CUE:
Food miles have become a burning issue in the climate debate as campaigners call for people to eat more local food. What are problems because of food miles? What happened when a family tried to survive on food only from local place? Here is Yin & Ying report.
SCRIPTS:
Food miles are the measure of the distance a food travels from field to plate. Agriculture and food now account for nearly 30 per cent of goods transported on our roads.
This travel adds largely to the carbon dioxide emissions that are contributing to climate change - which is why food miles matter. A report by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says that food miles rose by 15 per cent between 1992 and 2002.
Sustain is part of Food Links, an union of organizations around the UK involved in projects aimed at developing local food economies and decreasing the distance that food travels.
Tully Wakeman of East Anglia Food Links believes it is crucial that local food is not a niche product, but that it becomes a far bigger part of the mainstream.
There is a group of about 100 volunteers in Fife calling for people to eat more local food. They have created the Fife Diet and are trying to live on a diet of food that is largely from within the area. Writer Mike Small is co-ordinator of the volunteers and he and his wife and children have now been on the diet.
Let’s listen to Mike about the idea behind the group in Fife. And what problems they are facing. What the group suggest people do to deal with foodmiles?
Monday, 14 January 2008
Friday, 11 January 2008
Media Monitoring 7
Radio is more vivid as a consequence of music and voice which could offer the audience imagination of scenes and features of reporter and interviewees.
But radio has a linear process of dissemination. Listeners cannot re-order or select from a single stream of content. Thus the voice keeps going on and on which will not give listeners a chance of feeling bored. Consequently, radio offers lots of information to win the audience, no matter how much listeners will remember.
In the mean while, writing for newspaper can be read again and again, which determines the story must be treated much more critical than be done in radio or online which has many tricks to draw one’s eyes.
As for this story, some common things are mentioned in all the three media, such as little changed life, economy, and democracy.
These are talked about by interviewees in radio and online which make the report more local, and by writer’s narrative in newspaper making the report more academic. In newspaper, the author treats the story from a macroscopic and social angle, however, in radio and online a microcosmic and individual angle.
For the reason that there is more space online than in newspaper, it provides more details and facts online. For example, speaking of free media, there is only one sentence in newspaper - “the judiciary remains independent and the media is free.” Yet article online illustrates data of a survey to prove that high levels of press freedom is just relative.
In addition, report online refers to HK’s impact on the border, the south coast, even the whole country, not only impacts on HK of the return. This reminds readers to think about the story in a varied deeper way.
Besides no interview is in newspaper, there are seven or eight in radio and online. Paralleled with interviewees in radio who are all almost someone, people interviewed online are really normal. Therefore, it looks more authoritative and formal in radio and kinder online.
But radio has a linear process of dissemination. Listeners cannot re-order or select from a single stream of content. Thus the voice keeps going on and on which will not give listeners a chance of feeling bored. Consequently, radio offers lots of information to win the audience, no matter how much listeners will remember.
In the mean while, writing for newspaper can be read again and again, which determines the story must be treated much more critical than be done in radio or online which has many tricks to draw one’s eyes.
As for this story, some common things are mentioned in all the three media, such as little changed life, economy, and democracy.
These are talked about by interviewees in radio and online which make the report more local, and by writer’s narrative in newspaper making the report more academic. In newspaper, the author treats the story from a macroscopic and social angle, however, in radio and online a microcosmic and individual angle.
For the reason that there is more space online than in newspaper, it provides more details and facts online. For example, speaking of free media, there is only one sentence in newspaper - “the judiciary remains independent and the media is free.” Yet article online illustrates data of a survey to prove that high levels of press freedom is just relative.
In addition, report online refers to HK’s impact on the border, the south coast, even the whole country, not only impacts on HK of the return. This reminds readers to think about the story in a varied deeper way.
Besides no interview is in newspaper, there are seven or eight in radio and online. Paralleled with interviewees in radio who are all almost someone, people interviewed online are really normal. Therefore, it looks more authoritative and formal in radio and kinder online.
Media Monitoring 6
5.2.3 Pictures & Texts & Captions
The story has three pictures with three texts, which spread evenly throughout the page and all stand the right side to the words.
The first picture, in the middle of intros, is full views of skyscrapers standing in the Victoria Harbor, with a caption saying what the biggest reason for HK’s success is.
The second picture, in the middle of first section “little change”, is one interviewee who is a taxi driver standing in front of her car, with her saying about her loving homeland as a caption. These two pictures work well in concert with contents around them.
The third picture, in the middle of the last section “China’s menace”, is the 87-year-old man whose words is quoted far earlier in the intros sitting on threshold beside a doorpost, with a caption pointing out that he, as well as many others, feels little difference in the decade.
Actually there are two quotations from him both of which are in the first five or six paragraphs, but it is strange that his picture is shown in the bottom of the page. It could cause confusion to readers to some extent.
The first and third texts are both the interviewees’ saying with their names and occupations as captions.
The second text is right in middle of the page which shows in fact readers comments on the story. Though it occupies advantage point, readers need to roll the mouse a few times if they want to find place to comment, for the story is a little long which length could fit three screens.
