<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Revamped Straits Times easier to read, vibrant <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi Selvaretnam and Tan Wei Zhao
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->READERS woke up to a revamped Straits Time yesterday morning packed with new offerings both in print and online.
A new masthead, bigger headlines and easier-to-tread text fonts were among the design changes.
Content was beefed up throughout the paper, with the expanded Prime section offering more top news, views and special reports.
Readers said they found the new layout more vibrant and reader-friendly.
Retiree Michael Lew, 66, who picked up a copy of the revamped paper while on his morning walk with his wife said: 'The headings are very striking. It is easy for us to look for the different sections.'
For Mr Freddy Gan, 62, a supplier of toilet cleaning products, it was the Page 1 summaries that helped him 'zero in on the important news.'
Media professionals like Mr Jeffrey Seah, 38, the CEO of media planning agency Mindshare liked how the new design allowed for more stories on Page 1.
The injection of commentaries into the Prime Pages were among the content changes that caught the eye of Mr Vikram Bansal, 37, the General Manager of media planning agency Zenith Optimedia.
He said: 'There is more analysis to read. It goes beyond factual reporting.'
Mr Tay Kay Fong, 29, a brand consultant enjoyed Beijing Bureau chief Chua Chin Hon's report on China's 100-year Olympic dream coming true.
'It took a different spin by providing a historical and political context to the Games,' he said.
Kor Kian Beng's story on patriotism and citizenship struck a chord with public relations consultant Delicia Tan.
'It was a good reflection of National Day. The writer's younger voice resonated with me,' said Ms Tan, 29.
Some readers though complained they could not find some of their staple reads.
Housewife Mrs Chan Lai Pheng, 52, for example could not locate the weather report in the main paper.
It has been moved to the second last page in the Life! section. The F.Y.I page that used to carry it in the main paper was dropped as readership surveys had shown it was poorly read.
Another reader, Mr Wee Eng Leong, was at a loss when he could not find the Stock Market page in yesterday's paper.
The paper no longer provides the full listing of SGX stocks but carries a selection of Straits Times Index and FTSE ST midcap index stocks.
Overall, however, readers were positive about the changes. Ms Helen Li, 26, an auditor, said in Chinese: 'You can see everything at a glance. It's very clear, the news is prominently displayed, and the new colours are very vibrant. Having fewer parts makes the paper easier to read too.'
Perhaps the most significant change made was to the paper's masthead - its signature.
The new colours and font, which also carry some connection to the paper's original masthead from its very first edition in 1845 found favour with administrative officer Dave Yong, 57 who said it was 'bold and distinctive'.
He was also a fan the sports pages, which he found 'more colourful and lively.'
On readers' response to the paper, ST Editor Han Fook Kwang said: 'I'm very heartened by what they're saying. Trying to please 1.3 million readers when you change a paper like the Straits Times is always a daunting exercise but we've a newsroom that wasn't afraid to try. I'm glad we did.'
Online, however, the new ST Breaking News site experienced some technical difficulties and received feedback from many readers pointing out site problems.
Straitstimes.com editor Joanne Lee said the technical team was working flat out to fix the problem.
'Please bear with us and we thank you for your understanding,' she said, apologising for the inconvenience caused.
For the rest of the month, a host of treats await readers who buy a copy of the Straits Times.
From August 11-22 (08), readers will get a free Cathay Cineplex movie ticket when they send in five coupons on the Monday to Friday covers of the paper.
From August 8 to 14 (08), readers who buy any three copies of The Straits Times from Buzz Pods can redeem a free admission ticket to the Asian Civilisation Museum.
New subscribers will get gifts worth over $200. Readers who want to subscribe can visit roadshows at Tampines Mall, Sun Plaza and Northpoint Shopping Centre that run till Sunday (Aug 10) or call 63883838.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi Selvaretnam and Tan Wei Zhao
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->READERS woke up to a revamped Straits Time yesterday morning packed with new offerings both in print and online.
A new masthead, bigger headlines and easier-to-tread text fonts were among the design changes.
Content was beefed up throughout the paper, with the expanded Prime section offering more top news, views and special reports.
Readers said they found the new layout more vibrant and reader-friendly.
Retiree Michael Lew, 66, who picked up a copy of the revamped paper while on his morning walk with his wife said: 'The headings are very striking. It is easy for us to look for the different sections.'
For Mr Freddy Gan, 62, a supplier of toilet cleaning products, it was the Page 1 summaries that helped him 'zero in on the important news.'
Media professionals like Mr Jeffrey Seah, 38, the CEO of media planning agency Mindshare liked how the new design allowed for more stories on Page 1.
The injection of commentaries into the Prime Pages were among the content changes that caught the eye of Mr Vikram Bansal, 37, the General Manager of media planning agency Zenith Optimedia.
He said: 'There is more analysis to read. It goes beyond factual reporting.'
Mr Tay Kay Fong, 29, a brand consultant enjoyed Beijing Bureau chief Chua Chin Hon's report on China's 100-year Olympic dream coming true.
'It took a different spin by providing a historical and political context to the Games,' he said.
Kor Kian Beng's story on patriotism and citizenship struck a chord with public relations consultant Delicia Tan.
'It was a good reflection of National Day. The writer's younger voice resonated with me,' said Ms Tan, 29.
Some readers though complained they could not find some of their staple reads.
Housewife Mrs Chan Lai Pheng, 52, for example could not locate the weather report in the main paper.
It has been moved to the second last page in the Life! section. The F.Y.I page that used to carry it in the main paper was dropped as readership surveys had shown it was poorly read.
Another reader, Mr Wee Eng Leong, was at a loss when he could not find the Stock Market page in yesterday's paper.
The paper no longer provides the full listing of SGX stocks but carries a selection of Straits Times Index and FTSE ST midcap index stocks.
Overall, however, readers were positive about the changes. Ms Helen Li, 26, an auditor, said in Chinese: 'You can see everything at a glance. It's very clear, the news is prominently displayed, and the new colours are very vibrant. Having fewer parts makes the paper easier to read too.'
Perhaps the most significant change made was to the paper's masthead - its signature.
The new colours and font, which also carry some connection to the paper's original masthead from its very first edition in 1845 found favour with administrative officer Dave Yong, 57 who said it was 'bold and distinctive'.
He was also a fan the sports pages, which he found 'more colourful and lively.'
On readers' response to the paper, ST Editor Han Fook Kwang said: 'I'm very heartened by what they're saying. Trying to please 1.3 million readers when you change a paper like the Straits Times is always a daunting exercise but we've a newsroom that wasn't afraid to try. I'm glad we did.'
Online, however, the new ST Breaking News site experienced some technical difficulties and received feedback from many readers pointing out site problems.
Straitstimes.com editor Joanne Lee said the technical team was working flat out to fix the problem.
'Please bear with us and we thank you for your understanding,' she said, apologising for the inconvenience caused.
For the rest of the month, a host of treats await readers who buy a copy of the Straits Times.
From August 11-22 (08), readers will get a free Cathay Cineplex movie ticket when they send in five coupons on the Monday to Friday covers of the paper.
From August 8 to 14 (08), readers who buy any three copies of The Straits Times from Buzz Pods can redeem a free admission ticket to the Asian Civilisation Museum.
New subscribers will get gifts worth over $200. Readers who want to subscribe can visit roadshows at Tampines Mall, Sun Plaza and Northpoint Shopping Centre that run till Sunday (Aug 10) or call 63883838.
