This document analyzes and compares the homepages of three local newspaper websites in Surrey. It notes that "This is Surrey" uses a bright color scheme and low text design that breaks from newspaper conventions to be more welcoming to users. In contrast, the other two newspapers, The Sutton Guardian and The Surrey Comet, have more traditional and bland designs that require scrolling to view content. The document concludes that newspaper websites need to innovate beyond standard designs in order to stand out and engage readers.

1. Research into Local Newspaper Websites

2. This is Surrey homepage Three column layout for user convenience. Bright colour scheme, goes against traditional style. More welcoming. Low level of actual text, more headlines and hyperlinks House style - baby blue background colour, instead of conventional white. Perhaps easier on the eye?

3. The Sutton Guardian Homepage More basic house style. White background, with black Text. However, some headings are in turquoise. Some digital extras featured, such as weather forecast Previews retail/ physical copy The graphology here means that visitors will have to scroll down to see other headlines

4. Very traditional, but perhaps bland masthead. Also uses the more familiar house style, and incorporates the turquoise sub-headings. The Surrey Comet Homepage Again, visitors must scroll down to access further stories

5. In conclusion… It seems that in order to stand out, newspaper websites must go against the conventions. ‘This is Surrey’ featured a very innovative house style for a newspaper- particularly a local one. The other newspapers were very similar in house style, and frankly, rather bland. This is something we should pay attention to.