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Defense.gov Launches 2014 Year-in-Review Microsites

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The Defense Department launched its annual Year in Review and Year in Photos special reports on its flagship website today to showcase the work and accomplishments of the department’s military and civilian workforce in 2014.

The special reports on http://www.defense.gov/ highlight the global efforts of DoD’s workforce of more than 1.4 million men and women on active duty, 1.1 million in the reserves and National Guard, and 718,000 civilian personnel, as they defended the nation, providing safety and security for U.S. national interests domestically and abroad throughout the year.

John Valceanu, chief of the Defense.gov news content management and digital print teams, discussed the project’s rollout and how it came together.

“We’ve been doing year-in-review specials for a few years now, and I think this is, by far, the best one we’ve done so far,” he said. “I’m really proud of the team being able to create such a high-quality product.”

The products are a testament to the work of Linda Hosek, the content manager who pulled it together, and John Kerr, the designer who developed the microsite, Valceanu added.

Updates on Critical Issues

The Year in Review microsite highlights some of DoD’s most critical issues from 2014, ranging from sequestration and budgeting concerns to the department’s Ebola response in West Africa.
Along with national security issues such as the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, it also covers more poignant moments for the country, such as the 2014 Warrior Games.

The Year in Photos special showcases military photographers’ work as they captured a visual record of the department’s operations through compelling imagery around the world -- from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to wildfire fighting in California to military athletes competing for the right to represent their branches of service.

The special reports also give the department a chance to highlight the work of the DoD News Digital Print writers who have told the story of the department’s activities throughout the year, Valceanu said.

Superior Design

The design of this year’s reports is superior to past years, he added, and has helped to better integrate the department’s imagery and stories.

“They’re separate pieces of the same project,” he said, “so visitors can browse through photos and look at great imagery collected from throughout the year.” Visitors can also read articles, Valceanu added, to find out more about specific topics.

The special reports provide glimpses of DoD at its best as it engaged challenges around the world and present a more personal view of service members as they embrace their passions, show their competitive spirits and demonstrate compassion, Valceanu said.

“This has been a very good year for Defense.gov,” he said, noting that a mid-year redesign of the site’s home page resulted in more page views of its articles, photos, photo essays and other features.

“I think this Year in Review project is a fitting way to cap what has been a very successful year for us,” he said. “And we look forward to continuing to evolve and delivering even better products in the coming years.”

(Follow Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Marshall on Twitter: @MarshallDoDNews)
 

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