Gulf Daily News has merged its online edition onto a new platform called Gulf Digital News online.

GDNonline combines a number of elements from Al Hilal Group’s portfolio of titles into a holistic news site supplemented with an interactive community information portal, it said in a report.

The initiative brings together the assets of one of the leading regional publishers into a comprehensive dynamic daily news service providing unparalleled coverage of local, regional and international community and business news throughout the day.

“GDNonline.com is the result of almost two years of intense development designed to anchor the future online development of our media assets,” said Al Hilal Group managing director Ronnie Middleton.

“We have effectively combined our portfolio of consumer and trade publications into a site which will offer our readers a fresh and dynamic online experience.

“This will be developed further over the coming months to attract an ever wider readership throughout the GCC and beyond.

“We have combined a daily newspaper with a range of market leading business and trade publications supplemented by an interactive community portal.

“The result will help to create a unique and valuable media property which will help drive the future of our publishing house.”

GDNonline now provides readers with the ability to log on to an all-day newspaper which provides a rich and varied range of news and information.

From breaking international and local stories to the most comprehensive compilation of regional and international business news, GDNonline is packed with news from the region and the world.

Special sections provide the latest news in sports, motoring, technology, health and entertainment from around the globe.

Incorporated in the new website is the Arabian Business Community (ABC) portal which is an interactive community directory launched last year by Al Hilal Group.

“The inclusion of an online directory on the site is a logical step as it provides Bahrain residents as well as visitors with a total news and business information platform enabling them to obtain detailed contact information about companies and organisations making the news in Bahrain,” added Middleton.

“In addition by interlinking ABC with the GDNonline, we are able to add tremendous value to advertisers in both Gulf Daily News and ABC.”

The existing online version of Gulf Daily News has more than 13,000-14,000 unique visitors each day.

However, access to the local content – the Bahrain section – of the new website will be restricted to subscribers.

Readers will have the options of either print and online subscriptions or just online.

“All our current print edition subscribers will of course have free access to the new online site,” said Gulf Daily News editor-in-chief George Williams.

“Over the last few years readers have been able to access the online edition of the Gulf Daily News free of charge which we feel was unfair to our loyal print subscribers.

“Now we have decided that anyone who wants to read our local news should be encouraged to pay for it making a welcome contribution to our running costs.

“The rest of the site will still be free so there will still be a lot of reading material for everyone to enjoy.”

A free one month trial is available for readers should they wish to try out the complete online edition before purchasing a subscription.

Online editor Sonorita Chauhan has extensive experience in online publishing and brings with her a team of sub-editors who have a proven track record in developing and maintaining a compelling digital presence designed to generate and increase reader interest in the site.

“The new site is rich, vibrant and filled with more content from the Middle East and around the world,” said Chauhan.

“People can look forward to news being updated throughout the day, with articles to share across social media networks.

“We’ve also added new sections such as TechTalk for people with interests in gadgets and technology, OMG which is for fun and quirky content, as well as health, motoring and more celebrity and entertainment news.”

The new site has been developed by North Star Technologies, part of the North Star Group of companies and one of Bahrain’s most successful web services providers. - TradeArabia News Service