About this news & editorial website reference
An editorial site should make the hierarchy of stories clear while allowing readers to explore deeper topics. Plan section pages, article pages and a dependable publishing workflow together. A specialist publication can prioritize depth in one subject over the breadth of a general news site.
Use The Guardian's official website to explore the reference. The notes below are planning guidance for your own product, not a specification of the reference site's internal systems.
Who this approach can suit
- Independent publishers
- Trade publications
- Membership-supported editorial teams
Design and user experience to consider
Keep headlines, bylines and publication context easy to scan. Make long articles readable on small screens and avoid disruptive layout shifts.
Key journeys to review
Section navigation
Article hierarchy
Reader subscriptions
Planning your first release
Define editorial roles, corrections and scheduled publishing. Decide which content is open and whether paid access is part of the first release.
Technology and integrations
A content management system, media library and subscription provider should reflect the editorial process.
The suggested stack of React, Node.js, Headless CMS is a starting point. We would confirm it against your existing tools, data, expected traffic and maintenance needs before implementation.
What to bring to a scoping call
- Identify the customer journey you want to support and the action a visitor should complete.
- Bring your content, brand assets and details of any systems that must connect to the website.
- Separate launch essentials from later features, and agree how each essential workflow will be tested.
Scope, content readiness and integrations determine the estimate. Explore our MVP development process or discuss this reference with our team.
Questions about a similar build
Should every publication start with a paywall?
No. First decide which content and audience relationship supports paid access. A newsletter or membership enquiry can be a simpler initial route.
Can you adapt the idea to my brand?
We can scope an original design and workflow for your business. This reference is inspiration; it does not include permission to reuse the original site's branding, content or code.