All issues of NCAA Champion magazine recently were converted to a format that allows readers to capture all stories online as they appeared in print.

Champion was established in January 2008, and the online versions of the first five issues originally were provided in a traditional HTML format. In April 2009, however, the online version was changed so that readers could view the magazine in its original form, with the ability to download high-quality PDF files from any page of the magazine. Earlier this month, all back issues were converted to the new technology.

The current version of each issue of Champion will continue to feature a traditional home page, which readers can use to find the stories they want. Navigation also is available through live links on the table of contents, found on page 1 of every issue. The “Issues Archive” tab appears in the second row of tabs at the top of the Champion home page.

Other features of the new approach include the following:

• Champion-specific search ability, both within a particular issue or for all issues of magazine. The search presents differently than most, providing thumbnail images of the pages on which the search term was found.
• A crop tool to capture particular articles as JPEG files that can be saved or e-mailed.
• A page-turning feature that helps readers emulate the original magazine experience.
• Links to additional textual, photographic and video content.

“We concluded that our readers value the presentation of the stories that they see in print,” said David Pickle, executive editor. “This provides the readers with an opportunity to capture stories as they saw them. Also, I believe the ability to search within the magazine will prove to be especially valuable as the number of issues accumulates.”