Johnston Press has unveiled the first of its new-look websites in a move that will see all of its newspaper websites transformed.

The Peterborough Evening Telegraph’s www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk and the Halifax Courier’s www.halifaxcourier.co.uk have gone live as test sites, and websites for the rest of the dailies will follow in the new year with the weeklies after that.

Paul Green, group editorial content manager for Johnston Press digital publishing, said the new sites were designed to be easier to read and search.

The group worked with London design agency Syzygy, and conducted reader research and focus groups across the country.

This included tracking where readers’ eyes went when they looked at the old-style websites, and asking readers and advertisers what they wanted.

The new style website

The new sites include larger headlines and clearer text, bigger photos and an easier to use search facility as well as easier navigation and a ‘popular topics’ box which shows what the most read stories of the day are.

Audio and video content is also being added to many of the group’s websites.

Paul said: “We are a company with very high digital ambitions and so we need to keep up with the latest trends and keep the sites looking fresh.

“It is not just the design, there is better navigation and a better structure which make the sites easier to use.

“We are delighted with how they look and they are also flexible enough that each editor can deliver what their readers and advertisers want.”

How most of the websites currently look