The Log Cabin Democrat newspaper of Conway, Arkansas is soon to have a much needed makeover as their site is due to launch on the SMS (Site Management System) platform developed with Drupal/Pressflow by Morris Digitalworks, based in Augusta, GA.
This launch also represents the release of the latest version of MDW's SMS platform using Pressflow, which is the highly scalable derivative of the Drupal CMS. This launch also represents the strongest initiative by MDW to implement a scalable dynamic publishing system for newspapers and other press entities using Drupal and other open-source technology which they wish to release back to the Drupal community and the rest of the open-source community.
In a nutshell, the SMS platform for newspapers is an initiative to answer the question of the future of newspapers and the press in general. Using elements from social networking sites along side strong management of content, the SMS system aims to be a way that newspaper websites can expand beyond the limitations of just providing news-related content and allow the site's audience to participate and contribute to the content and quality of the site by providing blogs and ideas along side the basic story comment; in a sense creating a virtual town square where the community can interact, learn, promote, and discuss news and events that are happening in their area.
Though the thecabin.net launch is the first of the latest version implementation of the SMS platform, it is not the first attempt by MDW and collaborating teams to bring this vision to life. Two other major newspapers have implemented the platform and are having great results in bringing their respective communities together on the internet. The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville, FL and the Topeka Capital-Journal of Topeka, KS were the first two major newspapers to utilize and experiment (guinea pigs if you will...) with the platform and the idea of what newspapers can achieve utilizing the influence of the internet aside from just being a digital copy of print material.
Aside from the issues that have come up in the process, the implementation has given all of the development teams a great perspective on the future of press and the internet. To boil it all down, the newspapers are far from fading away, they're just evolving to accommodate the rapid change that's taking place in the world of journalism in the digital age... and that future looks bright.
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