5.2.4 Interviewees
There are seven interviewees. Three of whom are ordinary people, whose sayings are aiming at indicating people’s life have no significant change. Three are professional, one economist, one political analyst, and a professor, whose statement are more academic rather than official. And an only government official, the HK Human Rights Monitor.
6 Comparisons
It is the medium characters that determine the process of story construction and also shape the final product. There is no visual image or document with radio, no sound or moving pictures with newspaper, nevertheless, varied types of text, graphics, audio and video could be put online.
For the sake of attracting own audience, the story is treated differently to make a medium stand alone with others.
The story has three pictures with three texts, which spread evenly throughout the page and all stand the right side to the words.
The first picture, in the middle of intros, is full views of skyscrapers standing in the Victoria Harbor, with a caption saying what the biggest reason for HK’s success is.
The second picture, in the middle of first section “little change”, is one interviewee who is a taxi driver standing in front of her car, with her saying about her loving homeland as a caption. These two pictures work well in concert with contents around them.
The third picture, in the middle of the last section “China’s menace”, is the 87-year-old man whose words is quoted far earlier in the intros sitting on threshold beside a doorpost, with a caption pointing out that he, as well as many others, feels little difference in the decade.
Actually there are two quotations from him both of which are in the first five or six paragraphs, but it is strange that his picture is shown in the bottom of the page. It could cause confusion to readers to some extent.
The first and third texts are both the interviewees’ saying with their names and occupations as captions.
The second text is right in middle of the page which shows in fact readers comments on the story. Though it occupies advantage point, readers need to roll the mouse a few times if they want to find place to comment, for the story is a little long which length could fit three screens.
5.2.4 Interviewees
There are seven interviewees. Three of whom are ordinary people, whose sayings are aiming at indicating people’s life have no significant change. Three are professional, one economist, one political analyst, and a professor, whose statement are more academic rather than official. And an only government official, the HK Human Rights Monitor.
6 Comparisons
It is the medium characters that determine the process of story construction and also shape the final product. There is no visual image or document with radio, no sound or moving pictures with newspaper, nevertheless, varied types of text, graphics, audio and video could be put online.
For the sake of attracting own audience, the story is treated differently to make a medium stand alone with others.
Media Monitoring 5
4.1.4 The Ending
The eighth paragraph, the last one, has a summarized ending which states briefly what HK should do to arrest the risks coming true.
4.2 Identity
Although being a short article without any interview, the writer points out sharply the cruxes of HK confusion – democracy and the status of Asian financial centre. The language is short, simple, and sharp, the idea is crucial, clear and critical.
5 Online
Article Hong Kong’s decade under China’s flag is one of a series of features on BBC website which was uploaded on June 21, 2007. The BBC’s Samanthi Dissanayake went to HK to look at how HK has changed in a decade.
5.1 Non-Linear
Online journalism is not only about the text, but also techniques. Users are free to choose whether to read the story till the end, or to go to audio and video, to database, to comment, to graphic, or to browse another website. They are characters of online journalism.
This article holds the two middle columns of the website, if which is cut into four, accompanied by the homepage link and subtitle pages’ in the left and links to other stories, audios & videos, pictures etc associating with the issue HK ten years on in the right.
5.2 Writing
5.2.1 Intros
The first paragraphs are the apex of the pyramid, the all important intro.
In this part four paragraphs are included. The first one gives a scenic description on China’s regain possession of HK. The second one quotes a short sentence using quotation marks from a 87-year-old man in order to draw the third paragraph which says what was nature in the city at that moment – uncertainty about the future. The last paragraph of intros tells what considerable crisis HK has overcome in the decade.
5.2.2 Headlines
Good headlines provide important guidance and context for readers who would like to access sections of stories they are interested in and to leave the rest. Headlines divide a full story into several sections, which make it convenient to follow.
There are four headlines in whole page, under each of which the words are in nearly the same length which quite fits a window. The sense perception is good.
The eighth paragraph, the last one, has a summarized ending which states briefly what HK should do to arrest the risks coming true.
4.2 Identity
Although being a short article without any interview, the writer points out sharply the cruxes of HK confusion – democracy and the status of Asian financial centre. The language is short, simple, and sharp, the idea is crucial, clear and critical.
5 Online
Article Hong Kong’s decade under China’s flag is one of a series of features on BBC website which was uploaded on June 21, 2007. The BBC’s Samanthi Dissanayake went to HK to look at how HK has changed in a decade.
5.1 Non-Linear
Online journalism is not only about the text, but also techniques. Users are free to choose whether to read the story till the end, or to go to audio and video, to database, to comment, to graphic, or to browse another website. They are characters of online journalism.
This article holds the two middle columns of the website, if which is cut into four, accompanied by the homepage link and subtitle pages’ in the left and links to other stories, audios & videos, pictures etc associating with the issue HK ten years on in the right.
5.2 Writing
5.2.1 Intros
The first paragraphs are the apex of the pyramid, the all important intro.
In this part four paragraphs are included. The first one gives a scenic description on China’s regain possession of HK. The second one quotes a short sentence using quotation marks from a 87-year-old man in order to draw the third paragraph which says what was nature in the city at that moment – uncertainty about the future. The last paragraph of intros tells what considerable crisis HK has overcome in the decade.
