Evaluating Websites

For my first New York Times article, I chose the story Release of Grand Jury Files is Sought in Rosenberg Atomic Spy Case.

The article appeared the same online as it did in the newspaper, but the online version of the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/nyregion/01rosenberg.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Julius+and+Ethel+Rosenberg&st=nyt&oref=slogin

allows links to the websites of various people involved with the reopened investigation.

I found the article informative and interesting as my knowledge of the Rosenberg case was limited prior to reading it. It also sparked my interest in further reading about the Rosenbergs, as I find governmental cover-ups and spy cases fascinating.

I found the other form of the article, presented by The Chronicle Herald Metro of Nova Scotia:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1036284.html

provided more information than The New York Times regarding the pertinent people involved with the Rosenberg case, both past and present. The article was a bit wordy, however and I definitely just skimmed over it rather than being a bit more engaged like with the New York Times article.

I felt both internet versions of the two articles could have spiced up the stories by interspersing links relevant to the case and possibly even providing video (I mean, it is the internet and is more interactive than mere text. If you have the ability to be more interesting and engaging to your readers, go for it).

The other story I chose from the NYTs was an article discussing increased suicide symptoms in patients using seizures medications. Although the article was very informative, it lost my interest a few times as it mainly just presented findings from various research studies. The article appeared the exact same way in the paper as it did on the NYTs' website:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/us/01suicide.html?ref=us

I suppose it's all right to have the sort of continuity the NYTs has with both its actual paper and website but the reality is, is that I'm still getting the same exact story. There's no fun incentive for me to check out the article online if there isn't going to be at least some interactive links provided.

I went to the San Francisco Chronicle's website to do additional reading on the suicide symptom story and I found that both articles presented almost the same information, but unlike the NYTs', the SFC presented a list released by the FDA of the actual names of seizure medications that double suicide symptoms. I felt that this additional information might be beneficial, especially to readers whom might suffer from seizures (like I once did) and might think about switching medications.