Wreck This Newspaper
DTC_355 Rhetorical Analysis Web-text
The Walla Walla Union Bulletin, analysis
Organization.
The Walla Walla Union Bulletin uses a 3-column format with horizontal strips containing its TOC running along top. The main news story photo is large, to the left.
The Walla Walla paper stands out in that it’s webpage stretches horizontally to the full width of the browser window, allowing for additional advertising on each side of the webpage.
Proximity.
In the above image we see the weather in close proximity to the search bar and two ads. Not seen are the newspaper name, located top left, with an accompanying tagline, and an ad is top center. The social media icons are prominent, top right, easily seen upon opening the web page, followed by the TOC and the main advertiser’s square ad, and a small ad, which are located in proximity to the weather image and next to the search bar. The other two sites do not use a tagline.
Element.
In the image above, we see that The Walla Walla Union Bulletin uses many elements as part of its rhetorical strategy including: photos, Masthead, Advertisements, Weather symbol, graphic images and charts, social media icons, lines, search box, type, and flash media. In IE, phone numbers feature a live Skype call link. There are Drop-down menus for sub TOC.
Emphasis.
The typeface on the Walla Walla Union Bulletin web site is larger than the other two newspapers. The main news story is emphasized by the large photo accompanying it, centered on the page. Not seen is the extra space on both sides of the webpage to emphasizes the ads there, which in this case is the college rodeo.
Summary.
The Walla Walla Union Bulletin has an excellent rhetorical strategy, placing important elements together such as the weather icon next to ads, and using emphasis, such as a large photo and larger text, and well as a clean grid format for organization, which all work together for the target audience, to help them find information and ads easily, which drives business objectives.