News Site Preview, Suggestions?

[Smacktalks]

This is an early preview of the news site that i'm working on.

How the new website will work

The main point of the new website will be interactivity, allowing users to submit news, images, videos, etc. Once users submit stories, videos, etc. on the website they'll go in to a moderation queue, then when the article is approved it will be published on the site and posted on the forum, with users then able to rate or comment on the article on either the website or the forum.

All of the user accounts are handled through your forum account, so you wont need seperate login id's, etc.

I'm also going to be getting some local wrestling feds involved with the site once complete, basically allowing them to setup their own cateogory for their fed and use it to submit news on upcoming shows, results, etc. The idea behind this is that when people view the site for WWE/TNA news, it'll also expose them to local indy feds and gain them some exposure, which in turn they can then promote their news page at their shows to drive people to our site. This way we're helping them out and there also helping us out via free advertising.

Design

At present the design is unfinished, but will likely look fairly familiar on completion. The one thing i'm looking for is some ideas on the top design that currently holds the site logo. If anyone has some ideas on how to set it out, then it's open to suggestions.

The majority of the content you see in the preview will be constantly updated with new submissions, as the pictures across the bottom will show the 11 most recent approved images submitted by users. The main articles will be shown left of center with image thumbnails or video thumbnails depending on what content is submitted. These then link through to a seperate article page where you can add a reply, rate the article, social bookmark it, etc.

The bottom of the page also features some links to recent and popular articles, with the far right column set to show either the latest forum posts or links to news sections for the most popular indy feds that signup.

Let me know what you think so far, any ideas for improvement, what's good/bad, etc.

Paul.

[Fozy]

Well you need something that tells you it's the news page and not just a big SMACK.

[Smacktalks]

As I said..

At present the design is unfinished, but will likely look fairly familiar on completion. The one thing i'm looking for is some ideas on the top design that currently holds the site logo. If anyone has some ideas on how to set it out, then it's open to suggestions.

The logo is just a placeholder.

[stacysmikeyboy]

If that's indeed the future layout for Smacktalks then by all means make it so because that looks insanely cool and a great format.