Rwandapaparazzi
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RwandaPaparazzi in May 2015 | |
| Web address | rwandapaparazzi.rw |
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| Slogan | "Special in specials" |
Type of site | News |
| Available in | 2 languages |
| Owner | RwandaPaparazzi Ltd |
| Launched | 19 September 2013 |
| Current status | Online |
RwandaPaparazzi is the website of RwandaPaparazzi Ltd, responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is one of the most frequently accessed news website in Rwanda, and it records around 150000 unique users a week (66.7% of visitors are from Rwanda) and it is ranked 226,085 worldwide and 31 in Rwanda.[1] The website contains international news coverage, as well as Rwandese, entertainment, paparazzi, and political news. Many reports are accompanied by pictures.
RwandaPaparazzi is closely linked to its sister department website, that of RwandaPaparazzi English Version. Both sites follow similar layout and content options and respective journalists work alongside each other.
History
The website was launched in September 2013, headed by CEO and Founder Mugisha Frank. The original design was created by Hirwa Jean Luc, and has been redesigned several times mainly to match the visual style of a good online news websites and to exploit increases in readers' typical screen resolutions.
New features were gradually introduced, including the publicizing of live events more prominently. In line with the introduction of new features across rwandapaparazzi, including a new navigation bar, the site was updated in 2014 with wider centered page designs, larger images and an increased emphasis on visual content.
On 4 March 2014, the RwandaPaparazzi launched a mobile version of the website which was built around the principles of responsive web design, allowing the presentation of content to adjust automatically for a wide variety of screen sizes, from desktop computer to smartphones and tablet devices.
Features
Kinyarwanda Edition
There are two different editions of the site: a Kinyarwanda edition, which gives news in Kinyarwanda.
A forum, Forum, is also a major part of the site, and comment sections are activated on all articles. The current system behind the forum was introduced in 2004 to allow or comments to be added to debates and appear in real-time, subject to varying levels of moderation.
English Edition
English edition also looking like Kinyarwanda it gives news in English. Journalists use blogs to provide updates on current events and topics in English as in Kinyarwanda. Editors also provide entries within the "Editors' blog", giving explanations for editorial decisions as well as announcing new features or services. Members of the public are also given the opportunity to comment on entries from journalists and editors.
Mobile and text only versions
Previously, in addition to the standard website with embedded video and audio, there was a version optimised for users on mobile devices. BBC News also runs a mobile app, downloadable on the Android system. The app launched in 2014, originally for the Android.
As of 3 February 2015, separate mobile and text only versions have been removed, and replaced with a 'responsive web design', allowing the presentation of content to adjust automatically for a wide variety of screen sizes, from desktop computer to smartphones and tablet devices.
Criticism
On March 25, 2015 Rwanda Media Commission has recommended to the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) that the website Rwandapaparazzi.rw be suspended for one month. This was a decision reached by the RMC Ethics Committee in a complaint filed by NZEYIMANA Hussein and NIYONKURU Radju against the website. The complainants claimed that the website published a story alleging that the two are male sex workers or gigolos, locally known as “abapfubuzi”, in a story with a headline “Biryogo: Abasore 2 baratungwa agatoki n’abakobwa batari bake mu Biryogo ko ari abapfubuzi b’abagore bakuze. AMAFOTO” (“Biryogo: Two young men accused by many girls in Biryogo of sleeping with older women: PHOTOS”) which was published on March 12, 2015 authored by KAWERA Ronald.[2]
References
External links
- RwandaPaparazzi – official site
- About Us