CNN International today announced the re-launch of CNNArabic.com, its online Arabic news offering, as the website marks its 12th anniversary. The reinvented CNNArabic.com includes a range of new features providing a seamless user experience across all devices as the website embraces rapidly evolving consumer needs.
At the heart of the re-launch is the new concept of responsive design. Ensuring an optimal user experience for consumers across any device and wherever they are, CNNArabic’s responsive design – not yet adopted by the leading Arabic news portals in the Middle East – adapts content to fit the device being used.
The new features now available as part of this fundamental design change ensures the site is highly social, snappy, and interactive, with greater emphasis on visual content. Additional newsgathering resources have been added to help deliver a wider reach of local and regional stories and exclusive interviews. The enhancements also include new type and font sizes and improved access and greater depth to images and video.
“The Middle East is one of the fastest growing mobile Internet markets and the ideal place for a site built around evolving news consumption habits,” commented Peter Bale, VP and General Manager CNN Digital International. “As the leading international multiplatform news brand, CNN is bringing the most modern design and technology to the Arabic language market, with the new CNNArabic reflecting our ambition to be quick to embrace relevant new formats while also listening carefully to the needs of our consumers.”
Caroline Faraj, CNN Arabic digital services director, said “We are delighted to mark the 12th anniversary of CNNArabic.com this year with the launch of the new CNNArabic website. Over the years, CNNArabic.com has become the home of not just breaking news, but also human interest stories and in-depth regional coverage and this is a significant new phase to build further on how we have evolved.”
“The new look and feel of CNNArabic.com means it has never been easier to navigate,” added Faraj. “And from an editorial point of view, we are particularly interested in encouraging Arab speakers from around the world to use our platform and interact with our users.”
Rani R. Raad, Chief Commercial Officer CNN International, said: “This is a major milestone in CNNArabic’s evolution. The new design will provide Arab speakers around the world with an optimal digital experience whenever and wherever they consume our content. It is also a further signal of our ongoing commitment to delivering first-class content across all platforms to highly engaged audiences.”
In addition to the CNNArabic operation based in Dubai, CNN’s presence in the region includes its broadcast and production centre, CNN Abu Dhabi. Its wide programming remit from the region includes the feature shows ‘Inside the Middle East’, ‘CNN Marketplace Middle East’, the newly launched ‘One Square Meter’ and the nightly ‘Global Exchange’ programme. CNN’s regional bureaux include Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Cairo, Istanbul and Jerusalem.
New features on CNNArabic.com
Responsive design
The restyled website will be launched with responsive design, meaning that regardless of the device or screen size, users will be presented with the optimum experience.
Newsfeed
The redesigned platform revolves around the central “newsfeed” containing hundreds of curated articles – from top stories and trending now packages, to features on subject areas such as technology, business and specific topics.
Social
CNNArabic.com brings social to the forefront of the site with embedded ‘buzz checks’ and Facebook commenting weaved into the fabric of the new site.
Continuous scroll
CNNArabic.com’s cutting edge continuous scroll technology allows users to consume the news quickly by seamlessly moving from story to story.
