BBC News Online in November 2016
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Type of site
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News |
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Available in | 32 languages |
Owner | BBC |
Slogan(s) | "Whenever you need to know" |
Website |
www.bbc.co.uk/news www.bbc.com/news |
Commercial | No (advertising included when accessed outside the UK) |
Registration | Required for some services |
Launched | 4 November 1997 |
Current status | Online |
BBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most frequently accessed news website in the United Kingdom, and forms a major part of BBC Online (bbc.co.uk), which records around 70 million unique users a week (around 60 to 70% of visitors are from the UK).
The website contains international news coverage, as well as British, entertainment, science, and political news. Many reports are accompanied by audio and video from the BBC's television and radio news services, while the latest TV and radio bulletins are also available to view or listen to on the site together with other current affairs programmes.
BBC News Online is closely linked to its sister department website, that of BBC Sport. Both sites follow similar layout and content options and respective journalists work alongside each other. Location information provided by users is also shared with the website of BBC Weather to provide local content.
From 1998 to 2001 the site was named best news website at the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards when the award category was withdrawn. It has previously won both the Judges' award and the People's Voice award for best news site at the annual Webby Awards.
The website was launched on 4 November 1997, headed by founding editor Mike Smartt and Project Director Bob Eggington. The management team for launch included Dave Brewer (UK editorial), Chris Nuttall (World), Matthew Karas (Technology), Matt Jones (Design), Janet Marsh (PM), Simon George (Finance) and consultant Peter Burden. Nic Newman was seconded from BBC World Service to launch and run 'Talking Point'. The broader editorial team was brought together from within the BBC, from print journalism and from some online sites.
The BBC had previously created special websites marking the 1995 Budget, the 1997 general election, and the death of Princess Diana in 1997, but nothing on the scale of the launch of the main site itself, which required the development of a completely new production system, for which a team, led by Matthew Karas was specially hired.