placebo.mk/PUBLISHER_GUIDE.md

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Publisher & Content Creator Guide - Placebo.mk

Overview

Placebo.mk is a Macedonian news site with a sarcastic tone. This guide covers content creation, publishing workflows, and best practices for writers and editors.

Getting Started

Accessing the CMS

  1. Navigate to: http://your-domain.com/admin
  2. Log in with your credentials
  3. Select "Content Manager" from the sidebar

Your Dashboard

  • Content Manager: Create and edit articles
  • Media Library: Upload and manage images/files
  • Profile: Update your author information

Content Creation Workflow

1. Planning Your Article

Before writing:

  • Choose a compelling headline
  • Research your topic thoroughly
  • Gather supporting images/media
  • Plan your article structure

2. Creating a New Article

Basic Article Setup

  1. Click + Create new entry in Content Manager
  2. Select Article content type
  3. Fill in required fields:
    • Title: Catchy, SEO-friendly headline
    • Author: Your name (auto-populated)
    • Content: Main article body

Article Fields Explained

  • Title: Maximum 100 characters, include keywords
  • Content: Rich text editor with formatting options
  • Media: Upload images, videos, documents
  • Featured Image: Main article thumbnail
  • Status: Draft → Published → Archived

3. Writing Best Practices

Headline Guidelines

  • Use active voice and strong verbs
  • Include location if relevant (e.g., "Скопје:")
  • Keep under 100 characters
  • Ask questions or make bold statements

Content Structure

1. Lead Paragraph (2-3 sentences)
   - Who, what, where, when, why
   - Most important information first

2. Body Paragraphs (3-5 paragraphs)
   - Supporting details and quotes
   - Background information
   - Analysis and context

3. Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs)
   - Summary or call to action
   - Future implications

Writing Style

  • Tone: Sarcastic but informative
  • Language: Macedonian with local context
  • Length: 300-800 words for news, 800-1500 for features
  • Voice: Conversational, engaging, slightly cynical

4. Media Integration

Adding Images

  1. Click Media field in article editor
  2. Click Add new or select from library
  3. Drag and drop or browse files
  4. Add alt text for accessibility
  5. Choose image size and alignment

Image Guidelines

  • Featured Image: 1200x630px minimum
  • Inline Images: 800px width maximum
  • File Size: Under 2MB per image
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, WebP

Video and Audio

  • Upload MP4 videos (under 100MB)
  • Embed YouTube/Vimeo links
  • Add MP3 audio files for interviews

Publishing Workflow

Article Status Management

Draft Status

  • Initial creation phase
  • Auto-saves every 30 seconds
  • Only visible to you and editors

Review Process

  1. Submit for review when ready
  2. Editor reviews content and style
  3. Request changes or approve
  4. Editor may edit directly

Published Status

  • Live on the website
  • Publicly accessible
  • Appears in category listings
  • Indexed by search engines

Archived Status

  • No longer public
  • Retained for reference
  • Can be republished if needed

Publishing Best Practices

Before Publishing

  • Proofread for spelling/grammar
  • Check all facts and sources
  • Test all links
  • Optimize images for web
  • Add relevant tags
  • Set appropriate category

Publishing Schedule

  • Breaking News: Publish immediately
  • Features: Schedule for peak traffic (10:00-14:00)
  • Analysis: Publish by 17:00 for evening readers

Live Blogging

When to Use Live Blogs

  • Ongoing events (protests, sports, conferences)
  • Developing news stories
  • Election coverage
  • Emergency situations

Creating a Live Blog

  1. Navigate to Live Blogs in Content Manager
  2. Click + Create new entry
  3. Fill in basic information:
    • Title: Event name + "LIVE"
    • Description: Brief event summary
    • Status: Set to "Live" when ready

Live Blog Updates

Each update should include:

  • Timestamp: Auto-generated
  • Content: New information (1-3 sentences)
  • Author: Your attribution
  • Media: Relevant photos/videos

Update Guidelines

  • Keep updates concise and factual
  • Post major developments immediately
  • Use quotes when available
  • Add context for new followers
  • Pin important updates

Content Categories

Available Categories

  • Политика: Government, elections, policy
  • Економија: Business, markets, finance
  • Друштво: Social issues, culture, lifestyle
  • Спорт: Sports news and events
  • Технологија: Tech news and innovations
  • Свет: International news
  • Култура: Arts, entertainment, events

Category Selection

  • Choose primary category carefully
  • Use tags for additional context
  • Consider audience interests
  • Follow editorial calendar

SEO and Discoverability

Title Optimization

  • Include primary keywords
  • Use location when relevant
  • Ask questions or make statements
  • Avoid clickbait (maintain credibility)

Content SEO

  • Naturally include keywords
  • Use header tags (H2, H3)
  • Add internal links to related articles
  • Include external sources when relevant

Meta Information

  • Excerpt: 150-character summary
  • Featured Image: Optimized for social sharing
  • Tags: 3-5 relevant keywords

Author Profile Management

Updating Your Profile

  1. Click Profile in sidebar
  2. Update information:
    • Display Name: Your byline name
    • Bio: 100-word professional summary
    • Avatar: Professional headshot
    • Social Links: Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

Author Best Practices

  • Maintain consistent voice across articles
  • Build expertise in specific topics
  • Engage with reader comments
  • Share published articles on social media

Content Moderation

Comment Policy

  • Comments are enabled on published articles
  • Inappropriate content is filtered automatically
  • Editors can approve/reject comments manually

Handling Corrections

  1. Mark errors immediately
  2. Correct factual mistakes
  3. Add correction note at top
  4. Notify editor of significant changes

Analytics and Performance

Article Metrics

  • Views: Total page reads
  • Engagement: Time on page, scroll depth
  • Shares: Social media interactions
  • Comments: Reader engagement

Improving Performance

  • Write compelling headlines
  • Use relevant, high-quality images
  • Publish at optimal times
  • Share on social media
  • Engage with reader comments

Tools and Shortcuts

Editor Shortcuts

  • Ctrl+B: Bold text
  • Ctrl+I: Italic text
  • Ctrl+K: Insert link
  • Ctrl+Z: Undo
  • Ctrl+Y: Redo

Media Management

  • Drag and drop uploads
  • Bulk image optimization
  • Automatic alt text suggestions
  • Image cropping and resizing

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Editor Not Saving

  • Check internet connection
  • Refresh page and try again
  • Contact administrator if persistent

Image Upload Errors

  • Verify file size under 2MB
  • Check file format (JPG, PNG, WebP)
  • Clear browser cache and retry

Publishing Problems

  • Ensure all required fields completed
  • Check article status permissions
  • Contact editor for approval

Best Practices Summary

Do's

  • Write factually accurate content
  • Use engaging, sarcastic tone appropriately
  • Include relevant, high-quality media
  • Proofread thoroughly before publishing
  • Engage with reader feedback
  • Follow ethical journalism standards

Don'ts

  • Publish unverified information
  • Use excessive clickbait
  • Ignore reader comments
  • Publish without editor review
  • Violate copyright laws
  • Share confidential information

Support and Resources

Getting Help

  • Editor: Primary contact for content questions
  • Administrator: Technical support and system issues
  • Style Guide: Detailed writing and formatting guidelines

Training Resources

  • CMS video tutorials
  • Writing style workshops
  • SEO best practices guide
  • Social media sharing strategies

Community

  • Regular writer meetings
  • Content planning sessions
  • Feedback and improvement discussions
  • Collaboration opportunities