The Evolution of The Hollywood Reporter
As the 1990s progressed, the development of the Internet enabled consumers to get news, entertainment and information on-demand. The inner workings of Hollywood remained a mystery to the general population (unless they worked there), until the rise of trade publications. Trade publications cover a specific topic for people who work in a particular field or industry, allowing for coverage in a more specific fashion. One of the most well-known trade publications that covers the dealings of Hollywood is (as you may have guessed by the title), The Hollywood Reporter.
In 1997, The Hollywood Reporter’s website was simple and bare, with links to a subscription form, a web site directory for major Hollywood content providers (known as Hollywood Hyperlinks), and the top stories of the day.
When we reach 1998, the site becomes more presentable by removing the necessity to click through multiple links to get to what you want. All the links are on the front page. However, the page (along with most other pages on the Internet at this time) is pretty bland, only using tan, white and red to present words.
As we reach 2000, the page becomes more lively, with the addition of pictures and thumbnails to other articles. Still, the blandness remained.
The website would be updated in June of 2003, this time with a cleaner User Interface, with specific links to Reviews, Columns, Events, and the Directory. It looks to make things easier for the site visitor. I’d surmise that people would be less likely to visit the site because it looked the same for 3 years and making an update to the interface would most likely bring people back.
Around 2006, the website implemented menus that allow you to pick the page you want to go without having to click through several links. The addition of menus makes it significantly easier to navigate. They even added a chart of the best DVDs being sold! This page started having the look of a modern website, but there was still a lot of blank space not being used. Eventually, there were links on the main page to videos.
In 2008, the website was updated again, adding a search bar, a table of box office estimates and the headlines in the world of film, television, and tech. Videos are linked on the website and a video player was added. Lots of links were on the website and, in my opinion, it makes the website looks cluttered. Too many links to click through would most likely give the viewer a headache.
Looking towards the modern incarnation of the website, pictures, columns, links, and videos are on display. I still have an issue with the amount of information on the front page alone.
People are always looking for more information and The Hollywood Reporter seems to give them that. Though we are being inundated with information, this could lead to some changes in how websites present their information. We can only wait to see how websites improve their UI.
