Staff Writer

Want to tap into the local community market by providing them Internet exposure?

The new Community Publishing module of Saxotech’s Publicus online publishing system makes it possible.

Newspapers can now offer community groups and other organizations a simple, cost-effective way to participate in Web publishing.

The Community Publishing module is a simplified version of the Publicus editing system that allows community groups to do basic article and picture editing in a simple, Web-based browser interface. All of the HyperText Markup Language coding is hidden from the users and is handled by the Publicus software to avoid confusion.

Several papers in Scandinavia are using the Community Publishing system, and The Blade in Toledo, Ohio, and the Times News in Lehighton, Pa., are beginning the installation process.

Marketed as a valuable tool for newspapers, it can increase traffic flow to the Web sites according to Saxotech.

“One of the best ways that local newspapers can drive traffic to their Web sites is to include school groups, churches and other areas of their communities in the actual construction and content creation,” said Robert Laszlo, vice president of customer fulfillment of Saxotech. “To do that, however, you need smart software that will let these groups create their own content without requiring them to be HTML experts.”

There are two options. The first provides the user with their own sections on a Publicus-ran Web site, displaying their own page designs and logos. The second option is to post the user’s content in a community guide section that includes a calendar and classified advertising.

Desiring some editorial control, newspapers often edit the customer’s material before publishing it to the Web. Customers could range from churches, to schools, or even community sports teams.

“One of the more exciting ideas for the Community Publishing module is to use it to do more local sports reporting,” said Laszlo. “For example, you could set up an area of your site for all the grade school soccer teams in your area. The coaches of the teams can be given access to their section of the site and be allowed to post stories, scores and announcements for all the parents and kids to read online.”

To update information, all that is required is Internet access and a Web browser. Newspaper representatives can train customers to use the software quickly over the phone. All the data in Publicus can then be exported for publication in the newspaper’s print edition.s

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