Observer goes daily

Nope, this is not an April Fools’ joke … just a May Day launch of The Longboat Observer’s newly updated Web site, YourObserver.com.

Starting Friday, the new
YourObserver.com will offer viewers daily news and information on our redesigned Web site. We think you’ll find it clean, attractive and easy to navigate.

Of course, The Longboat Observer will still produce its print edition each week, but we are moving into daily and breaking news reporting on our Web site. Readers will have immediate access to news from all three Observer coverage areas — Longboat Key, Sarasota and East County.

Readers essentially get three Web sites in one, because each newspaper is represented with its own distinct “front page” and features unique to each publication. In addition to daily and breaking news, viewers will have access to daily and weekly blogs, expanded information and many more photos of your favorite neighborhood events.

You’ll still be able to keep up with what’s going on in society circles with the expanded Black Tie section on the Web site. Photos of your friends at these social events will still be available for viewing, sharing and for purchase. Plus, keep your calendar up to date with the Black Tie Social Calendar — submit your own event and upload dates to your Outlook calendar.

YourObserver.com has also entered the social-media world with new Facebook pages. Each Observer newspaper has its own Facebook page, so be sure to add us as your friend. You can also follow us on Twitter to get up-to-the-minute news coverage and links to breaking stories.

As we move into providing daily content to our Web-site viewers, our objectives remain the same — to provide our readers in print and online with news and information that is local, trustworthy and relevant — for and about you, your neighbors and your neighborhood.

Spearheading The Observers’ ventures into multimedia are Emily Walsh as associate publisher/multimedia ([email protected]) and Tim Epperson as Web editor ([email protected]). If you have comments or suggestions, please give them your feedback.

They’d love to hear from you.

Check out the new YourObserver.com May 1. For tips on navigating and accessing the Web site, please turn to pages 14A and 15A.

We hope you enjoy your new source for local, daily news.

— Matt Walsh, Editor