5.2.2 Headlines
Good headlines provide important guidance and context for readers who would like to access sections of stories they are interested in and to leave the rest. Headlines divide a full story into several sections, which make it convenient to follow.
There are four headlines in whole page, under each of which the words are in nearly the same length which quite fits a window. The sense perception is good.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Media Monitoring 4
4 Newspaper
There isn’t much space in a newspaper. There’s no room for too many words. Thus the article Hong Kong today published in Financial Times on June 30, 2007, the day prior to 10th anniversary of HK’s return to China, contains only eight short paragraphs, four hundred sixty-five words.
4.1 Feature
4.1.1 The Focus
This article focuses on “HK faces too many challenges”.
In the beginning of the writing, the writer points out that seemingly life in HK under Chinese sovereignty is almost the same as it was under British colonial rule. But then it turns to a point of view by deeper observation on the superficial appearance, which is “little risk reassurance”.
4.1.2 The Lead
In the second paragraph, the author associates two significant facts coming along with the return – Asian financial crisis and SARS – with the Five-Starred Red Flag in the handover ceremony, as they were all emerging at that moment.
This descriptive lead gives readers a clear, simple, and lively picture of a scene from which the story will then flow.
4.1.3 The Body
There are five paragraphs in the body of the story which can be considered as three parts according to the content.
Some facts of the advantages as well as what have little changed in HK ten years on are enumerated in the first part of three, the third paragraph. The writer simply gives out several details, such as the soaring tycoons’ property and fortunes, the prosperous stock market, the remaining independent judiciary as well as free media.
In the second part which contains the fourth and fifth paragraphs, HK people’s main disappointment – undemocratic HK – is described. The author demonstrates what the citizen shows – the protest march in 2003, what the disappointment is – the failure of HK’s becoming a full democracy society, and also why it is – Beijing’s interference, local administration’s timidity, business leaders’ connivance, and the increasingly growing economy.
In the last part, a question is raised in paragraph six and is answered in paragraph seven. The author begins to think about what exactly makes HK “special” rather than another coastal city in China by giving several pieces of proof that HK is losing its status as the financial centre in Asia in reality. But in logical, it still is, that is the answer.
There isn’t much space in a newspaper. There’s no room for too many words. Thus the article Hong Kong today published in Financial Times on June 30, 2007, the day prior to 10th anniversary of HK’s return to China, contains only eight short paragraphs, four hundred sixty-five words.
4.1 Feature
4.1.1 The Focus
This article focuses on “HK faces too many challenges”.
In the beginning of the writing, the writer points out that seemingly life in HK under Chinese sovereignty is almost the same as it was under British colonial rule. But then it turns to a point of view by deeper observation on the superficial appearance, which is “little risk reassurance”.
4.1.2 The Lead
In the second paragraph, the author associates two significant facts coming along with the return – Asian financial crisis and SARS – with the Five-Starred Red Flag in the handover ceremony, as they were all emerging at that moment.
This descriptive lead gives readers a clear, simple, and lively picture of a scene from which the story will then flow.
4.1.3 The Body
There are five paragraphs in the body of the story which can be considered as three parts according to the content.
Some facts of the advantages as well as what have little changed in HK ten years on are enumerated in the first part of three, the third paragraph. The writer simply gives out several details, such as the soaring tycoons’ property and fortunes, the prosperous stock market, the remaining independent judiciary as well as free media.
In the second part which contains the fourth and fifth paragraphs, HK people’s main disappointment – undemocratic HK – is described. The author demonstrates what the citizen shows – the protest march in 2003, what the disappointment is – the failure of HK’s becoming a full democracy society, and also why it is – Beijing’s interference, local administration’s timidity, business leaders’ connivance, and the increasingly growing economy.
In the last part, a question is raised in paragraph six and is answered in paragraph seven. The author begins to think about what exactly makes HK “special” rather than another coastal city in China by giving several pieces of proof that HK is losing its status as the financial centre in Asia in reality. But in logical, it still is, that is the answer.
Media Monitoring 3
3.4 Interviewees & Content
Radio part one arranges several questions around the central subject - identity - by presenting eight interviews, one vox pop with pupils, and some conversations.
The interviewees covers wide trades and professions, including not only famous tycoon, head teacher of HK secondary school, hand dealer with furniture, millionaire, club holder who once worked for British army, but also Donald Tsang, HK chief executive, and Christopher Patten.
In addition to some essential news background information, reporter’s own and personal feeling and observation when he is standing in a significance spot, fill the airtime among these interviews.
Radio part two focuses on what is still one of the most arguable issues in HK - the move towards democracy. In this part, all the interviewees are from organs of power, state of the city.
They are all politicians, such as Tung Chee-hwa, the first HK chief executive, Donald Tsang, as well as Chris Patten. The professionals give authority answers thus make the report authoritative and powerful.
These two parts are constructed in a somewhat different way. In part one, reporter’s speaking and interviews fill almost a balanced airtime; in the mean while, the interviews, even containing some argument between interviewer and interviewee, fill 65 to 70 percent of the airtime.
