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In a move aimed at enhancing user experience across its digital platform, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s website, jsonline.com, has implemented technical upgrades that have rendered some older web browsers incompatible with the site.
The newspaper’s parent company, Gannett, confirmed yesterday that the website now requires more modern browsers to properly display content and maintain optimal functionality. Users attempting to access the site with outdated browsers are now greeted with a notice explaining the situation.
“Jsonline.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use,” reads the message displayed to affected users. The notice continues by informing visitors that their current browser is not supported and recommends downloading a newer browser for the “best experience on jsonline.com.”
This development comes amid a broader industry trend of news organizations updating their digital infrastructure to accommodate changing technology standards and user expectations. Media websites increasingly rely on modern web technologies to deliver content efficiently while incorporating features like video streaming, interactive graphics, and responsive design.
Digital media analyst Rebecca Martinez notes that such upgrades are necessary but can present challenges. “News organizations face a balancing act between leveraging new technologies and maintaining accessibility for all readers, particularly in regions with limited internet infrastructure or older devices,” she said.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin’s largest newspaper, serves a diverse readership across urban, suburban, and rural areas. Some community advocates have expressed concerns that browser compatibility issues could potentially create barriers for certain demographics, particularly older readers or those in areas with limited technological access.
Industry experts point out that browser upgrades are typically free for users and bring additional benefits beyond website compatibility, including improved security features and faster performance. Popular modern browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
According to web analytics firm StatCounter, approximately 5-7% of internet users in the United States still use outdated or unsupported browsers. This percentage tends to be higher among older demographics and in rural communities.
The newspaper has not specified which particular browsers are now incompatible, though industry standards typically consider Internet Explorer and early versions of other browsers to be outdated. Microsoft officially ended support for Internet Explorer in June 2022, encouraging users to transition to its Edge browser.
Gannett, which operates USA TODAY and more than 200 local news outlets nationwide, has gradually implemented similar technical requirements across its network of news sites. The company has invested significantly in digital infrastructure as print circulation continues to decline industry-wide and digital subscriptions become increasingly vital to revenue models.
Media technology consultant James Wilson contextualizes this move within broader industry patterns: “As news organizations compete with social media platforms for user attention, they need to offer comparable speed and functionality. Unfortunately, supporting legacy browsers often limits what features can be implemented and how efficiently content can be delivered.”
The Journal Sentinel’s website redesign also likely aims to improve loading speeds and reduce bandwidth usage, factors that affect both user experience and search engine rankings. Google’s algorithms, which drive significant traffic to news sites, explicitly favor faster-loading websites in search results.
Readers experiencing issues with jsonline.com are advised to update their current browser to the latest version or download one of the widely available modern browsers. Most browsers update automatically, though manual updates may be required for some users.
The newspaper has customer service representatives available to assist subscribers experiencing technical difficulties with the transition.
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10 Comments
As a regular jsonline.com reader, I’m a bit concerned about potential accessibility issues for users with older browsers. I hope they can find a solution that works for everyone.
I understand the need to modernize, but I hope jsonline.com can still accommodate users who may not be able to easily upgrade their browsers. Accessibility is important too.
That’s a fair point. Balancing progress with inclusivity can be tricky for news sites.
Keeping up with the latest web technologies is important, but it’s crucial that news sites like jsonline.com don’t leave behind their existing user base in the process.
Hopefully they can strike a good balance between modernization and maintaining a broad reach.
Keeping up with the latest browser tech is important for modern news sites. Older browsers can struggle with the advanced features and performance needs of today’s web content.
It’s good that jsonline.com is taking steps to provide an optimal user experience for their readers.
Browser compatibility issues are a common challenge for many websites these days. It’s good to see jsonline.com being proactive about it.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific browser requirements and what technical upgrades were made to the jsonline.com site.
It would be helpful if they provided more details on the supported browsers and the rationale behind the changes.