The Washington Post launched a grassroots journalism Web site, joining dozens of other papers seeking to grow their overall audiences by offering so-called hyperlocal coverage of community events.

LoudounExtra.com, serving the northern Virginia community about 25 miles north of Washington, D.C., combines Post reporters with community journalists, the paper said. If the pilot is successful, The Post plans to launch similar sites for other areas surrounding and including the District, the paper said.

The site is based on Ellington, custom software licensed from the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World. Rob Curley, who was hired by The Post to oversee its Internet efforts, developed the Journal-World’s site as well as the Web site of the Naples (Fla.) Daily News, both of which feature hyperlocal journalism.

LoudounExtra.com features community news as well as extensive databases on schools, business and churches.