The Role of Header Design Structural Elements in Shaping the Visual Identity of Online News Websites (A Comparative Analytical Study)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Faculty of Mass Communication Ain Shams University

10.21608/jsb.2025.411817.1961

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the structural design elements that make up the header section of Egyptian online news websites, and the meanings these elements convey in alignment with the website’s content. It also examined their role in forming a clear and distinctive visual identity that attracts user’s attention in the digital environment. A qualitative semiotic analysis guide was applied to the websites Youm 7, Al-Masry Al-Youm, Masrawy and Al- Watan.
The findings showed a consensus among the analyzed websites in reinforcing a distinctive visual identity in the reader’s mind through the site name, both textual and visual logos and the consistent use of specific colors that make the brand clear and visible, reflecting the site’s personality. Additionally, the effectiveness of non-verbal symbols used by the websites was evident, as they conveyed meanings that reinforce their identity. Moreover, visual icons were found to play a significant role in achieving visual distinction among users.

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Journal of Mass Communication Research
Volume 76, Issue 2
October 2025
Pages 1285-1342

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