While no one is expecting print newspapers to become unpopular anytime soon, many recognize the time has come for newspapers to embrace the online medium.

This year editors, managers and Web interns worked to develop a new look and new features for the The Digital Collegian.

The biggest change will be a significant redesign of the Web site, which has not changed much since 2001.

"Web design has changed a lot in a short time period. The new design will look better and should also load quicker too," 2005-06 Web intern Steve Clancy said.

Among the noticeable changes will be a streamlined, horizontal navigation that creates more space for content. It should also feature the newspaper's photography better than the current site.

Publishing The Digital Collegian will be simplified this summer with the addition of a new web generator tool, developed by Systems Manager Rick Simpson.

This year more breaking news made its way onto The Digital Collegian and this will be expanded starting in the fall. Readers can expect regular updates, including sports and crime stories.

The Collegian staff will also enter into a new dialogue with its readers by introducing blogs written by editors and staff members. There are also plans to let readers comment on select stories.

To facilitate these new changes, the News Division will add a Web editor position. Other news staffers may also become responsible for Web duties.

Making the Web site profitable is also a priority, and the Business Division has plans to tackle the problem. This summer the division will develop a directory for students and visitors to find restaurants and shopping.

Just as The Daily Collegian is a gateway to the Penn State community, the hope is the Web site will also fill that role, Clancy said. The directory will be a way to bring revenue to the site outside of traditional banner ads.

In addition to having maps and contact information for businesses, the goal is to eventually incorporate print-style advertisement, coupons and menus.

After implementing these developments in the fall, Web interns will continue on work on future additions - including a dynamic database-driven website.

Clancy and fellow 2005-06 Web intern Chris Bajgier will also be recruiting and grooming a new set of interns who will continue the project after they graduate.

"We need to keep creating interest about the Web within the organization and find people who can keep this vision alive," Clancy said.