The aim of part one is to discover, however, part two is to discuss. The interviews in part two run a litter longer, add more depth, enlarge the views towards the problem, and give an opportunity for arguing points on the contrary.
Radio part one arranges several questions around the central subject - identity - by presenting eight interviews, one vox pop with pupils, and some conversations.
The interviewees covers wide trades and professions, including not only famous tycoon, head teacher of HK secondary school, hand dealer with furniture, millionaire, club holder who once worked for British army, but also Donald Tsang, HK chief executive, and Christopher Patten.
In addition to some essential news background information, reporter’s own and personal feeling and observation when he is standing in a significance spot, fill the airtime among these interviews.
Radio part two focuses on what is still one of the most arguable issues in HK - the move towards democracy. In this part, all the interviewees are from organs of power, state of the city.
They are all politicians, such as Tung Chee-hwa, the first HK chief executive, Donald Tsang, as well as Chris Patten. The professionals give authority answers thus make the report authoritative and powerful.
These two parts are constructed in a somewhat different way. In part one, reporter’s speaking and interviews fill almost a balanced airtime; in the mean while, the interviews, even containing some argument between interviewer and interviewee, fill 65 to 70 percent of the airtime.
The aim of part one is to discover, however, part two is to discuss. The interviews in part two run a litter longer, add more depth, enlarge the views towards the problem, and give an opportunity for arguing points on the contrary.
Media Monitoring 2
3.2 Promotion
In radio part one which picks up the life pieces of HK people, some Chinese traditional music elements are inserted as background music.
The first two inserts of four are both Deng Lijun’s song. One is at 2’20”, right after the demonstration of story, mixed with noises of hawking one’s wares in the streets and lanes at night. After which reporter talks about his first impression of HK today since handover and what has changed, what hasn’t. The other is at 6’30”, which is right before talking on economy field and an interview with a tycoon from mainland living in HK.
The third and fourth are traditional Chinese operas. As the third one beginning at 9’50” lasts for one minute fifteen seconds, reporter is summing up answers to his question gained by interviews. And when the fourth begins at 21’30” which continues till the end, reporter starts to make conclusion of radio part one.
As is known, traditional Chinese operas stand for China’s splendid national culture, represent China on some occasion, here, the mainland, motherland. Singer Deng Lijun is one of the symbols of contemporary HK’s culture. Quoting these local culture elements as inserts, reporter is quite familiar with HK and China. Thus it makes the radio much more interesting, lively, and vivid.
3.3 Reporter
The maker is BBC's Jonathan Dimbleby, a well-known BBC journalist. He came to HK in 1992 with Christopher Patten who was living after five years as governor of HK, HK’s last British governor. He wrote a book The Last Governor after going back to Britain 1997.
Jonathan Dimbleby experienced the last time of colonial domination in HK. He is Christopher Patten’s trusted follower. As a result, he understands HK, knows about HK more than other correspondents.
In radio part one which picks up the life pieces of HK people, some Chinese traditional music elements are inserted as background music.
The first two inserts of four are both Deng Lijun’s song. One is at 2’20”, right after the demonstration of story, mixed with noises of hawking one’s wares in the streets and lanes at night. After which reporter talks about his first impression of HK today since handover and what has changed, what hasn’t. The other is at 6’30”, which is right before talking on economy field and an interview with a tycoon from mainland living in HK.
The third and fourth are traditional Chinese operas. As the third one beginning at 9’50” lasts for one minute fifteen seconds, reporter is summing up answers to his question gained by interviews. And when the fourth begins at 21’30” which continues till the end, reporter starts to make conclusion of radio part one.
As is known, traditional Chinese operas stand for China’s splendid national culture, represent China on some occasion, here, the mainland, motherland. Singer Deng Lijun is one of the symbols of contemporary HK’s culture. Quoting these local culture elements as inserts, reporter is quite familiar with HK and China. Thus it makes the radio much more interesting, lively, and vivid.
3.3 Reporter
The maker is BBC's Jonathan Dimbleby, a well-known BBC journalist. He came to HK in 1992 with Christopher Patten who was living after five years as governor of HK, HK’s last British governor. He wrote a book The Last Governor after going back to Britain 1997.
Jonathan Dimbleby experienced the last time of colonial domination in HK. He is Christopher Patten’s trusted follower. As a result, he understands HK, knows about HK more than other correspondents.
Media Monitoring 1
1 Summary
The story of HK today is covered in some different kinds of media. This essay analyzes how the story is treated in radio, newspaper & online, and makes a comparison.
2 Background & Introduction
Hong Kong, the financial centre of Asia, one of the greatest cities of the world, was handed back to China from Britain on a rainy night between June 30 and July 1 1997. Ten years on, what has changed and hasn’t in HK? What do HK people think about HK?
All documentary and audio sources are from internet. A radio clip of BBC World Service first broadcasted in July 2007, one article of Financial Times published on June 30, and one article of BBC online uploaded on June 21, are samples of my research.
