I visit the CNN and BBC web sites each about once a week, and noticed that both sites have remade their layouts to look more like blogs. Both sites now have a very soft, rounded overall feel. There are lots of rounded corners, lightly colored text, and user changeable interactive elements.
The only thing that irks me is CNN’s use of bright red text on an almost black background. What were they thinking??? The use of red text on a black background reminds me of the 90’s when inexperienced web designers created entire pages with nothing but bright red text on a black background. Eventually you want to rip your eyes out! The BBC web site on the other hand, does a much better job with the blog style. They’ve employed lots of soft color (beige and grey) with easily read text. It’s a much more professional look than CNN’s use of teenager style stars in multiple places. Don’t get me wrong, I love stars, but they remind me of a giddy high school girl.
CNN Main Page
CNN Article Page
BBC Main Page
UPDATE:
I didn’t realize that CNN’s black and red with stars theme was created just for the presidential election. Their current site has the same theme structure, but with white and red colors. Either way, my opinion about red on black still holds true.
