Newscoma

I’m working on an entire upgrade of our paper’s Web-site.

But …

I didn’t this weekend. Compiling the information I need is taking time, and it’s not something I can just throw together. I’m going to do this during work hours. Unfortunately, much of the information and tools I need I don’t have at work.

So today, I’m going in to build the paper, then I’m coming home and I’ll start writing a bit more. You see, the thing is, this has to be very friendly to read where I can explain why we need to do this. And much of this has to do with explaining to the bosses (and staff) a language that I don’t have a full grasp of myself, but I am learning. When I start discussing this, I have gotten a blank-eyed stare from some of the staff. They know it needs to be done, but my chief staff writer said it best “People are going to need to understand it. That’s your biggest issue.”

She’s right. Absolutely right.

Newscoma is an ad-free zone and a blog, so we aren’t talking about that. So the world of impressions, click throughs and conversions is relatively new to me. Also, to figure out how to make the transition to having our news on-line is somewhat overwhelming. Our web-site right now is not necessarily terrible, but we could do so much more with it but after a bit of research, I’ve discovered that the software is several years old. Which brings me again to my on-going monologue of rural news media. We need to be more interactive on-line, so I’m having to learn things I’m not familiar with.

You may be asking “Newscoma, why are you doing this? Don’t you have a tech or a consultant who can help out?”

The answer is no. We are going to have to learn it and figure it out for ourselves. The thing is, that with the right site, we can probably improve our readership. On the other hand, we are using old software that is not really reader friendly and quite honestly, I really have no control over what goes on the site, which drives me nuts. Our paper is built at the corporate offices, so when I see it it’s a surprise to me what goes on it and what’s left out. So, I’m working on a prospectus to give to the publishers on how we can have both the newspaper and an on-line edition that will offer members of our community who want their news on their home computer more options.

Some people don’t agree, but I think making this transition is extremely important but I feel like I’m in the grant-writing world again. It’s detailed, but must be readable.

And it might be my only shot to really get this out there, so it’s got to be right. And I’ve been given the go-ahead from the The Power That Be that makes me tongue-tied to do this and to do it pretty quickly, I do feel somewhat exhilirated and overwhelmed at the same time.

So, here’s where I ask for some help. If anyone knows how I can present this in a way that to the Powers That Be and to my co-workers where it’s not so overwhelming, zip me an e-mail.

I’m planning on working on it this afternoon and all day tomorrow until it’s done. Hopefully, I can present it on Thursday or Friday this week. I’m also looking for an affordable software program that can travel. What I mean by this is, if I had to, I could post on the Web-site from any location if necessary. (Example, storms, crisis, etc.) As we use Macs at work, I think the only expenses would be a laptop and the software program. I also want a software program that can be added on to if necessary.

And I want to add a citizen journalism format that would allow people to upload, seperate from the news but still on the site, pictures and possibly even comments.

Yeah, I know we are behind the times a bit. But I’m trying.

So, yeah, I’m asking you techy people out there, and those of you who are already doing this to give me some advice. And tell me what you like. And what you don’t.