3 Radio
As the story is a history-made political issue, this two-part radio Hong Kong ten years on, each has a little more than 22 minutes airtime, is designed in a style, pace and rhythm way. It is very clear and definite what the reporter meant – to find out how much has changed in one of the world's most dynamic cities.
3.1 Opening
It is very important to win the audience at the beginning.
At the opening of radio part one, with the sound of wind, the reporter begins to describe the Victoria Harbor scene, recalls the days ten years ago in HK. Then live clips of the handover ceremony insert, as well as the voice of Christopher Patten, the last British governor of HK. After which, what HK feared at that time are illustrated, and then story begins.
To be honest, this is an absolutely attractive, emotional and powerful opening recalling the historical moment which will and should impress listeners.
The live sound clips of the big protest march of 2003 against a controversial anti-subversion law fill the first ten seconds of radio part two, and then turn to a background sound when interviewee’s voice sounds. The march of people’s calling for personal freedoms is one defining moment in democratization progress, which will be discussed later in radio.
The story of HK today is covered in some different kinds of media. This essay analyzes how the story is treated in radio, newspaper & online, and makes a comparison.
2 Background & Introduction
Hong Kong, the financial centre of Asia, one of the greatest cities of the world, was handed back to China from Britain on a rainy night between June 30 and July 1 1997. Ten years on, what has changed and hasn’t in HK? What do HK people think about HK?
All documentary and audio sources are from internet. A radio clip of BBC World Service first broadcasted in July 2007, one article of Financial Times published on June 30, and one article of BBC online uploaded on June 21, are samples of my research.
3 Radio
As the story is a history-made political issue, this two-part radio Hong Kong ten years on, each has a little more than 22 minutes airtime, is designed in a style, pace and rhythm way. It is very clear and definite what the reporter meant – to find out how much has changed in one of the world's most dynamic cities.
3.1 Opening
It is very important to win the audience at the beginning.
At the opening of radio part one, with the sound of wind, the reporter begins to describe the Victoria Harbor scene, recalls the days ten years ago in HK. Then live clips of the handover ceremony insert, as well as the voice of Christopher Patten, the last British governor of HK. After which, what HK feared at that time are illustrated, and then story begins.
To be honest, this is an absolutely attractive, emotional and powerful opening recalling the historical moment which will and should impress listeners.
The live sound clips of the big protest march of 2003 against a controversial anti-subversion law fill the first ten seconds of radio part two, and then turn to a background sound when interviewee’s voice sounds. The march of people’s calling for personal freedoms is one defining moment in democratization progress, which will be discussed later in radio.
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
SOHU observation 5
Homepage - Navigation bars of specified column
At the lower part of homepage, there are 8 specified columns, which are TV, food, entertainments, women, education, culture & society, games & lottery, travel & maps.
Each of the specified columns has its own navigation bar.
For example, menu bar for food contains eat, health, Chinese meal, Western-style meal, kitchen, nutrition, and cookbook.
These are indeed detailed division.
News Central
There is a little change on Sohu news page from the others - the main navigation bar turns to be at the left rather than at the top. It includes nation, international, society, business, IT, Olympic, sports, entertainments, car, real estate, culture, education, military, and pictures.
A secondary navigation bar is at the top. From left items to right, current date and time come first, followed by charity, popular opinions, special topic, video, BBS, broadcast yourself, and search box for news. They are different categories.
It’s another classification way which helps users go through news.
Jakob's Rules – Page titles
The title of homepage is “Sohu – the largest portal site in China”.
The other pages’ titles are on the same form of “A - Sohu”, “A” stands for a specified aspect or news title, such as “News - Sohu”, “Xiang Liu again broke the world’s 110- meter hurdles record - Sohu”, and so on.
This kind of page titles describes the page significantly.
So Sohu has high usability especially when users move between multiple tabs.
At the lower part of homepage, there are 8 specified columns, which are TV, food, entertainments, women, education, culture & society, games & lottery, travel & maps.
Each of the specified columns has its own navigation bar.
For example, menu bar for food contains eat, health, Chinese meal, Western-style meal, kitchen, nutrition, and cookbook.
These are indeed detailed division.
News Central
There is a little change on Sohu news page from the others - the main navigation bar turns to be at the left rather than at the top. It includes nation, international, society, business, IT, Olympic, sports, entertainments, car, real estate, culture, education, military, and pictures.
A secondary navigation bar is at the top. From left items to right, current date and time come first, followed by charity, popular opinions, special topic, video, BBS, broadcast yourself, and search box for news. They are different categories.
It’s another classification way which helps users go through news.
Jakob's Rules – Page titles
The title of homepage is “Sohu – the largest portal site in China”.
The other pages’ titles are on the same form of “A - Sohu”, “A” stands for a specified aspect or news title, such as “News - Sohu”, “Xiang Liu again broke the world’s 110- meter hurdles record - Sohu”, and so on.
This kind of page titles describes the page significantly.
So Sohu has high usability especially when users move between multiple tabs.
SOHU observation 4
Because Sohu is a mine of information, good navigation is extremely needed. And this is what Sohu does very well.
Small navigation bars
One small navigation bar containing 5 signs following a fox tail is at the very right top of the homepage. The 5 signs are homepage, alumni record, real estate, an online games website, and the search engine - Sogou.
