Our client Metro is a global free newspaper group with a presence in multiple cities and countries around the world. Headshift helped Metro implement their new website in France - a pilot project that aims to include an extensive amount of user generated content in order to develop reader loyalty and participation.
A network of blogs on relevant themes and local perspectives
Metro seeks to build a blog network that can distinguish Metro from other local news sites by letting users browse and contribute opinions, and not just the hard news.
Headshift was called in to provide "community support" for the Metro blogging architecture by Six Apart, the Movable Type provider (the blogging software platform used).
Making different types of software integrate well
Our challenge was to seamlessly integrate Movable Type with Roxen (Metro's main content management system), and to extend it to meet the project's specific requirement, as well as preparing it to scale significantly.
The project extended over many months and involved a tough race to meet all deadlines and requirements. Particularly challenging was the need to monitor several staging environments and making sure all solutions would eventually fit together.
And the outcome was...
Headshift ended up producing an infrastructure for mixing editorial and user generated content that gives fairly non-techy editorial staff and readers alike the freedom to focus on making, chosing and enjoying good copy.
Metro France is now up and running and the new system is expected to be rolled out across all their markets in the near future.
See also: www.metrofrance.com
A network of blogs on relevant themes and local perspectives
Metro seeks to build a blog network that can distinguish Metro from other local news sites by letting users browse and contribute opinions, and not just the hard news.
Headshift was called in to provide "community support" for the Metro blogging architecture by Six Apart, the Movable Type provider (the blogging software platform used).
Making different types of software integrate well
Our challenge was to seamlessly integrate Movable Type with Roxen (Metro's main content management system), and to extend it to meet the project's specific requirement, as well as preparing it to scale significantly.
The project extended over many months and involved a tough race to meet all deadlines and requirements. Particularly challenging was the need to monitor several staging environments and making sure all solutions would eventually fit together.
And the outcome was...
Headshift ended up producing an infrastructure for mixing editorial and user generated content that gives fairly non-techy editorial staff and readers alike the freedom to focus on making, chosing and enjoying good copy.
Metro France is now up and running and the new system is expected to be rolled out across all their markets in the near future.
See also: www.metrofrance.com