El Mensajero Católico debuted a new version of its bilingual website April 15. Designed on the WordPress platform by Chris Markham at Mason Digital, the new site features such improvements as simplified navigation and an open, responsive layout.
Karen Franz, general manager and editor of El Mensajero and its sister publication, the Catholic Courier, said that the site is more user friendly for both readers and staff members. She said that the site also is more mobile friendly and includes bigger photos and a new photo gallery layout. The site also can be toggled back and forth between Spanish and English at any point, no matter what page is being viewed, by clicking a link that appears below the El Mensajero logo on every page.
Gina Capellazzi, new media coordinator for the two newspapers, said the site also offers a new and improved format for displaying submissions to its events calendar. Unfortunately, she noted, the calendar is rather empty at this time due to the coronavirus pandemic — and users are encouraged to confirm with organizers any event that is listed — but said it wil be updated regularly once public events are again being presented in the community.
Franz noted that development of the new website was accellerated this spring due to the necessity of suspending distribution of the printed El Menesajero effective April 1. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of the locations through which El Mensajero is regularly distributed are closed or operating under restrictions implemented by New York state, she noted.
“We expect El Mensajero to be back in print very soon,” Franz said, “but meanwhile, the new website will help to fill the information gap during its print hiatus.”
Another means of compensating for the print hiatus is El Mensajero’s e-newsletter, which is delivered at no cost each month to the mailboxes of subscribers, she noted.
To sign up, send an email to LatestNews@CatholicCourier.com with the words “El Mensajero” in the subject line, or click one of the prominent sign-up buttons on the new website.
