Publishing news stories on your school's website is a great way to keep your community informed about important events, achievements, and announcements. This guide will walk you through the process of creating and publishing news content using Edlio's content management platform.
Getting Started
To begin creating a news story, locate and tap the Add News button on your dashboard. This will open the news creation interface where you can build your story from start to finish.
Step 1: Select News Categories
The first step is to choose which categories your news story should appear in. Click the news category button to open the category selection menu. You can select one or multiple categories to help organize your content and make it easier for visitors to find relevant news.
Best Practice: Choose categories that accurately reflect your story's content. For example, use "Athletics" for sports news, "Academics" for educational achievements, or "Events" for upcoming activities.
Step 2: Create Your Headline and Summary
In the headline and summary section, you'll need to provide:
Headline: A clear, engaging title for your news story
Short Summary: A brief description that gives readers a preview of the full story
These elements will be displayed on your website's news listing page, so make them compelling enough to encourage clicks while keeping them concise and informative.
Step 3: Add Your News Content
You have several options for how visitors will access your full news story when they click on the headline:
Option 1: Full News Story
Enter your complete news content directly into the News content field. This creates a dedicated page for your story on your website.
Option 2: Link to an Uploaded File
If you have a PDF, document, or other file with your news content, use the upload file link option to attach it. Visitors will be able to download or view the file when they click your headline.
Option 3: Link to Another Page
Use the news link to page option to direct visitors to an existing page on your website or an external webpage.
Citing External Sources
If your news content comes from an outside source, check the appropriate box and provide a link to the original source. This helps maintain transparency and gives proper credit.
Step 4: Add Visual Elements
Enhance your news story by uploading photos and files using the news photo upload feature. Visual content helps make your stories more engaging and can provide additional context for your readers.
Best Practice: Use high-quality images that are relevant to your story. Ensure you have permission to use any photos, especially those featuring students or staff members.
Step 5: Schedule Your Publication
Edlio offers flexible scheduling options for your news stories:
Immediate Publication
By default, your news story will be published immediately when you save it ("Post now"). This is ideal for time-sensitive announcements.
Scheduled Publication
To publish your story at a future date and time:
Check the box for "Schedule this news story to be published on"
Select your desired publication date and time
Homepage Removal Scheduling
To automatically remove the story from your homepage after a certain date:
Check the box for "Hide from homepage on"
Enter the date and time when you want it removed
Important Note: Stories removed from the homepage will still remain accessible on your website's News landing page.
Best Practices for News Publishing
Timing: Consider your audience when scheduling publication times. Avoid publishing during late evening hours or weekends unless it's urgent news.
Categories: Use consistent categorization to help visitors find related content easily.
Content Length: Keep summaries concise but informative. Full stories should be easy to scan with clear paragraphs and headings when appropriate.
Regular Updates: Maintain an active news presence by publishing stories regularly to keep your community engaged.
After Publishing: Additional Promotion Options
Once you save your news story, Edlio provides additional ways to amplify your content:
Social Media Integration: Post your news article directly to your school's social media accounts
Homepage Popup Alerts: Create prominent popup notifications for urgent or high-priority news
These features help ensure your important announcements reach as many community members as possible across different communication channels.
Remember to review your news story before publishing to check for accuracy, proper formatting, and appropriate scheduling. Well-crafted news stories help strengthen communication between your school and the community it serves.