Teach the site. A study by the Readeship Institute of ways of improving newspapers suggests that readers enjoy and benefit from more promotion or explanation of new content and different sections of the paper and its web site. (See Imperative 7 on page 12 of the report.) I wonder if the same might not be true of more complex weblogs, which offer many categories and the usual problem of content dropping off the page and vanishing into the archive. The study also recommends clearer navigation aids for the paper/site.

People want more of this kind of news, they say:

1. Intensely local, people-focused news. The specifics of this
factor are community announcements, stories about ordinary
people and obituaries.

2. Lifestyle news, which includes health, fitness and medicine;
home, garden and real estate; food; fashion and beauty; and
travel.

3. How we are governed and global relations. This includes
coverage of politics, government, war and international conflict.

Via Tim Porter. [0 & P]

Wikipedia software. Clay Shirky points out that the snazzy Wiki software that runs Wikipedia is available. I am happy with the PmWiki I've been using, but it doesn't have the more complex features that make Wikipedia possible. [2 & P]

ExpressionEngine. I'm trying out the 30 day demonstration of the new software from the team that built pMachine, which runs the site you are reading. I've been very happy with pMachine all along the way, but their new software looks like it makes room for more complex work groups and sets up a snazzier set of behind-the-scenes procedures for running the data base, and some other things I'm not sure I understand yet. It's called ExpressionEngine, a synonym for the more graceful name pMachine, but it's a new product. My first impressions are all good -- smoothly operating, smart control panel designs so far.

My trial site won't last, but it's here. I'm looking for the right software for the hybrid news and weblog site I expect to help the campus launch in early summer. [0 & P]