What Everyblock's Redesign Tells Us About The Future Of Hyperlocal News Sites

Hyperlocal venture Everyblock, owned by msnbc.com, relaunched yesterday with a sleek new design and several fresh features geared towards cultivating neighborhood communities. The site’s previous incarnation served as a kind of block-by-block news feed, aggregating crime statistics, restaurant reviews and local events. With yesterday’s relaunch, new social elements have been integrated into the site that encourage users to share and interact with their neighbors both online and off. So what are these changes, and what insight do they give us into the future of hyperlocal news? Let’s take a look.

• Digital incentives: With its newest iteration, Everyblock has officially joined the badge revolution.