Here we outline what we consider to be some of the benefits of using Wynchcote Webmags in support of workplace communities.

For example: all kinds of clubs, community outreach projects, staff newsletters.

Motivation

Awards

Teamwork

Skills Development

Responsibility

Safety and Security

Do webmags mean extra work for organisers?

Do you need to create a webmag from scratch?

Do organisers and their colleagues have to be trained?

What would organisers need to know?

What would organisers and their colleagues NOT need to know? 

Active Citizenship and Community Outreach

Motivation

If you are reading this as a workplace club or activity organiser then you may want to consider how powerful a motivator this kind of webmag could be for your colleagues.

Managers may welcome the opportunity for participating staff members to reflect on their progress as part of a programme of continuing professional development.

Why stop at a discussion or a short group presentation when staff members can contribute to an online magazine, or even their own TV station using one of our webmags?

Awards

Managers may wish to evaluate staff members' individual contributions to a project and provide positive feedback - this could again contribute to CPD.

The difficulty with group activities however, is identifying and assessing each individual's contribution to the whole. This problem can be overcome through the production of a webmag.

How? The name of each 'reporter' is automatically added to their individual contribution to the team effort when they upload their contribution.

Teamwork

Producing a webmag is a demanding task and one that will really stretch the team-working skills of staff members. They will have to plan and monitor their progress if they are to remain in control and achieve their common goals.

Skills Development  

Team working, problem-solving, communicating, planning, monitoring, evaluating, being flexible, co-operating, supporting ... these are all key skills vital for success in the modern workplace environment. Each and every member of staff contributing to a webmag project will develop them all.

Responsibility

There is a real opportunity through the production of a small webmag, or part of a larger webmag, for your staff members to take on responsibility.

The project could be a small short-term one or a larger ongoing one which is handed over to new members when existing members leave or take up new roles.

No-one other than the staff members involved and the person taking charge need ever see the magazine, at least not until you collectively decide to publish the content.

Aware of the importance of safety and security on the web, we offer two different models of webmag: Model 1 and Model 2.

If you have a workplace intranet you do not even have to publish on the web.

Model 1 - The Open Model

(Level 1 and Level 2 Webmags)

This involves reporters having 'author' status. They can submit articles directly to the webmag. Only when the editor is happy with the article is it published.

An article submitted by a reporter (with 'author' status) can however subsequently be changed and published by that reporter without the editor' consent.

This involves a high degree of trust and if the 'open' model is not to your liking then you should choose the 'closed' model.

Model 2 - The Closed Model

(optional with Level 3 and Level 4 Webmags)

This involves reporters submitting their articles and images separately by uploading them to the web server. The articles sit in a folder awaiting approval and/or editing. The editor may then publish the articles. Only then are the articles included in the webmag.

This method is more time-consuming for the editor but enables much tighter control of published content.

Do webmags mean extra work for organisers?

Certainly, when Model 2 is adopted. The role of editor could however be adopted by any responsible members of your organisation.

Webmags not only provide the opportunity for increased staff member participation but also for the development of leadership skills.

Do you need to create a Webmag from scratch?

No. The structure of a Wynchcote webmag is provided, as it were, 'out of the box'.

Organisers may use an existing ready-made webmag installation or request a webmag to be customised by Wynchcote to meet their specific requirements.

For small group webmags we suggest a ready-made format.

Having chosen a particular style, you may easily incorporate your own logo. It is also easy for you to turn on or off webmag features and re-design the structure of content and navigation within the webmag.

You are assured of our continued support as and when you are faced with such requests. We are proud of our workshops and ongoing online support.

Do organisers and their colleagues have to be trained?

It is desirable that whoever is supervising staff members using a Wynchcote Webmag does receive some training.

Staff members would not necessarily require instruction from Wynchcote. We can provide workshops for staff members, but most organisers should be sufficiently confident after attending a one-day (or equivalent) workshop, to supervise their colleagues using a webmag.

There would of course be a need for organisers to direct or provide opportunities for colleagues to practise adding content to the webmag.

If Internet and/or workplace intranet access is available from home then this preparation time and later submitting of webmag contributions need not impact on existing workplace activities.

Wynchcote Webmag Workshops can be hosted in the workplace or other suitable external accommodation.

What would organisers need to know?

Organisers would need to know how to:

1) add, organise and delete webmag articles contributed by colleagues;
2) publish and unpublish articles;
3) link menu items and content together (webmag navigation);
4) insert images and other media (audio and video) to the webmag;
5) link content to external sources;
6) create, manage and delete webmag users.

What would organisers and their colleagues NOT need to know?

There is no need to learn about web design or database management. If you are interested then you may like to find out more about dynamic websites and how they are built.

Most users will however be content with having the power to drive their project forward through the familiar interface of the excellent WYSIWYG editor incorporated with the webmag installation.

Encourage members of your workforce to create and run a webmag on behalf of a local organisation or project, and make a meaningful long-lasting contribution to the community served by your company.

Employees who are active citizens reflect very positively on any business organisation - especially if tangible support is also being provided.