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Take A Click At Us Now: Go To TBO

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By RUSSELL RAY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 8, 2008

TAMPA - TBO.com, the online partner of The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8, rolled out a new home page and several new features Tuesday afternoon.

Among other improvements, the revamped home page features rotating picture panels with links to related stories. The photo gallery reflects "the news priorities for the moment," TBO Content Director Loren Omoto said.

"They present a much deeper view of what's on the site," Omoto said. "The pictures are bigger, so we get more impact with the images we've got."

Searching for stories on TBO.com has been simplified. Also, more continuous news is spotlighted and time-stamped on a sliding grid near the top of the home page.

The new home page also will showcase WFLA video tied to breaking news, events and issues of interest to residents in the Tampa Bay area.

"We've never had a permanent home for it, and now we do," Omoto said.

The new home page, which was launched Tuesday after months of preparation, also offers one-click access to stories grouped under topics such as entertainment, community, and business.

The Web site, which has about 2 million individual - what's often called "unique" - visitors a month, also offers more opportunities for visitors to comment on stories posted on the site. TBO.com also has a spot on the home page to highlight user-generated photos.

"Those are all ways to encourage people to interact," Omoto said.

The improved Web site also offers prominent space for advertisers.

Denise E. Palmer, publisher and president of The Tampa Tribune, said the improvements to TBO.com are designed to attract more viewers and increase advertising revenue.

"The redesign was really done to get people more engaged with the site - to keep them more engaged throughout the day," Palmer said. "From a local news perspective, we've taken a big leap ahead of everybody else in the market."
Omoto said TBO.com is soliciting comments and ideas about the changes and plans to use some of the feedback for future improvements. Readers can send comments to newhome@tbo.com.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at rray@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7870.

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