n More community based, interactive use is goal

From staff reports

Chickasaw Journal

HOUSTON - The Chickasaw Journal has entered a new realm of journalism and information with the launch of chickasaw360.com, a new and interactive website for the residents of Chickasaw County. The site launched last week and offers readers and residents an opportunity to be a part of the news and speak directly to the community. Chickasaw Journal GM, Lisa Voyles, said that she anticipates heavy use of the new site.

amp"We've gone past the point of just reporting events on a weekly basis,amp" Voyles said. amp"Information consumers want more and we want them to have it.amp"

The site will still publish the news from the weekly paper, but will also encourage citizen input in blogging, posting community news and breaking events. While still in the early stages, Voyles feels the potential is available for a true, community-based website to offer more information to residents.

amp"Technology is evolving every day,amp" Voyles said. amp"Five years ago, it was an asset for people to read the news on line. Now, people are much more techno-savvy and use the web as a major means of communication. The new site will be receptive to these changes.amp"

Chickasaw360.com will be managed by a third party to allow staff members to continue to concentrate on providing community news coverage within the county.

amp"Our partnership with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal allows us to incorporate extra hands on deck,amp" Voyles said. amp"Todd Vinyard will be our connection to uploading news and events. If it produces the interest and interaction that I think it will, I'll have to check it several times a day just to keep up myself.amp"

Bloggers are welcome to submit to the site and breaking news is solicited.

amp"If something happens that is important to the community, they can send it straight over and we'll post it,amp" Vinyard said. amp"Almost everybody has a digital camera these days. When you see news happen, shoot a photo and we'll upload it to let the community know.amp"

Individuals can also post community events and create private profiles to communicate with only their own guest list.

amp"To be a blogger, a user can go on the site and on the left hand side is a link called 'my blogs.' Users can click on that and it will walk them through the set up,amp" Vinyard said. amp"Create a new blog and name it anything you like. Add new blog entries. It's fast and easy.amp"

Vinyard and staff are currently working on uploads for submitted photos and feel confident that the service will be available soon.

amp"There are only so many photos the newspaper can print each week,amp" Vinyard said. amp"We can put many, many more on line.amp"

The former website, chickasawjournal.com, is being discontinued, but is still on line with a link to chickasaw360.com. For information about how to post to the new site, contact Vinyard at todd.vinyard@djournal.com or 678-1586.

amp"We feel that the new site will allow more contact and sharing of information within our community and that's what we all want,amp" Voyles said.