem that some people are not happy unless they stating inanities.
One post and gone,
July 26 01:27
There is at least one legitimate complaint about the revised site.
When the site is viewed in a windowed browser, so that the site is wider than the browser window there is no left margin.
That is a fact not a change that people will learn to live with.