Wednesday, April 9, 2014

"Nothin' but Rodeo"


Hey Everybody!

 

Thanks for checking in! Last week, things got a little silly at this blog. I discussed a funny video created by the Sam Houston State Rodeo Team. A couple of amazing videos showcasing the talented horses in the rodeo industry were also included. Check it out if you haven’t already by clicking on this link!
 

 
 
 
 
The Rodeo News magazine is one of the main places I go to get my rodeo fix. Rodeo News is “the pioneer for quality information and coverage connecting all rodeo enthusiasts” (“Vision Statement,” Therodeonews.com). The magazine is published 21 times per year, semimonthly March – November and once in December, January, and February. However, the Rodeo News magazine can also be found entirely on their website. This converged way of publishing makes it easy for readers to access information at their leisure. This week, I’m going to provide you with my analysis of the website.


 
 
 
In their book, Agricultural Communications in Action, Telg and Irani state that good web design principles include division of space, balance, visual vectors, repetition, contrast, and typography (2012). The Rodeo News website is very strong in the majority of web design principles but could also improve on some aspects.

The website is presented in a block-like structure giving it a very formally balanced appearance; items are symmetric on the left and right sides of the page. This layout allows the reader to skim the page quickly to access the stories they are most interested in. I would recommend a little more contrast between the background and the type. However, contrasting colors are used well in specific articles and pictures.
 

 
 
 
The visual vectors, lines, of the page draw the reader’s eyes across and down the page very smoothly. All sections of the website are very systematically organized. Changing the sizes of different feature story blocks could make the home page a little more creative. The repetition of the navigation buttons to various parts of the website give the reader easy access to any part of the site. All of the fonts on the website are very easy to read, but the titles of the articles could be more unique to grab the reader’s attention.
 

I encourage you to visit this website to get plenty of rodeo news, contestant profiles, photos, and testimonials. If you love rodeo, I promise that you’ll love this site!




See you next time!


Emily Engelhard

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