Foundation Dev Blog: Content

As we wrap-up 2023, we're happy to also finish rolling-out a fun feature we've had in testing for a while.

All Foundation sites now offer users the option to Sort and Browse the Article Archives by the mostTrending items.

Here's an example on Cincinnati CityBeat.

This also means you can link to results sorted this way for any criteria, such as those narrowed by section, category, topics, years, etc.

For example, here's what's currently trending from Denver Westword's Music, Arts & Culture section.

The stream of results using this sort will prioritize items trending today, and flow then to those popular within a reasonable window of timeliness.

Sort Options Recap

The following is now the full set of standard Sort abilities in your Article Archives, which can be enabled, disabled, or reworded by request.

• Most Recent - (chronological-reverse / timeliness first)
• Relevance - (applicable only to searches by keyword)
• Trending - The new trending-based sort.

This new Trending sort is live everywhere.

If you would like any adjustments to the sorts, enabling, disabling, or rewording, please contact support@desert.net.

Thank you everyone. Have a Happy New Year Weekend.

The Foundation Team

If you've ever wanted to share a secure preview of an article that isn't live yet with a contributor or other relevant individuals, you now can!

Preview URLs were originally released for Sponsored Content, and are now available for all article Content.

This expansion of the secure Preview URL feature works exactly the same as the Sponsored Content preview, which you can read more about here:

https://www.blog.fdncms.com/Foundation/archives/2020/06/04/sponsored-content-and-sponsor-preview-access

How to Enable and Share Preview URLs

Foundation Editor Users with Admin Group level permissions are now automatically able to see, copy, and share the Preview URLs for all non-live content. They appear in the Foundation Editor (FE) below the body area, and in the Object Editor (OE) at the top of each Content item.



You can copy it to your clipboard using your normal keyboard copy commands, or by clicking on the copy icon next to the URL You can then share it with the specific individuals you want to have that preview of the non-live page.

If your non-admin users also need access to copy/share Preview URLs, you can set (or remove) that permission separately for each group level (ie: Admin, Editor, Writer, or Entry), and for either Sponsored Content, or All Content.

These settings are found in the PermissionGroup class of your Object Editor. Or email us to adjust those permissions at support@desert.net.

Preview Access Page

The Preview URL goes to a preview access page with a brief introduction. By default, it states that the article is not currently live, and asks viewers to not share the link.

The goal is to clearly inform that this is a preview area. This copy can be customized with your publication's own rules for viewing preview material.

Clicking on the "preview" button there will set a unique, limited-time access token that will then load in the article to preview.

Article Preview

The article preview provides a complete and secure preview of the article. However, it is only accessible by clicking through the preview access page.

To anyone viewing the article via the preview access page, the article will appear exactly as it will when it goes live, right down to the link in the browser's address bar.

Anyone else attempting to access it without going through the preview access page will just see a 404 error the same as any other invalid on non-live URL at your domain.

In addition, the social sharing links are disabled to keep the future live URL private.

——

This feature is now live to all Foundation Editor users in the Admin group. If you would like the preview URLs enabled for any other groups, or limited to just Sponsored content, please let us know.

Over the past few months we've been testing an exciting integration with Stacker Newswire, and are ready to announce its official debut!

This service is free, easy to use, and licensed for all Foundation users.

Why Stacker?

Stacker Newswire was conceived with a spirit and mission very complimentary to our own: not the least of which is to help publishers sustainably grow audience reach and online offerings.

Their original content is focused on data-driven and research-driven evergreen features; relevancy; and quality at local, regional, and national levels. Since 2017 they've been at it, amassing a library of thousands of articles sourced by hundreds of publishers, including some major media groups. Each month they add more than 200 data-driven features including stories from 384 localities in all 50 states.

Our newly integrated tools are aimed to help our partners simply find and republish whichever nuggets resonate for your market from that ever-growing library, directly into your site.

The content can either be run as-is, edited, or even incorporated into your own reporting.

You can check out their own site here:
https://stacker.com/

You can read more about Stacker's mission, vision and model here:
https://stackermedia.com/about/

How To Test Drive And Use It In Foundation

On your main Foundation Admin portal page you'll find a link to "Stacker Newswire" - that'll be our integration interface.

From there you can browse their sections, or search freely.

When you find an article that you would like to import into your site, click the "Publish Article" button.




This will take you to a second confirmation page where you can select your own relevant category and issue to import the article into. You can then click on "Publish" to import the article or "Cancel" to return back to the browse.



The publishing process will display with a progress bar. The article will import as "Pending Review" and once publishing completes, you will see links to the Foundation Editor, the Object Editor, and Admin Preview Link to see how the article will look on your site.


You can then review the article, schedule it for release and/or make it immediately live.

Tips & Notes

• To start with, we've configured each client's integration with all of Stacker's sections, plus the region relevant to yours. This can also be expanded to add additional regions if you'd like to choose from a wider umbrella or altogether other areas.
  
  
• Please kick the tires, publish some articles, and let us know what you think and/or if you bump into any issues.
  
  
• Note that articles with a large quantity of images may take some time to import everything. The publishing process will show the status as it occurs.

We look forward to hearing your feedback or any questions!

The Foundation Team

We're happy to announce that we've created the option for default teaser graphics for articles.

Our goal with this release is to allow for a fallback default teaser image that can help cleanup certain presentations and prevent jagged edges on landing pages, suggested links, and search results.

Here's a landing page with missing images (before), and an after using default teaser images to fill in the gaps:

click to enlarge

Here's another example using a tile presentation:

click to enlarge

To achieve this goal, we've added a DefaultTeaserImage field to each Category, each Section, and the Administrative class as well. This combination allows for a cascade of fallbacks in which we first look for an Image on the article. If we can't find that, we look for an image in the article's category. Still can't find one, we dig back to the section, and last but not least the global default.

Historically there has been an option for a global default teaser image. This expansion greatly increases the options.

Another great use of this type of default is if you have a column with a standing image such as a photo of the columnist or a logo of the column. You can now set the DefaultTeaserImage in that category and it will be used whenever the article doesn't have an image.

click to enlarge

The best part of this is that it's also retroactive. If you provide default images, they'll fill in blanks in categories and sections all throughout time.

Last but not least, this feature also supports cropping. Once you crop a default image for a particular presentation, it will remember that cropping for that presentation for all current, past, and future uses as well. In short, until you decide to change it.

This feature is now live on all Responsive upgraded sites, also known as Foundation Air. Additional default teaser graphic options will be rolling out in upcoming weeks and announced here.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Foundation Roadmap 2022 (Zoom meeting) @ 10am Pacific Today

A quick reminder that there is a Foundation Roadmap 2022 meeting today, July 15th, @ 10am Pacific. During this meeting we'll discuss default teaser graphics and a number of additional site features and revenue initiatives.

Details can be found here.

Thanks.