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Online Journalism News

Jewish Chronicle relaunches website with open source software

Posted: 11/07/08 By: Kristine Lowe
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Screenshot of the Jewish Chronicle website

The world’s oldest Jewish newspaper, London-based The Jewish Chronicle, has re-launched its news site using free open source software Drupal.

The Jewish Chronicle, popularly known as The JC, has become the latest news site to choose open source software Drupal as its content management system (CMS).

"I would like to think we are the first national news site in the UK to run on Drupal, but I do not know for certain that we are. At the moment we are in beta mode, so we are not shouting about it," Richard Burton, managing editor of The JC, told Journalism.co.uk.

For the former editor of Telegraph.co.uk, who joined the title in February 2007, the contrast between the expensive, large-scale online development at his former newspaper and the low-cost, lightweight use of Drupal could not be starker.

According to Burton, it was colleague David Rowan, formerly of The Guardian, who initially suggested testing Drupal.

"I have been here just over a year - David has been here two - and this is really about reinventing the brand. We are now a fully multimedia, multi-platform operation," he said.

"Our website is only the latest manifestation of this. If it was not for so much happening at the same time, the website would have re-launched much sooner."

The paper began with only one developer working on the new Drupal site, but has now handed the project over to a small team.

"The new news site is a statement of intent. Launching in beta sends the right signals internally as well: that we have started the makeover and have to stick to the deadlines," said Burton, who added that the aim is to launch the site fully in September.

One feature yet to be added is a social networking function set to be released in the coming weeks.

"We will be inviting people to come and use our platform and want to become a focal point for the debate," said Burton, who denied the service would be anything like My Telegraph.

The vulnerability of open source software, like Drupal, to hackers made security measures a must in developing the beta site, Burton said

“Behind the scenes we want to make sure the infrastructure is right. We have launched very quietly and are learning as we go along, but, if approached correctly, the open source thing is only going to grow.

"It is about shared knowledge and collaboration – we do not have to re-invent the wheel, but can use much of what is already there as well – and it could change the whole economic model."