A 'David Moyes' random excuse generator created by Trinity Mirror journalists on a two-day digital training course has proved to be an online hit on the websites of the Manchester Evening News and the Liverpool Echo.
The game was created during a two-day digital training course at the University of Central Lancashire. It was unveiled yesterday after Manchester United lost 3-0 to Manchester City as the losing run for United manager Moyes continued. According to Trinity Mirror, as of yesterday it had generated 557,000 page views.
Some 5 journalists from across Trinity Mirror's regional sites were given two days to create digital content focused on mobile and social audiences. The Moyes game invites readers to put in a situation they need an excuse for and then it randomly picks one of the excuses used by Moyes to explain United’s difficult season so far.
It was made by the MEN's mobile editor Andrew Stuart, the Echo's deputy head of content David Bartlett, Chester Chronicle digital editor Jo Henwood and North East online content writer Richard Fletcher. They worked with journalism lecturer Andy Dickinson and used open source code tool Codepen .
Trinity Mirror said there are now plans to tweak the game to create a version for Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew, depending on his team's result against Southampton this weekend.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
