Web Content Management at GCN.com The Gilbane Conference: Content Technologies for Government Alec Dann SVP of Internet Publishing PostNewsweek Tech Media

Overview We manage four web sites: –GCN.com –WashingtonTechnology.com –GovernmentLeader.com –DefenseSystems.com 200,000 web pages Monthly usage: –450,000 unique visitors –1,500,000 million page views We write as many articles for the web as for our print editions.

Overview Objectives Publishing Platform Challenges

Objectives Manage multiple types of editorial content –Article text –Photos –Information graphics –Tables –Audio / video Manage advertising content Manage web page presentation

Objectives Deliver content through multiple channels –Web pages – –Syndication 12 formats including NITF, XMLNews and RSS –Audio Minimize manpower

Publishing System Ad server

Publishing System Databased content –Includes stories, event listings, whitepapers, blogs. –Attributes: Story elements: headline, author, byline, date/time. Story categories: news topic. Graphics including photos and charts (file location with caption and photographer credit). Sidebars. Multiple pages. Links to related stories or other web sites. External content –Includes graphics and other media. –Can be on site or off.

Publishing System Story page generation –Code generator renders HTML and writes file. URL is fixed (to support search engines). Page is rendered via PHP. –Index pages are updated. –Story is indexed for search. –Story is syndicated.

Publishing System Site administration –Managed through containers: Automated story listing Manually-picked story list –Fixed or rotating RSS feed Link list Freeform –Editor can edit or configure containers.

Publishing System GCN Latest News story list

Challenges Need another management layer in our CMS –Manage page elements for individual pages or sections of pages Content containers Navigation Ads Usage tracking page code –Assumes the capability to generalize content objects.

Challenges Integration with multiple platforms – –RSS RSS as an internal distribution tool –Mobile edition Blackberry-friendly web pages –Telephone

Challenges Using visual media well: –Many kinds of objects must be managed. Photos, audio, video, flash. –Faster retrieval and integration into page content is a must. –More distribution options to consider: Play now, podcast, download. –New forms of story telling. Explain vs show

Challenges Improved access to content –Search –Category hierarchies –Keyword tagging Automated or manual? –Social tagging Deli.cio.us and Flickr as models

Challenges Designing for the future –Designs will change radically as monitors evolve. 5 years: Large flat panel monitors will be ubiquitous. 10 years: Many monitors will be high resolution (150 dpi or better).

Challenges Designing for the future –Prepare to repurpose content elements as your design evolves. What meta data do you need to republish? How will you republish complex objects like tables?

Contact info CMS vendor is iProduction For questions or further discussion, send to: Alec Dann