Except for homepage, this small bar is always at the very left top of each page which leads people easy to go to homepage and search engine.
Sohu also has another small navigation bar which is always at the very right top of each page. It consists of 18 signs, which are homepage, news, sport, sport video, entertainments, entertainments video, business, IT, car, real estate, women, TV, video, alumni record, email, blog, BBS, and Sogou.
With these two small bars at the very top of each page, people could go to almost everywhere they want by just clicking on the signs without go back to homepage.
Homepage - Main navigation bar
On homepage a main navigation bar is at the top, which includes 3 rows and 56 signs. From news to BBS (Bulletin Board System), Olympics to animations, military issues to traveling, it really covers diverse aspects of daily life.
9 signs of which are highlighted in red, they are a large online game official page, live online TV, blog, Olympics, Olympics in China, stock, entertainments, Sogou phonetic alphabet input system, and constellation
While the input system is highlighted partly because of commercial reason, the rest 8 items are popular among ordinary people.
Actually Olympic in China is a sub-page of Olympics. There is also a sign of Olympics 2008 official website which isn’t highlighted. The reason why to mention Olympic 3 times among 56 signs, I think, is that Olympic held on next year is very important to China.
Small navigation bars
One small navigation bar containing 5 signs following a fox tail is at the very right top of the homepage. The 5 signs are homepage, alumni record, real estate, an online games website, and the search engine - Sogou.
Except for homepage, this small bar is always at the very left top of each page which leads people easy to go to homepage and search engine.
Sohu also has another small navigation bar which is always at the very right top of each page. It consists of 18 signs, which are homepage, news, sport, sport video, entertainments, entertainments video, business, IT, car, real estate, women, TV, video, alumni record, email, blog, BBS, and Sogou.
With these two small bars at the very top of each page, people could go to almost everywhere they want by just clicking on the signs without go back to homepage.
Homepage - Main navigation bar
On homepage a main navigation bar is at the top, which includes 3 rows and 56 signs. From news to BBS (Bulletin Board System), Olympics to animations, military issues to traveling, it really covers diverse aspects of daily life.
9 signs of which are highlighted in red, they are a large online game official page, live online TV, blog, Olympics, Olympics in China, stock, entertainments, Sogou phonetic alphabet input system, and constellation
While the input system is highlighted partly because of commercial reason, the rest 8 items are popular among ordinary people.
Actually Olympic in China is a sub-page of Olympics. There is also a sign of Olympics 2008 official website which isn’t highlighted. The reason why to mention Olympic 3 times among 56 signs, I think, is that Olympic held on next year is very important to China.
SOHU observation 3
Special report
Sohu will set up channels for special report of serial news, such as Six-Party Talks, under first-class classification, like News.
All the relevant articles, reports, pictures, videos, and comments will be included. It’s convenient to get related information, and clear to follow an issue.
Normal
Besides special report, as to mention the normal ones, the layouts are all the same.
There are two columns, the left one is news story, and the right one contains unrelated aspects.
Normal – left column
For news story itself, the hook comes first, bold, at font size 18, Song typeface (the same typeface below). If the story is available on video, there will be a small icon which likes a camera behind the hook. You can click on the icon, and then a page for video watching opens in a new window.
Then follows:
updated time at the left in sequence of year-month-day-hour-minute, font size 12;
link to comments and font size adjusting at the right, there are numbers of comments shown within brackets, font size 12, color of the number is red;
news source, such as Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, etc, font size 14;
news summary, one paragraph or a sentence which like cue in broadcasting journalism which summarizes the main story, font size 14;
pictures in the middle, with short caption pointing out name of the figure in the picture, or address of a building or place shown, etc. font size 12. Sometimes there is no picture;
the body, font size 14, 1.5 space;
link to comments right behind the body, the same one as what above news source;
relevant news & related key words links, which displays in two secondary columns divided by dotted line, with updated time next to each news link and “more” under the last one, font size 14;
place to leave comments, you have a choice here, to send comment with your name, or anonymous, or hide IP address, font size 12;
again link to comments at font size 14, right to blank comments space and under related key words links. Under which there are cream comments & debate links, font size 12.
The background color of the left column, which is news story, is light blue, while the rest is white. All the characters are black except for links, which are blue, and number of comments, which is red.
It is almost one sentence one paragraph, if not, it is one meaning one paragraph.
Subheadings are available. But no first paragraph of body is bold, I believe, which is Chinese habit to leave the first paragraph the same as rest of the body. If the font-size 14 Song typeface characters are bold, words will seem dirty and unclear.
There is a big ad picture in the left middle of the body. It is the same in other news story pages.
Normal – right column
At the top of right column, the search engine Sogou comes first then follows blogs and several online communities.
Sohu will set up channels for special report of serial news, such as Six-Party Talks, under first-class classification, like News.
All the relevant articles, reports, pictures, videos, and comments will be included. It’s convenient to get related information, and clear to follow an issue.
Normal
Besides special report, as to mention the normal ones, the layouts are all the same.
There are two columns, the left one is news story, and the right one contains unrelated aspects.
