The Washington Post Live Updates
The Washington Post Live Updates
Role: Lead designer
In collaboration with: Design, Product, Engineering, Analytics and the Newsroom
Role: Lead designer
In collaboration with: Design, Product, Engineering, Analytics and the Newsroom
Despite looking for the latest when a major story breaks, readers were abandoning our Live Updates page before seeing new content.
I led a research-driven redesign that emphasized clarity and clearly signaled its dynamic, real-time nature. The results were a dramatic increase in scroll depth, a 20% reduction in newsroom publishing time, and expanded use of the successful format by other news desks.
Despite looking for the latest when a major story breaks, readers were abandoning our Live Updates page before seeing new content.
I led a research-driven redesign that emphasized clarity and clearly signaled its dynamic, real-time nature. The results were a dramatic increase in scroll depth, a 20% reduction in newsroom publishing time, and expanded use of the successful format by other news desks.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Defining the problem
Defining the problem
For delivering real-time breaking news, The Washington Post relies heavily on its Live Updates page. It's the quickest way we get updates to readers, making it a critical tool for attracting new audiences and boosting our search engine visibility.
However, the existing format faced a major challenge:
For delivering real-time breaking news, The Washington Post relies heavily on its Live Updates page. It's the quickest way we get updates to readers, making it a critical tool for attracting new audiences and boosting our search engine visibility.
However, the existing format faced a major challenge:
USER PROBLEM
USER PROBLEM
50% of readers were leaving the page before scrolling to the most recent update.
50% of readers were leaving the page before scrolling to the most recent update.
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Uncovering the disconnect
Uncovering the disconnect
Collaborating with our research team, we conducted user interviews to understand how readers consume live news. We explored their preferred news sources, when and how often they check the news and their expectations for live coverages.
Our newsroom produces critical journalism, so why aren't readers engaging more deeply? Some insights we uncovered:
Collaborating with our research team, we conducted user interviews to understand how readers consume live news. We explored their preferred news sources, when and how often they check the news and their expectations for live coverages.
Our newsroom produces critical journalism, so why aren't readers engaging more deeply? Some insights we uncovered:
Collaborating with our research team, we conducted user interviews to understand how readers consume live news. We explored their preferred news sources, devices, and how often they check the news.
We discovered a disconnect:
🕛 Because readers accessed our live updates from various entry points and at different times throughout the day, they often lacked context for the latest posts.
🕛 Because readers accessed our live updates from various entry points and at different times throughout the day, they often lacked context for the latest posts.
🤔 Readers found our live updates overwhelming due to its length and lack of readability. Most users thought it was a standard article, not a dynamically updating coverage.
🤔 Readers found our live updates overwhelming due to its length and lack of readability. Most users thought it was a standard article, not a dynamically updating coverage.
🔴 Readers had strong desire for clear visual cues indicating new or significant updates, especially since many readers only have a few minutes to catch up.
🔴 Readers had strong desire for clear visual cues indicating new or significant updates, especially since many readers only have a few minutes to catch up.
The core opportunity became clear: How can we quickly orient and inform time-pressed readers with what's happening?
The core opportunity became clear: How can we quickly orient and inform time-pressed readers with what's happening?
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
Creating a flexible system for fast paced storytelling
Creating a flexible system for fast paced storytelling
To address the reader needs, we implemented a two-pronged strategy focusing on both journalism strategy and user experience, designed for the skimming habits common during breaking news.
To address the reader needs, we implemented a two-pronged strategy focusing on both journalism strategy and user experience, designed for the skimming habits common during breaking news.
1. Optimized feed structure
1. Optimized feed structure
Taking inspiration from successful social media feed patterns, I redesigned the feed's structure and visual elements to directly address the fast-paced skimming behavior typical during breaking news.
Taking inspiration from successful social media feed patterns, I redesigned the feed's structure and visual elements to directly address the fast-paced skimming behavior typical during breaking news.
2. Content strategy evolution
2. Content strategy evolution
We collaborated with the newsroom to emphasize concise, impactful updates. We introduced features tailored to their workflow:
We collaborated with the newsroom to emphasize concise, impactful updates. We introduced features tailored to their workflow:
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
CLEAR LIVE SIGNALS
Implementing dynamic timestamps ("5m ago") and a "New Updates" button to clearly signal freshness and allow instant access to the latest information.
SCANNABLE UPDATE FORMAT
Using a consistent structure, (timestamp, byline, headline, etc.), on all types of updates with expand/collapse functionality for easier scanning.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERTISE
Showcased journalist avatars and expertise to build trust and highlight the value of on-the-ground reporting.
CONTEXTUAL FRAMING
Quickly orienting readers before they dive into updates with essential background information at the start of the feed.
Reporter insights / quick posts
Allowing rapid sharing of direct observations and insights.
IMPACT
IMPACT
Boosting engagement and newsroom efficiency
Boosting engagement and newsroom efficiency
The redesign resulted in significant improvements in reader engagement and newsroom efficiency:
The redesign resulted in significant improvements in reader engagement and newsroom efficiency:
Increased user engagement
80% of users now reach the first update, and 50% reach the fifth post – a 30% improvement from the initial drop-off.
Newsroom efficiency
The time taken by the newsroom to publish updates decreased by 20% (from 15 to 12 minutes) within the first year.
Expanded adoption
The success led to the live updates format being adopted by other news desks for covering scheduled live events like awards shows, sports, and weather.
Iterative improvements beyond breaking news
Iterative improvements beyond breaking news
The expanded use cases highlighted needs for further tools, leading to post-launch additions like Outcome Cards and Pinned Updates, showcasing the flexibility and continuous value of the redesigned system.
Here's a snapshot of the coverage led by our Style team during the Grammy Awards utilizing the Live Updates format.
The expanded use cases highlighted needs for further tools, leading to post-launch additions like Outcome Cards and Pinned Updates, showcasing the flexibility and continuous value of the redesigned system.
Here's a snapshot of the coverage led by our Style team during the Grammy Awards utilizing the Live Updates format.
Case studies
Case studies
Case studies