deadline.com
Ultimately, the best way to stay up to date on all the latest entertainment news is to choose a news outlet that interests you and digesting their content in a variety of ways.
With so many options available, it can be hard to decide which one is the right fit for you. But don't worry, that's why I'm here- to help you navigate each option and find the perfect one for your interests and tastes.
Some people argue that it would make more sense to regularly peruse all of the best sources for entertainment news in order to take the most holistic approach to staying informed.
That being said, there are some entertainment news sites that are good quality, get a lot of good content, and cater to different needs. In terms of design, the quality of the content and what kinds of content gets focus on more than others, there is no denying the fact that some entertainment news sites will be better suited for your own specific needs. Therefore, having a solid go-to default entertainment news site is certainly not a bad idea.
The thing to keep in mind is what your priorities are, and what you value most in a news site. For some, it might be the look and feel of the site - something that is very user-friendly. For others, who place more importance on the quality of the content, they would want to look for a site with strong writers. And for those who are worried about a news site's longevity, sites like Rolling Stone or People might be more appealing. So whichever concerns you have about news sites, you've come to the right place - we have plenty of options to choose from!
Some websites that offer news and information about entertainment, such as Deadline, began as blogs. This means that the site is likely up to date with new technology and design trends, as well as having access to what's hot right now in the entertainment industry.
For instance, the deadline for an article might be more modern and shorter in length than that of magazines like People or Time, as well as keeping busy individuals informed about their favorite shows, movies, actors, and entertainers.
If that description describes you, Deadline Hollywood might just be the site for you. So, without further ado, let us take a look at where it came from, how it functions, and whether it is worth your time.
History
Deadline was created by entertainment news journalist Niki Finke. It got its start as a series of columns called "Deadline Hollywood" which appeared in the LA Times in June of 2002. From there, Finke turned her columns into a blog, previously known as Deadline Hollywood Daily, in March of 2006.
Met with immediate success, Finke decided to launch a full-fledged website version of the blog in 2006. By 2009, Deadline Hollywood was one of the most followed entertainment news sites on the web, an authority and institution in the entertainment news circuit.
In 2009, business-savvy Niki Finke sold Deadline to the Penske Media Corporation (at the time Mail.com Media) for an impressive seven-figure price tag. In addition to the sale of the site itself, Finke was given a five-year-plus employment contract which was, according to LA Times, worth millions. This allowed her to continue working on Deadline once its ownership officially exchanged hands.
In September of 2009, Deadline Hollywood's URL shortened from deadlinehollywood.com to the simpler deadline.com. The name of the site, however, remained Deadline Hollywood. In 2010, Deadline expanded its horizons into New York City with the hiring of Variety magazine's Mike Fleming Jr. as Deadline's New York editor and Financial Times editor, Tim Adler taking charge of Deadline London. Nellie Andreeva was also brought on board to manage Deadline's television coverage alongside Adler.
Following a yearlong dispute, Deadline Hollywood editor Finke left the publication in 2013.
Design
I don't think I'm the only one who thinks that Deadline Hollywood's layout looks kind of bloggy. In my opinion, a news site should have a more professional appearance.
Instead of giving a front-page appeal, Deadline has individual posts that are listed in a sort of blog-like table. I think this takes away from the site's overall design because the top 1/8th of the home page is cluttered and flashy with a breaking story popup at the top and a few featured pieces scattered immediately below.
Content
As far as entertainment news go, Deadline is always up to date. They are not only focused on the latest Hollywood trends, but also cover politics occasionally which is a breath of fresh air.
Since the site offers so many different content categories, the best place to look for what you're looking for would be the site menu bar. Visitors can choose one of the following categories to peruse: TV, Film, Awards Line, Box Office, Business, Hero Nation, International, Broadway or Video (Deadline?'s TV video content).
Mobile and Desktop Experience
What Deadline lacks in terms of an online presence, the mobile app more than makes up for. The app is professional, streamlined, less cluttered, and easier to navigate and read. It reads more like a true online publication and less like a blog.
It seems as if the majority of iOS users would agree with me, too, as the Deadline Hollywood app is one of the highest-rated entertainment news apps available on the Apple App Store. With an average overall rating of 4.7 stars (out of 5) from over 2 thousand individual reviewers, the Deadline app could be a great way to receive all of your entertainment news on the go.
Pricing and Plans
Deadline Hollywood is absolutely free to use as you please. There are no paywalls or blocked content to worry about, and navigation is easy with a good ad-blocker extension for your web browser.
Suggestions that I have for Deadline Hollywood
I think Deadline Hollywood might want to give their desktop site a makeover. Their blog layout is outdated and not very news-like, so maybe they should switch to something more like the app.
It wouldn't hurt to offer a premium experience of the site for a monthly fee. Say, an ad-free experience or exclusive content? I think lovers of Deadline would easily pay five or ten bucks a month for something like this - some added perks.