Normal – left column
For news story itself, the hook comes first, bold, at font size 18, Song typeface (the same typeface below). If the story is available on video, there will be a small icon which likes a camera behind the hook. You can click on the icon, and then a page for video watching opens in a new window.
Then follows:
updated time at the left in sequence of year-month-day-hour-minute, font size 12;
link to comments and font size adjusting at the right, there are numbers of comments shown within brackets, font size 12, color of the number is red;
news source, such as Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, etc, font size 14;
news summary, one paragraph or a sentence which like cue in broadcasting journalism which summarizes the main story, font size 14;
pictures in the middle, with short caption pointing out name of the figure in the picture, or address of a building or place shown, etc. font size 12. Sometimes there is no picture;
the body, font size 14, 1.5 space;
link to comments right behind the body, the same one as what above news source;
relevant news & related key words links, which displays in two secondary columns divided by dotted line, with updated time next to each news link and “more” under the last one, font size 14;
place to leave comments, you have a choice here, to send comment with your name, or anonymous, or hide IP address, font size 12;
again link to comments at font size 14, right to blank comments space and under related key words links. Under which there are cream comments & debate links, font size 12.
The background color of the left column, which is news story, is light blue, while the rest is white. All the characters are black except for links, which are blue, and number of comments, which is red.
It is almost one sentence one paragraph, if not, it is one meaning one paragraph.
Subheadings are available. But no first paragraph of body is bold, I believe, which is Chinese habit to leave the first paragraph the same as rest of the body. If the font-size 14 Song typeface characters are bold, words will seem dirty and unclear.
There is a big ad picture in the left middle of the body. It is the same in other news story pages.
Normal – right column
At the top of right column, the search engine Sogou comes first then follows blogs and several online communities.
SOHU observation 2
Jakob's Rules – PDF Files
There are no PDF files applied in Sohu. It isn’t a result of one reason.
First of all, Sohu is a commercial website providing information, but not an academic reading website with academic articles, or websites of universities. There is no room for PDF files, to some extent.
In another way, PDF files are not as popular in China as in developed countries.
Sohu has Reading channel, where there are serial and finished novels. People are accustomed to read novels online, chapter by chapter, one chapter one page. Certainly you can download finished novels in the form of e-books. An e-book is usually text file, html file, or exe file produced by certain software.
Even if you search the internet for essays written in Chinese-simple, number of Microsoft word files will be much more than PDF files. But for Chinese-traditional and English essays, PDF are mainstream format.
Jakob's Rules - Anything looks like ads
Sohu has pop-up ads as well as flash ads almost in all pages. But what seems good is ads look like ads, picture news looks like news, flash games look like games. That means people will not be confused with animations or flashes’ design, such as shape or position.
Ads at Sohu are either at the top of a page, or at the bottom, or at the very both sides which follow you when you scroll up and down.
Jakob's Rules – Design conventions
In my opinion, most Chinese websites look the same. And Sohu is a comprehensive expression of the design conventions.
For instance, email logging in box at the very top of homepage, one link a new window, dense list of news titles, flash ads, flash picture news, latest news displays in the form of rolling, white background with blue or black characters, each channel with a same template, WMV format videos, font size 12 Song typeface - which is standard typeface of Chinese - as default, highlight the hottest news with different color and larger font size, etc.
Jakob's Rules – Answer users’ questions
Things like in London I will go to BBC website every weekday morning after getting up to see what’s the latest news, in China when I access to Internet I will go to Sohu first. Some journalism organizations ask for employees set up Sohu as default page of browser.
Founder of Sohu behaves more like a star rather than merely a rational business man. He often attends charity dinner parties, movie or music awarding ceremonies, and social public good activities, etc.
Sohu is undoubtedly one of the most successful website in China.
The reasons are simple – Sohu offers a satisfactory variety of what people need. Users could get what they expect to almost all the time.
There are no PDF files applied in Sohu. It isn’t a result of one reason.
First of all, Sohu is a commercial website providing information, but not an academic reading website with academic articles, or websites of universities. There is no room for PDF files, to some extent.
In another way, PDF files are not as popular in China as in developed countries.
Sohu has Reading channel, where there are serial and finished novels. People are accustomed to read novels online, chapter by chapter, one chapter one page. Certainly you can download finished novels in the form of e-books. An e-book is usually text file, html file, or exe file produced by certain software.
Even if you search the internet for essays written in Chinese-simple, number of Microsoft word files will be much more than PDF files. But for Chinese-traditional and English essays, PDF are mainstream format.
Jakob's Rules - Anything looks like ads
Sohu has pop-up ads as well as flash ads almost in all pages. But what seems good is ads look like ads, picture news looks like news, flash games look like games. That means people will not be confused with animations or flashes’ design, such as shape or position.
Ads at Sohu are either at the top of a page, or at the bottom, or at the very both sides which follow you when you scroll up and down.
Jakob's Rules – Design conventions
In my opinion, most Chinese websites look the same. And Sohu is a comprehensive expression of the design conventions.
