On Sept. 17, the New America Foundation launched the beta version of our completely redesigned Web site, www.NewAmerica.net. The result of several months of planning and development, this new site offers far more than a new look -- the expanded content, revamped navigation and new features reflect a markedly different approach to the Web here at New America.

Here's a quick sampling of what this new site has to offer:

More Multimedia

New America has long made audio and video recordings of the most recent events available for download, but our site now offers archival video of more than 150 events dating back to 2004 -- and streams those videos directly from the event page in question. (Thanks to our partnership with Google Video, these videos can also be easily emailed, embedded in other sites, or downloaded onto portable video players.) Similarly, MP3 audio files are attached directly to the pages in a way that makes the easy to "podcast" -- look for program- and issue-specific feeds in the very near future.

RSS and Syndication

Every piece of content published on NewAmerica.net is now included in one or more RSS feeds. A site-wide subscription is available, but most readers will likely prefer to focus on specific programs, issue areas and/or individual authors. For more information on our available feeds -- and tips on how to get started using RSS -- please click here.

Program Home Pages

One of the biggest changes is our push to give each program a full-blown section, rather than a largely static online brochure. The main page for New America's Education Policy Program, for example, now serves as a content-rich gateway for anyone interested in that topic, while our growing array of California efforts is showcased at http://www.newamerica.net/california.

Original Web-Only Content

Historically, New America's site has been filled with content that first appeared elsewhere -- op-eds, PDF copies of working papers, testimony transcripts, etc. That information is all still available, but we are increasingly publishing directly to the Web. The Higher Ed Watch Blog (which debuts today along with the new site) is the most obvious example, and others are in the works. Look for more updates -- in text, audio and video form -- in the coming weeks.

Tagging and Categorization

Everything we publish online is now tagged to reflect both the topics covered and the individuals and programs involved. This not only allows for the above-mentioned RSS feeds and our new Key Issues section, but also makes it much easer for readers to navigate the site on their terms.

There are several reasons that one might go to the page for Nir Rosen's recent book, In the Belly of the Green Bird, for example -- curiousity about Rosen, a desire to learn more about Iraq or terrorism, and of course interest in the book itself. Thanks to that page's tagging, it's now easy to pursue any or all of those interests. Rosen's bio and other writing are just one click away, as are compilations of all New America's Iraq- and terrorism-related content -- not to mention details about the Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program that helps support Rosen's work, and an Amazon.com link to puchase your own copy of the book.

Similar options are available throughout the site, so that it's always easy to find more on the issue, program or individual that most interests you.

The best way to see what's new, of course, is to explore the site. Sign up for an upcoming event online. Browse our Experts Guide to see which fellows and staff might be of interest. Find a book to add to your reading list, or add a few new feeds to your RSS reader.

And please, be sure to let us know what you think of the changes, and what you'd like to see New America add or change in the future. Leave a comment below, or use our contact form to send us a message directly.

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