October 15, 2009
Air America launches new website
Ai-Designed Website Part of Company’s Larger Re-Branding Strategy, Including a New Logo and Design
Air America Media is expanding its multimedia offerings through a re-launch of its website, www.airamerica.com, which was designed and developed by Alexander Interactive.
Along with an updated look, the new site offerings include around-the-clock original and aggregated news content; text, audio and video commentary; multimedia streaming; a multimedia clip library; and OnDemand content. The site also includes social media features such as interactive chats with show hosts and producers.
“Our goal with this initiative is for Air America to become a leading destination for progressive audio, text and video content,” said Bennett Zier, chief executive officer, Air America Media. “The new AirAmerica.com reflects our re-branding strategy, including a newly designed logo to complement the face of our multimedia company.”
The site features include:
- Around-the-clock breaking news coverage. Six sections of original news content – news, politics, economy, entertainment, lifestyle and green – created by a full-time team of editors, producers, online talent and radio talent. Additional licensed content will be featured from Associated Press and aggregated from around the web.
- Original text, audio and video commentary will surround news stories, including a new “Why This Matters” feature, explaining the highlights of a story.
- Community-centric features include chat rooms, DRM-free downloadable audio clips, interactive polls and interaction with talent and producers through Twitter feeds.
- Three live streaming audio channels. Audio channels include a live stream of the leading progressive hosts, including Air America talents Rachel Maddow, Ron Reagan, Jack Rice and Ana Marie Cox, and other well-known hosts. The site will also feature a live audio stream of Air America’s WZAA 1050 AM station in Washington, D.C. An Air America classics library will stream shows dating back to the launch of the Network in 2004 featuring Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow, Randi Rhodes.
- A live streaming video channel will feature Lionel, Montel Williams and other New York based programming.
- OnDemand content featuring more than 5,000 audio and video clips. The site will also offer an OnDemand Plus subscription option, enabling fans to download full, commercial-free podcasts of shows.
“The new AirAmerica.com features a re-designed look and mobile accessibility that will make it easy for listeners, viewers and readers to access our content anytime and anywhere,” said Michael Bassik, chief digital officer, Air America Media. “In addition to the upgraded features and functionality, this new site will facilitate our talent—Rachel Maddow, Ron Reagan, Montel Williams, Jack Rice, Lionel and Ana Marie Cox—to post original content, as well as interact with their audience.”
"24/7 news coverage makes Air America’s new website the must-see place for progressives," said Beau Friedlander, AirAmerica.com editor in chief. "Original audio and video commentary from Air America’s hosts and editors coupled with aggregated stories from around the web will fill a huge void in the current media landscape."
Ai developed the new Air America website with a highly customized, Django-based content management system. Django is specifically designed to handle the intense demands and deadlines of an online news organization. Ai customized the system to enable Air America to easily manage content across internal team members and third-party contributors, fully integrate with the Associated Press news feed, auto-tag content, and push news and commentary live with just a few clicks.
“Alexander Interactive employs the strategies and technologies that precisely match the needs of each individual client,” says Alex Schmelkin, co-founder and president of Alexander Interactive. “From mapping its brand strategy to launching its new website, we kept the needs of Air America and its audiences top of mind. Today, we are proud to unveil a high-performing website that combines modern elegance with ease of use.”
Air America Media (http://www.airamerica.com) runs a national progressive talk radio network, syndication company and web business, representing a smart, independent political voice with a sense of humor. Programming from the network can be heard nationwide on 103 affiliates as well as Sirius XM Satellite Radio channel 146 and streamed at www.airamerica.com.
