PHILIPPINE ONLINE JOURNALISM: - AMIC

Features
The interactivity of the subject publications varies, with a few offering advance
interactive features and the rest offering only basic ones. The most common interactive
feature present among the subject publications is email, followed by links to other
websites, site search engine, and then feedback section. Forums and/or message boards
can be found more on the provincial news websites. They serve as a channel for the
exchange of information between users within and outside their communities, including
community members based in other countries. Site map is also a useful feature to readers,
especially when the news website contains many sections, features, or services. However,
this is not commonly featured by the subject publications. Polls and chatrooms are also
minimally featured. Not all these features, however, guarantee interactivity as some of
them may not be functional or have some problems.
Majority of the publications provide only one email, which is mostly at the
publication level or for the whole publication. Overall, the subject publications offer
insufficient feedback mechanism through email. Most of them provide only one email,
which might not always be functional and does not guarantee a two-way communication
between the publication and its users.
Other online features available include article index, text-only option, help, and
article sending through email, but these are not being fully utilized by the online news
publications. Article sending through email is slightly being used, mostly by national-
based websites. Article index and text-only option allow easier and faster reading, but
P10 - Crispin C. Maslog.doc
Received on 12/04/2006