News articles, or stories, can be added to your News Categories and are a great way to update your community. Examples we recommend using them for; sharing good news, results from competitions, important updates and other notifications. Blog posts can be added to a Blog Category in the same way as news but will include the name of the person who creates the post.
- Navigate to your website News or Blog Category. This might be called "Latest News", "Head Teacher's Blog" or similar.
- For News Categories, select Article from the Create tab, and for Blogs, select Blog Post. A blank page will appear, ready for you to add your update.
- Overtype the default title for your Article/Post. Don't forget to make it snappy to catch your reader's attention.
Note: you will not be able to save the page until you have amended the title.
Uploading an Image
- Insert a thumbnail image by clicking the Upload Thumbnail block. A window will appear displaying image files on your computer. It is recommended that you add a thumbnail image to make your article stand out and encourage visitors to view more. However, if you do not have an image to hand, your website will insert a default placeholder image.
- In the window, navigate to the file you would like to upload. Click on the file and press Open.
Cropping the Thumbnail
- Once you have uploaded a thumbnail image, hover your cursor over the picture to reveal a menu in the top right-hand corner.
- Crop- Opens the Crop Thumbnail window.
- Information - The 'i' icon will allow you to set alternative text for your image, to improve the accessibility of your picture.
- Replace Image - Opens the image folder on your machine so you can choose a new image.
- Remove Image - Deletes the thumbnail image.
- Click on the crop icon to open the Crop Thumbnail window.
- The thumbnail images for your article may appear in several website areas. Each version of the image could appear in different shapes, such as squares or rectangles.
- Main Thumbnail - The image appears within the article.
- List Thumbnail - Image appears within the main news feed category.
- Home Thumbnail - The image appears in the news feed on the homepage.
- Square Thumbnail - The image appears on the Newsletters (if the Add-on is enabled).
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App Thumbnail - Image appears within the News & Events app (if the Add-on is enabled).
- Use the zoom tools, and move the image in left window to adjust the thumbnail image for each area of your website. A preview of the cropped image will appear on the right.
- Repeat image cropping for each of the areas of the website where the image is used, by pressing the purple buttons at the top right of the window.
Setting Alternative Text
- Click in the 'i' icon and enter the alternative text, to describe your image to anyone viewing your content with a screen reader.
- Click Update to apply the new crop dimensions and save the alternative text description.
- Once the image has been uploaded, you can also set the Alternative Text by clicking on the 'i' symbol in the top right corner of the image area. You should enter appropriate text to describe the image, so that it can be read by a screen reader.
- Type an introduction by replacing the text Please enter an introduction for your news story/blog post here.
- Type the full story content by replacing the text Please enter some content for your news story/blog post here.
- You may wish to include elements from the Editor Ribbon
- If you would like to add an attachment, press the Upload Attachment block.
Select Save on the Edit tab and choose the desired save option:
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Save Now
- If you see this option, you can save and publish your item immediately to make it live on the website.
- If you have purchased our School News Mobile App, Administrators or Publishers can select the option to send a notification to subscribed app users.
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Save Draft
- This will allow you to save your item without publishing it, and return to continue editing via Drafts on the Home tab
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Send for Approval
- This option enables you to send an item to be reviewed and approved by either an Administrator or Publisher. Once approved this item will be made live on the site.