The site, which continues to be largely subscriber-only access, has been brought up to date with significantly enhanced and more frequently updated content, more intuitive navigation, easier social sharing and smarter article links. A key new addition includes the availability of an optimized mobile edition at m.scmp.com, which can be accessed by subscribers on any internet-enabled smartphone.
Further content enhancements include a powerful easy to search archive service that gives readers instant access to 10 years’ or 750,000+ articles. For more recent searches, an innovative new feature is the Homepage time machine, which enables users to view each day’s homepage exactly as it was seen up to seven days prior.
Photos play a prominent role in the new site. Aside from a generally more visual presentation and a longer page length, the new SCMP.com features a large format photo gallery that is updated real-time and provides themed photojournalistic essays and easy search options. South China Morning Post’s award winning infographics will also capitalize on the new SCMP.com’s more visual and interactive design capabilities.
Social media plays a stronger role in the new site, which aside from enabling easy share on Facebook, Twitter and Google +, will also introduce a major cast of new bloggers including a blog in English language from China’s number one blogger Han Han, whose irreverent views of China affairs and the youth generation have captivated a huge online following.
South China Morning Post’s Digital Editor, Wang Feng, was newly appointed in April this year to spearhead the content direction for the site. Previously an editor for Thomson Reuters Chinese News Service and an International Editor at Caijing magazine, Wang Feng was hired to deliver quality regional news 24/7 to an audience of Hong Kong and China watchers all over the world.
He remarked; “Our new site is not only built on a much more robust platform, giving our readers a better experience, it’s also packed with more content. Content that’s been designed especially for online to capitalize on the latest visual and presentation capabilities.”
“Now we can tell our stories in a richer and more graphic way, and drive readers to stories that are more relevant to them. We’ll be right at the point of action and deliver news more rapidly. We’ll tap the pulse of the community through social sharing. We’ll also be providing a better email notification system, with a morning newsletter to highlight the day’s headlines, an evening newsletter to succinctly wrap up stories as they’ve transpired through the day, and breaking news alerts. Readers can also check out what topics are trending online and in the social sphere.”
Mr Robin Hu, SCMP Group’s CEO, commented, “We are very excited to introduce the new SCMP.com. This is a much improved site with considerable potential to grow locally and overseas, especially given the global demand for news in our region. Online readers are increasingly used to paying for quality content, and we have been running a successful subscription model since the site originally launched in 1996. We believe the site offers excellent value, and together with the new mobile edition, plus Print and iPad editions, we now have a deeper portfolio of products which each deliver valued content and a unique experience.”
The site can be viewed at www.scmp.com, the mobile version at m.scmp.com and a full product tour can be seen at www.scmp.com/reborn.
About The SCMP Group
SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 55 awards in 2011 for editorial excellence. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, LuxeHomes, Classified Post, JiuJik, smartjob.com, and the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, CosmoGirl!, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.
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