Launch date: September 2002
Status: Live - redesigned Sept 2006
View site: www.thisislondon.co.uk
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This is London
This is London was originally launched in 1996 as the online presence for the Evening Standard newspaper. By 2002, the time had come for a major re-design of the site.
The aims of the re-design were manifold: firstly, the site needed a fresh new look, but one that kept the feel of the original intact. It needed to move forward without alienating it's many established and extremely loyal users, and needed to take advantage of more modern design trends and technical innovations without limiting its accessibility in any way.
The re-design also had the aim of moving the site to a more modern and scaleable platform, enabling far greater flexibility for the journalists who work on the site and providing a stable future for increased traffic.
Since the launch, This is London's traffic has grown steadily and it has received excellent reviews and several major award nominations (such as the New Media Age Effectiveness Awards 2003). It now attracts over 2 million unique users per month and serves up to 22 million pages per month - frequently over a million per day.
User testimonials
"I would like to congratulate you on an excellent site that I enjoy using every evening."
"I think your site is one of the best media sites on the web! The navigation is easy and user friendly and the content is clear and concise... I particularly like the TV/radio listings feature. I live in Harringay and Green Lanes was blocked off last Sunday. I asked a policeman why and he would not tell me. Frustrated I searched the Internet and discovered your website that provided me with the gangland shooting story. In future I will go to This is London for information. Well done!"
"I wanted to thank you for an excellent website which is proving very useful... You've done a great job and I appreciate it."
"May I congratulate you. You have an exceptionally fast and entertaining site... When I am away from London, I do not miss my favourite paper any more. All the stories and the good comments... Please keep up the good work."
"I absolutely love the site and visit about 10 times a day!"
"The local London section is just sensational, it really is."
"I would like to congratulate you on an excellent site that I enjoy using every evening."