For instance, email logging in box at the very top of homepage, one link a new window, dense list of news titles, flash ads, flash picture news, latest news displays in the form of rolling, white background with blue or black characters, each channel with a same template, WMV format videos, font size 12 Song typeface - which is standard typeface of Chinese - as default, highlight the hottest news with different color and larger font size, etc.
Jakob's Rules – Answer users’ questions
Things like in London I will go to BBC website every weekday morning after getting up to see what’s the latest news, in China when I access to Internet I will go to Sohu first. Some journalism organizations ask for employees set up Sohu as default page of browser.
Founder of Sohu behaves more like a star rather than merely a rational business man. He often attends charity dinner parties, movie or music awarding ceremonies, and social public good activities, etc.
Sohu is undoubtedly one of the most successful website in China.
The reasons are simple – Sohu offers a satisfactory variety of what people need. Users could get what they expect to almost all the time.
SOHU observation 1
Sohu is a comprehensive website, which is the largest portal site in China. Every network user knows Sohu.
Everyone who for the first time goes to Sohu’s home page may be impressed by its colorful characters and navigation bars, ordered and dense layout, and the huge information.
Sohu in Chinese means two words – search & fox. Certainly I don’t know why founder of Sohu named his website fox, however, a fox tail is the website’s logo as is shown at the top middle of the home page, which is really a small logo.
There are three columns in home page which make readers easier to follow.
Pictures
There are only small pictures at the top left within some columns, especially within the classified-news columns on lower half of the home page.
Each small picture with short caption tells a different story from the rest of the column. The picture stories are either gossip or something like inside stories, all of which are of highly public interest.
Jakob's Rules - Search engine
Sohu has its own search engine named Sogou. Again, it’s very interesting that Sogou in Chinese means two words either – search & dog. The search box lies right in the middle when one opens Sohu without need to scroll up and down.
You can search for news, website, blog, music, picture and maps. It has been listed below the search box that what are the most frequently searched words recently, which make it clear what is hot news at a glance.
When you click on search, a new window opens up. Both at the top of the new search page and the bottom are search boxes. The related searched words are at the bottom either.
When you type a wrong word to search, although results are still available, the search engine will ask you “do you mean XXX (the right word)?”
The results are ranked by updated time, which means the most recently updated website ranks first. The article title, description, article link, rate for skimming, and updated time are displayed at the same time.
Jakob's Rules – Color of visited links & Opening new windows
On the home page, when you click on a link, its color will change, but what’s interesting is when you click on any blank place on the home page the changed color will change back to be original.
On the other pages of Sohu, the color of visited links will not change.
And whatever new content links you click on to go forwards, either news or AD, it will be opened in a new window. The same content, I mean a long article in several pages, on that condition a new page will open in same window. When you go backwards such as from a piece of news page to homepage, it will always be the same window.
I believe these two aspects meet Chinese custom. Most of the other Chinese websites are the same as Sohu.
Chinese people prefer to use browser that windows opened in different tabs but in one window. So there is no need to worry about one window covers another, or many windows fill up the screen, or hard to find out the page you want from many windows. We can see page titles at a glance at the tabs.
Everyone who for the first time goes to Sohu’s home page may be impressed by its colorful characters and navigation bars, ordered and dense layout, and the huge information.
Sohu in Chinese means two words – search & fox. Certainly I don’t know why founder of Sohu named his website fox, however, a fox tail is the website’s logo as is shown at the top middle of the home page, which is really a small logo.
There are three columns in home page which make readers easier to follow.
Pictures
There are only small pictures at the top left within some columns, especially within the classified-news columns on lower half of the home page.
Each small picture with short caption tells a different story from the rest of the column. The picture stories are either gossip or something like inside stories, all of which are of highly public interest.
Jakob's Rules - Search engine
Sohu has its own search engine named Sogou. Again, it’s very interesting that Sogou in Chinese means two words either – search & dog. The search box lies right in the middle when one opens Sohu without need to scroll up and down.
You can search for news, website, blog, music, picture and maps. It has been listed below the search box that what are the most frequently searched words recently, which make it clear what is hot news at a glance.
When you click on search, a new window opens up. Both at the top of the new search page and the bottom are search boxes. The related searched words are at the bottom either.
When you type a wrong word to search, although results are still available, the search engine will ask you “do you mean XXX (the right word)?”
The results are ranked by updated time, which means the most recently updated website ranks first. The article title, description, article link, rate for skimming, and updated time are displayed at the same time.
Jakob's Rules – Color of visited links & Opening new windows
On the home page, when you click on a link, its color will change, but what’s interesting is when you click on any blank place on the home page the changed color will change back to be original.
On the other pages of Sohu, the color of visited links will not change.
And whatever new content links you click on to go forwards, either news or AD, it will be opened in a new window. The same content, I mean a long article in several pages, on that condition a new page will open in same window. When you go backwards such as from a piece of news page to homepage, it will always be the same window.
I believe these two aspects meet Chinese custom. Most of the other Chinese websites are the same as Sohu.
Chinese people prefer to use browser that windows opened in different tabs but in one window. So there is no need to worry about one window covers another, or many windows fill up the screen, or hard to find out the page you want from many windows. We can see page titles at a glance at the tabs.
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