The making of a community newspaper website : http://www.helderberg.com

Date
2001-03
Authors
Hoffman, Bernard
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Helderberg.com started out as a Virtual Village, with its roots firmly entrenched in the community newspaper from which it developed - the DistrictMail. It quickly evolved into a full blown community newspaper website with its own business model, earning its own way. Dotcoms are based on a virtual business model not seen up till now, trying to replace 'bricks and mortar' with 'clicks and mortar', making it difficult for investors to evaluate its worth. The DistrictMail community newspaper has been the heartbeat of the Helderberg, reflecting the news and views of the people of the area, for almost seventy-five years. Helderberg.com adds value and completes the circle. The success of companies depends on profitability. Bringing old and new media together, helderberg. com is the first community newspaper website to carry its own advertisers, and the first to break even and even make profit in the notoriously difficult dotcom internet arena. This paper examines how a community newspaper website is made - dissecting the internal and external makings, and shows helderberg. com is based on a structure and business model that has economic sustainability on which similar sized community newspapers, can launch or build their online enterprise.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Helderberg.com het begin as 'n Feitedorp ("Virtual Village"), stewig gewortel in die streekkoerant waaruit dit ontwikkel het - die DistriksPos. Dit het spoedig 'n volwaardige gemeenskapskoerant-webtuiste geword met 'n eie sakemodel en in staat om geld te verdien. Dotcom besighede is gebaseer op 'n virtuele sakemodel soos wat tot dusver nog nie gesien is nie. En probeer om 'klippe en pleister' met 'klikke en pleister' ('bricks and mortar' with 'clicks and mortar') te vervang met die gevolg dat dit vir beleggers moeilik is om die waarde daarvan behoorlik te evalueer. Die DistriksPos is die hartslag van die Helderberg en reflekteer die standpunte van sy inwoners vir langer as 75 jaar. Helderberg.com voltooi hierdie kringloop en voeg waarde daaraan toe. Die sukses van 'n maatskappy word beoordeel na gelang van verdienste. Deur ou en nuwe media bymekaar te bring word helderberg. com die eerste gemeenskapskoerant-webtuiste wat adverteerders dra en die eerste wat finansieel gelyk breek en selfs 'n wins wys in die berugte dotcom internetarena. In hierdie mini-tesis word ondersoek gedoen oor hoe 'n gemeenskapskoerant-webtuiste geskep word deur die interne en eksterne kwaliteite daarvan te ontleed. Dit toon hoe helderberg. com gebaseer is op strukture en 'n sakemodel wat ekonomies volhoubaar is, en waarop gemeenskapskoerante van soortgelyke grootte hul internet-bedrywe kan grond.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
Keywords
Web sites -- Design, Web site development, Community newspapers -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Community newspapers -- Computer network resources, Dissertations -- Journalism, Theses -- Journalism
Citation