||| by Lin McNulty, Editor |||
Here we are! A redesign of Orcas Issues has been front of mind for a very long time. When the pandemic hit and our workload almost tripled, and the government sent me $1,200, it seemed like the perfect time to create a new look and new name (at request of previous owner).
With the invaluable help of a previous co-worker, Shane Watson of oreganoproductions.com, who designed our animal logos, and Darin Leong of bloomingmindmedia.com, not to mention the support of Minor Lile, Matthew Gilbert, and Susan McBain of theOrcasonian staff, it somehow came together. Orcas Issues is now theOrcasonian.com.
There are still some improvements and additions to be added, so we aren’t totally done yet. And we have new features in mind, including, as budget allows, a Marketplace section for “classified ads.” It is, of course, our hope that you will find our new website to be even more valuable and easier to navigate to any of our daily stories. There’s also the possibility that no one will like it, but if that’s the case, I just don’t want to know it right now. This has been a long, strange trip.
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Yay! You did it! It looks great. Congratulations
Thanks for the opportunity to help Lin!
Looks Great, Lin. (:
Perfect time for a change especially when its for the better!
To Creators: WooHOO! Excellent presentation and introduction. Thank you so much. Putting my money where my mouth is.
To Fellows: You heard the lady. Keep your helpful critique for another time.
It will take a little while to learn where things are on the new site and how to scan it most efficiently, but can’t fight change. Congrats and your hard work is evident.
I don’t know how to frame this without it seeming like an unwelcome “Critique,” but the new format is really hard to read on an iPhone, which is what I use. The size of the letters is so tiny that I have to turn the phone on its side, expand the column, then move the lines back & forth to read them. I’m sure it works on a larger screen, but… is there something that can be done to make it more easily readable? (I did not have a problem with the old format, or with other online news sites). Carry on!
Yes, there are some bugs that are still being worked out and the way the site appears on mobile is a prime example of what needs fixing. Thanks, all, for your patience.
Hi Lin,
The Orcasonian, once I learned how not to spell it OrcasOnion, is super! What a lovely update!
I’m with Thea and will welcome an iPhone version but I know these things are huge projects and spendy. Good luck!
Just one small critique which may be a good thing: I am spending way less time on the site now because one needs to click through each article’s comments to see if there is any new activity (which taxes patience and makes the mind wander off….); in the past you could see the latest comments on the left sidebar.
Still, so grateful for your presence here because the world desperately needs places where intelligent journalism and opinion is welcomed and respected.
Tracy
I agree with Tracy. Resurrect that left sidebar, please.
It looks nice, Lin. On my computer, it’s open, bright, and easy-to-read. I like the animals, too.