Question: Why change?
A: This is the first major redesign of islandpacket.com and beaufortgazette.com in several years. Our main goal has been to produce a site that is less cluttered and easier to use, while still providing the breaking news, photo galleries, event schedules and other information you expect to find. You should immediately notice that the speed of the site has improved.
Q: Am I going to get used to this only to have you change it again?
A: This is version 1.0 of our new site, and we do expect to add several features and enhancements over the next several weeks and months. But the look and feel of the site will basically remain the same.
Q: Will I need to register again?
A: No. Your existing username and password have been carried over to the new site.
Q: Where is the best place to find breaking news?
A: Check the "Top Stories" section on the homepage for latest news. You can also find news on your favorite topics by going to that section.
Q: Where are the obituaries?
A: You can find a link to "Obituaries" in the navigation bar near the top of the site.
Q: What are the primary sections of this redesigned site?
A: As listed in the blue bar near the top, our primary sections are News, Sports, Living, Opinion, Obituaries and Business.
Q: I have my favorite sections or pages on your site bookmarked. Will those bookmarks still work?
A: Yes, they should. We did pare down some redundant sections, so if you have a problem finding something, please check our "Site Map" linked from the bottom of all the pages or use the "Search" function near the top of the page.
Q: Where did my favorite blog go?
A: Most are still here. You’ll find a roundup of recent blog posts under the "News" menu, in the "Blogs" section just as you used to. In addition, you’ll find links to blogs on their topics pages – "Match Point" and "Shark Bites" will be on the "Sports" section; "Currently Playing" and "Blog a la Carte" will be on the "Living" section, for example. Some of the news reporters’ blogs have been eliminated, although reporters will continue to provide the same meeting agendas, notebook items and beat curiosities as they always have. Those items will simply appear as regular stories now.
Q: How do I find what other people are reading?
A: A list of the most-read stories of the day can be found on the right side of most pages on the site. It’s labeled "Most Popular Stories."
Q: I love your photo galleries. How do I find them?
A: We think this is one of the best improvements we’ve made -- photos and video will be more prominently displayed and better organized. You’ll find the most recent photo galleries on the "Photos" section of the homepage. You’ll see photo galleries for the topics on each of the section fronts, as well. In addition, you can click on the "View All Galleries" link in the "Recent Galleries" box to see all the photo galleries.
Q: I can’t get enough of Crime & Public Safety news. Where do I find more of those stories?
A: You’ll still find many of the latest crime & public safety stories on the homepage, just as before. Additionally, we highlight several of the latest crime-related stories in a homepage "Crime" digest section as well as and under "News" in the dropdown bar. Our daily mugshots from the Beaufort County Detention Center will continue to be displayed on our Crime & Public Safety page.
Q: I’m looking for things to do in Beaufort County and the surrounding area. What do I do?
A: You can find things to do around town on the "Calendar" page of the "Living" section. From the "Calendar" page just click on the category you want to view – movies, restaurants, etc. You can also add your public event from the calendar link. You can click on the "Living" link in the blue bar to find dining reviews, movie showtimes and more.
Q: I can click a Facebook "like" button on other sites. What about here?
A: Yes. When you are on a story page a Facebook "like" button is just beneath the story’s time stamp. You can click there to "like" the story. If you wish to post the story to your Facebook page, you can click the Facebook icon at the bottom of the story itself, in the bar that says "Share this story."
Q: Can I still comment on articles?
A: Yes.
Q: I'm using an older browser. Will that make a difference in what the site looks like to me?
A: Yes, the best experience for you will be to use Firefox 3.6 or above, Internet Explorer 7 or 8 or above or Chrome.
Q: How do I make a suggestion, offer a comment or ask a question about the new site?
A: Please go to http://www.islandpacket.com/customerservice/ or http://www.beaufortgazette.com/customerservice and give us your feedback using the form we have posted there. You can get there directly by clicking on the "Customer Service" link on any page, right above the Search box on the top right side.
Q: I'm going on vacation and would like to stop my home delivery service. Can I manage my account online?
A: Yes. On the bottom of the homepage, click on "Home Delivery" and follow the prompts.
Q: How do I access the e-Edition?
A: Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click on the e-Edition icon.
Q: I can't find what I am looking for, what do I do?
A: You can go to the Search Box at the top of the site and type in a name or description for what you're trying to find. We think one of the improvements on the new site is an improved search function. You can also click on the "Site Map" in the line of links at the bottom of each page. The "Site Map" is a listing of sections and pages on the site.
Q: I’m trying to find an article that was published recently. Where do I look?
A: On the top right corner of the home page is a Search Box. In the drop-down menu, select from one of three options: Search Past 90 days; Search Archives or Web Search. Articles that have been published within the past 90 days can be accessed at no charge if the reader hasn't exceeded their 15 metered pages of premium content within the past 30 days. Articles that reside in the archives over 90 days can be purchased as a single article or as a pack. (See options below.) The reader must register with Real Cities to establish an archive account. Credit card information is required as part of the account setup process. Please note that the prices on this page are for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette Local Archives only.
NewsLibrary.com pricing options:
- Single article purchase $2.95
- 3-article pack $6.95 (20% discount from single article purchase)
- 10-article pack $21.95 (25% discount)
- 25-article pack $49.95 (30% discount)
- 50-article pack $95.95 (35% discount)
Future purchases will require a separate charge to your credit card.
Good for one week from purchase.
Good for one month from purchase.
Good for one month from purchase.
Good for one month from purchase.
Long-term research:
- 500-article pack $995 (33% discount)
- 1,000-article pack $1,995 (33% discount)
Good for one year from purchase.
Good for one year from purchase.
Please note that these pricing packages are sold for use by the credit card holder only. These pricing packages are not intended for use in institutions such as schools, colleges or libraries. We do offer special rates for educational organizations, so please contact us at sales@newsbank.com.
