Dear VaNews Subscriber:

You may have noticed the new design today -- and a new way that articles are organized.

Today's VaNews

We hope you like the change as much as a test group did. We welcome your feedback.

The redesign grows out of a strategic plan adopted by the Virginia Public Access Project. The Board of Directors has challenged staff to make VaNews relevant to the widest possible audience, including those who want to stay informed, but lack the time or inclination to scroll through 30 or 40 articles.

We have many readers who will devour every single news article we place in front of them. But they are increasingly outnumbered by those who prefer to consume news in more modest portions.

We’ve redesigned VaNews to cater to different appetites for political news.

Top of the News is a quick read for those who want the basics. Each day, we start off with seven headlines about Virginia government and politics.

Those who want a deeper look can continue scrolling to The Full Report, the same comprehensive listing of Virginia political headlines that you’ve come to expect from VaNews. If you want to know how a big story is playing in Norfolk, Richmond and Bristol, The Full Report is your ticket.

Top of the News represents our best faith judgment of what we think our audience will find important and/or interesting. In selecting headlines, VPAP will follow these general guidelines:

• One article per topic
• A variety of news outlets and viewpoints
• A preference for enterprise reporting or exceptional writing
• Insights into different regions of the commonwealth

There will be exceptions. For instance, a breaking story could be so important that its telling may merit multiple articles. We recognize that news judgment is inherently subjective. We value greatly the fact that our audience is comprised of people who look at life and politics from a variety of viewpoints. In selecting Top of the News, we’re committed to the same independent, nonpartisan approach that for two decades has won the trust of Republicans and Democrats alike.

Thank you for being part of the VaNews community, which is funded entirely by the financial support of our readers.

Regards,

David M. Poole
Executive Director
Virginia Public Access Project
office: 804-353-4300