Good v. Bad Design

I wouldn't say anyone's credibility is at stake with bad design elements. However I do believe an educated or even observant viewer might consider the design to be elementary and therefore make assumptions about the news organizations' experience, expertise, or intelligence. Design is often overlooked, as many people, especially those with print backgrounds might believe that the content should override the visual aspects of a website, magazine/newspaper article etc. Design is is one of the determining factors in deciding whether or not your audience will be intrigued or convinced enough to continue reading.