Bluffton Today
Encyclopedia
Bluffton Today is a daily newspaper in Bluffton, South Carolina
that integrates many elements of citizen journalism
into its tight local focus. Some industry analysts regard the newspaper as a possible future model for small newspapers across the country.http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/002302.php The paper prints in a tabloid format, which is unusual for a paper of its circulation size.
Morris Communications started the newspaper in 2005 after the company folded the Carolina Morning News, a wraparound of the Savannah Morning News
.
Bluffton Today originally was a free daily newspaper
, but on Dec. 1, 2008, it began charging 25 cents per copy (75 cents on Sundays). The publisher said the newspaper had to start charging because of rising newsprint costs and declining advertising revenue.http://npaper-wehaa.com/bluffton-today;see-BVaO9O9vSqsana40#see-X5O10IxZ092aO2G1;c-90892
" format focuses mostly on Bluffton, a small-but-rapidly-growing town outside of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
. Much of the content is locally produced, with only limited amounts of wire copy.
The paper's content focuses on human interest stories and emphasizes the local angle in its news, entertainment, business and editorial sections.
The site also allows readers to submit photos, and a number of "spotters" cover local events for the web site.
The site uses the PHP-based Drupal
as its back-end system.
Bluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
that integrates many elements of citizen journalism
Citizen journalism
Citizen journalism is the concept of members of the public "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information," according to the seminal 2003 report We Media: How Audiences are Shaping the Future of News and Information...
into its tight local focus. Some industry analysts regard the newspaper as a possible future model for small newspapers across the country.http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/002302.php The paper prints in a tabloid format, which is unusual for a paper of its circulation size.
Morris Communications started the newspaper in 2005 after the company folded the Carolina Morning News, a wraparound of the Savannah Morning News
Savannah Morning News
The Savannah Morning News is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Morris Communications, Inc. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry"...
.
Bluffton Today originally was a free daily newspaper
Free daily newspaper
Free daily newspapers are distributed free of charge, either in central places in cities and towns, or with other newspapers. The revenues of such newspapers are based on advertising.-In the U.S.:...
, but on Dec. 1, 2008, it began charging 25 cents per copy (75 cents on Sundays). The publisher said the newspaper had to start charging because of rising newsprint costs and declining advertising revenue.http://npaper-wehaa.com/bluffton-today;see-BVaO9O9vSqsana40#see-X5O10IxZ092aO2G1;c-90892
Newspaper
The newspaper's "hyperlocalHyperlocal
The term hyperlocal can be used as a noun in isolation or as a modifier of some other term . It connotes having the character of being oriented around a well defined, community scale area with primary focus being directed towards the concerns of its residents...
" format focuses mostly on Bluffton, a small-but-rapidly-growing town outside of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is north of Savannah, Georgia, and south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton...
. Much of the content is locally produced, with only limited amounts of wire copy.
The paper's content focuses on human interest stories and emphasizes the local angle in its news, entertainment, business and editorial sections.
Web site
The paper's award-winning web site, blufftontoday.com, uses reader-submitted blogs as its main mechanism for communication. These blogs often find their way back into the paper in articles written by the paper's staff of professional journalists, as color for other articles or as part of the paper's "Best of the Web" section.The site also allows readers to submit photos, and a number of "spotters" cover local events for the web site.
The site uses the PHP-based Drupal
Drupal
Drupal is a free and open-source content management system and content management framework written in PHP and distributed under the GNU General Public License. It is used as a back-end system for at least 1.5% of all websites worldwide ranging from personal blogs to corporate, political, and...
as its back-end system.