Still looking for a place to park: Daily News constantly improving for your needs

Change is constant.

At least it is for us here at the Daily News. In some ways it's a good thing. In other ways it drives us nuts.

Over the past week, you may have noticed some minor tweaking taking place in the new design of the paper. Every day we are learning new things about what works and what doesn't.

We are also beginning to break free of old philosophies. Along with the new design comes brand-new thinking in the way we are presenting the news to our readers.

I'd like to thank everyone for baring with us through this process. The visible changes are complete. We are finally where we want to be, as far as our presentation is concerned. It is time for new changes and focuses to come to the forefront.

I have already mentioned our commitment to the quality of our content in previous columns. In the weeks ahead I think you will begin to read some really great writing - even better than what you have already read - as we get the chance to really put some extended time and effort into our work.

Another change that is forthcoming will be found online. This year the Daily News is committed to placing more information online than a simple rehash of the day's newspaper.

We want you to be able to use our Web site, bsudailynews.com, as a supplement to your Daily News and to find out about breaking news while it's happening.

Eventually we would like to have people manning the site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It would be the ultimate site for Ball State news. When news breaks, it would be there for you to read in a matter of minutes.

Although we don't have the manpower to create the site we envision, we are moving in that direction. Beginning Monday, the Daily News and "NewsCenter 43" will enhance a partnership that began only a few years ago at Ball State.

The Daily News Web site will now be updated twice a day instead of once. The afternoon update will feature quick news from "NewsCenter 43" about events that took place earlier in that day.

Early every morning, the Web site will be updated once more to feature more news and in-depth looks at what was presented to you, the reader, earlier by "NewsCenter 43."

This way, when you return home from a hard day at classes, you can call up the Daily News online and get that day's Ball State news instead of waiting until the next day. If you want to learn more about any of them, more information will be available for you in the morning.

It's a small step, but it's only a preview of what's to come. Let us know what you think, and let us know if you have any suggestions. We want to know how to serve you best.

Thanks for reading.