The Internet has changed the way television delivers the news, but it’s also led to some very cluttered and disorganized station Web sites.

Most television Web sites feature a jumble of video players, weather information and, the biggest clutter culprit, blocks of headlines and information links.

So, is there a way to solve this dilemma? Unfortunately, with the competing demands of the newsroom, advertising department and the wealth of information stations need to offer it’s not an easy task. The use of white label content management systems can limit the amount of customization, though many of the techniques in this column can still be used to at least some extent.
A good approach to start with is to try to control the clutter by breaking content up as much as possible. First identify six to ten main categories and then break those into subcategories, with a focus on limiting the number of main categories as much as possible. Not only will this clean up the look of your site, but content will be easier to find and more focused on what the user is looking for.

Other good techniques for organizing content include using tabbed panels that allow multiple headline categories to share the same space. Not only can you break down local news, weather, sports and other topics, but you may also be able to create dedicated tabs for special coverage of big stories.

There are also simple design tricks you can use to make site easier on the eye. Make use of white space to space things out and make the site feel less cluttered. Pay close attention to the amount of space between lines of text since just a few pixels can make a big difference in readability. Also consider alternate ways to present headline links, such as eliminating the underline under it (just make sure it’s still clear the text is a link) or using a lighter colored underline.

It’s also a good idea to make it a practice to use short, succinct headlines as links. This not only makes your news easier to scan but can also steers you clear of using tiny typefaces. Also consider reducing the number of headlines on your homepage to just a few and then offering users a link to read additional stories.

News Web sites are also infamous for continuing down the page too long. The farther down content is from the top of the page, the less likely people are to see it, so question whether a particular item really needs to be on the homepage if only a small number of users see it.

NewscastTip is a weekly column with tips for your newscasts. See past editions here. The column is available every Friday in our e-mail newsletter and posted here the following Wednesday. Sign up for the newsletter to get it delivered directly to your in box every week.

Michael P. Hill is founder and publisher of NewscastStudio. Contact him with your own tips and feedback.