Understanding the Behind-the-Scenes Code of a News Website Page

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the curtain when you open a news article online? Let’s look at a real example of the hidden computer instructions (called HTML and code) that help a webpage work. We’ll break it down like you’re five years old!

What Is This Page Made Of?

The content we are looking at is not the story you read. It is the “backstage” stuff that tells the browser (the app you use to surf the web) how to show buttons, ads, and tracking tools.

Hidden Trackers and Helpers

Some invisible tags help website owners see how people use the site:

• Google Tag Manager: A tool that lets the site add tracking codes without changing the whole page. There is a hidden box (called noscript) that loads if you turned off JavaScript (a helper language for websites).
• Old analytics code: There were notes about removing older tracking code (like pgevoke.analytics.ga-top) on certain dates (for example, May 13, 2019).
• Other trackers: Mentions of Krux, Comscore, and A.B.D. tools that were either turned off or removed.

Important: These trackers are like invisible notepads that remember what you click so the newspaper can learn what readers like.

Menu and Share Buttons

At the top, there is a special header that shows buttons so you can:

• Open a MENU to find more stuff
• Share the story on Facebook
• Share on Facebook Messenger (a chat app)
• Share on X (formerly Twitter)
• Send by Email
• Send as Android text (a message on a phone)
• See Comments from other readers

These are just pictures and links that let you talk to your friends about the news.

The Slide Menu

If you open the menu, a side panel appears with lists like:

• ACCOUNT
• SECTIONS
• OTHER
• CLASSIFIEDS
• CONTACT US / FAQ

Think of it like a drawer full of labels to help you go somewhere else on the site.

Ads and Special Effects

The code talks about:

• Rich Media Ad: Peelback – a fun ad that looks like a page corner you can peel.
• Wallpaper ad – a big background picture behind the page.
• Some ads and pop-ups were removed or not used anymore.

Login and Reader Tools

There are notes about:

• A place for a login screen (so you can sign in)
• A “Back To Top” button to jump up fast
• An email share form that pops up with boxes to type a friend’s email
• A meter (paid story) system, meaning some stories are for paying readers

Cleanup Notes from the Builders

The people who built the site left little notes like:

• “Removing PGGA code here (5/13/2019)”
• “Removed 10.11.17”
• “Removing 6/1/2020 per Nate”
• “ICT is off”

This means they cleaned up old junk so the site runs better.

Summary

This behind-the-scenes code shows how a news webpage is built with:

• Hidden trackers to learn about readers
• Share and menu buttons to help you navigate
• Ads and pop-ups (some removed)
• Login and email tools
• Lots of cleanup notes from the website builders

Even though you don’t see it, this code makes the site work!

FAQ

Q1: What is HTML?
A: It is the language that tells your browser what to show, like words, buttons, and pictures.

Q2: Why are there trackers if I don’t see them?
A: They quietly report what you do so the site owner can improve the page and show relevant ads.

Q3: What does “noscript” mean?
A: It is a backup plan for people who turned off JavaScript; it still loads something important like a tracking tag.

Q4: Why do they remove old code?
A: Old code can slow things down or stop working, so builders delete it to keep the site healthy.