By Tara McMeekin
Associate Editor

Many smaller newspapers are launching CityXpress.com’s Special Sections as a solution to the ever-present dilemma of generating revenue on their Web sites.

CityXpress produces a series of special sections that include daily updated editorial content and contextually related promotional opportunities that advertisers can purchase to reach niche audiences.

The Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune recently became the first to launch CityXPress with three special sections, Dining & Entertainment, Outdoors & Recreation and Home & Garden, on its Web site at www.ndonline.com.

The York Region Newspaper Group, a division of Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing Ltd., has launched a pilot Home & Garden Special Section with CityXpress.com at www.yorkregion.com. The York Region Newspaper Group publishes eight weeklies in 15 editions.

Madison Newspapers Inc.’s online property Madison.com also launched CityXpress’ Home & Garden Special Section. Madison.com is the online portal site for The Capital Times in Madison, Wis. and the Wisconsin State Journal.

The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., launched Home & Garden at www.buffalo.com in June.

“The CityXpress model provides us the opportunity for new, fresh content without adding staff on our side of the equation,” said Dottie Gallagher-Cohn, director of new media and integrated marketing at The Buffalo News.

Lee Enterprises recently completed its conversion of 49 CityXpress Special Sections and business directories at 23 of its online properties. Recently converted sites include those of the Corvallis (Ore.) Gazette-Times, the Albany (Ore.) Democrat-Herald, The Lebanon (Ore.) Express, the Helena (Mont.) Independent Record, the Missoulian in Missoula, Mont., the Herald & Review in Decatur, Ill., and The Journal Times of Racine, Wis.

The Mason City (Iowa) Globe and the Billings (Mont.) Gazette both launched new CityXpress Special Sections. Mason City launched Home & Garden, Dining & Entertainment, Bridal and Professional Services sections and the Billings Gazette launched Home & Garden.

The Shelby (N.C.) Star’s site at www.shelbystar.com in June became the first site to implement the Health & Wellness special section. The Shelby Star is one of many newspapers owned by Freedom Communications Inc. that is implementing Special Sections.

The Now Community newspapers of Surrey, British Columbia, have implemented the Home & Garden and Dining & Entertainment sections on its site at www.thenownewspaper.com. The Now Community is one of 13 community newspapers published by the VanNet group, a division of Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.

“We held off launching The Now Community Web site until we found a way to make it profitable,” said Steven Malkowich, publisher of the paper. “From day one, Xpress Special Sections have offered us a means to generate revenue.”

CityXpress recently relocated its U.S. sales office from Denver to Kirkland, Wash., and expanded the sales development team responsible for launching CityXpress Special Sections.