Welcome to the first day of the redesigned adn.com. You'll probably find the changes here a little disorienting -– at least until you have time to get familiar with them. And keep in mind that our staff is still learning to drive the new car, so if we veer off the pavement occasionally, bear with us.
(Here's one small tip: Obituaries are linked in the drop-down menu under News in the blue bar near the top of the page.)
We're eager to hear your feedback, but I suggest you not react too quickly. Take the time to really look around. Change is always bad -- until it's good. To help with the transition, I've included a list of basic questions and answers about the new site to help you use its new features and find your way around.
We've made it easy for you to send us comments. Just click on the prominent link on the Home Page. That will take to a comment form. If you use the form, it will come to me directly. It will also help me keep your comments sorted and organized.
Let us hear from you. Please use the feedback form here to share your compliments, complaints, questions and ideas.
Patrick Dougherty Executive Editor
Q&A on the new adn.com
Question: Why change adn.com?
Answer: This is the first real redesign of adn.com in years. Our goal is to present great content in a better organized and easier-to-use format. We'll still have all the breaking news, photo galleries, things to do and other information you're accustomed to finding. You should also 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 will be the first version of our new site. We expect to add additional features and enhancements over the next weeks and months but the organization of the site will remain the same.
Q: Will I need to register again?
A: No. Your existing username and password will carry over to the new site.
Q: Where is the best place to find breaking news?
A: Check the headlines at the top of the Home Page (www.adn.com) for the latest news. You can find more news on your favorite topics by going to specific sections, like Sports and Business.
Q: Where are the obituaries?
A: Find a link to "Obituaries" under "News" in the blue bar near the top of the page.
Q. What are the primary sections of the new site?
A: News, Sports, Living, Entertainment, Opinion, Photos/Videos and Local Deals. You can find them listed in the blue bar at the top of the page.
Q. Where do I find crime and court news?
A: You'll still find many of the latest crime and court stories on the Home Page just as before. The full list of crime and courts stories can be found by clicking on "Crime" under "News" in the blue bar.
Q: I have my favorite sections or pages bookmarked. Will my bookmarks still work?
A: Yes, they should. We did remove some redundant sections, so if you have a problem finding something, please check our Site Map, which is linked from the bottom of all pages.
Q: Where did my favorite blog go?
A: You'll find recent headlines from our blogs on the right side of the Home Page, and a list of active blogs under the "Living" heading on the Home Page. Just click on the name of the blog you want to read.
Q: How do I see what other people are reading?
A: Check the list of "Most Popular Stories" on the right side of most pages.
Q: If I can't find what I'm looking for, what should I do?
A: Go to the "Search" box at the top of the page and type in a name or description of what you're looking for. One of the improvements on the new adn.com is a better search function. You can also click on "Site Map" among the links at the bottom of each page. The Site Map lists most of the sections and pages on adn.com.
Q. I'm a big fan of sports. Can I find high school, college and pro sports in one place?
A: Click on "Sports" in the blue bar near the top and you'll see our pages for the different sports, or scroll down on the Home Page to reach the Sports digest.
Q. I'm looking for things to do around Anchorage. Where can I find local events?
A: Click on "Entertainment" in the blue bar, and then "Calendar." From the Calendar page, just click on the category you want to view – movies, dining, games, etc. If you're organizing a local event you'd like to see published, add it to our calendar database. From the Calendar page, just click on "add an event."
Q: I love your staff and reader-submitted photos. How do I find photo galleries and video?
A: Links to photo galleries will appear high on the Home Page, under the heading "Recent Galleries." Look for more photo galleries under "Photos/Videos" in the blue bar at the top of the page.
Q: Can I connect my favorite adn.com content to my Facebook page?
A: Yes. When you're on a story page, a Facebook "like" button is just beneath the headline of the story. Click there to "like" the story. If you want to post a story to your Facebook page, click on 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. In fact, you can now comment on photo galleries as well.
Q: I'm using an older browser. Will that affect how the new adn.com looks on my computer?
A: It may. You'll have the best experience on our site by using version 3.6 or higher of the Firefox browser, Internet Explorer version 8 or above, Safari 4 or above, or Google Chrome.
Q: How do I find old stories or blog posts?
A: Go to the "Search" box at the top of the page and type in a name or description of what you're looking for.
Q: I signed up for breaking news alerts by email? Will I still receive those?
A: Yes, if you're already signed up, you'll continue to receive email alerts. If you don't receive them but would like to start, click on "Customer Service" at the top right of the home page. When that page loads, scroll down to "Site Help" and click on "Newsletter subscriptions." (You'll need to know your adn.com username and password.)
Q: How do I make a suggestion, offer a comment or ask a question about the new site?
A: Go to customer service. Give us your feedback on the form you'll find posted there.
