1. Using JAM - an overview
Posted Thursday, December 30, 2004
JAM is a radically new approach to community web sites. The intention of the NSW Folk Federation in setting up JAM is for its content to be created and maintained by its users - that is, members of the NSW Folk Federation across the state. Such things are now possible thanks to an innovative new software package called Big Medium which allows articles like this one (complete with headings, graphics, pull-quotes, links etc.) to be added to the site by anyone on the Internet by simply filling in a form in their web browser. Furthermore, Big Medium automatically adds links and graphic references to new articles on JAM’s home page and other relevant pages in the site. Old articles gradually disappear from the main site but are still accessible through an archive.
folkies talking to folkies
Instead of one hardworking webmaster trying desperately to gather content to keep the site up-to-date and relevant, the folkies who create the folk scene in NSW create and maintain the content on JAM themselves.
Folk club organisers, promoters & artists who have their own web site will only need to create short articles with links that readers can use to access detailed information. Others can use JAM to give themselves a highly exposed web presence for the cost of their Folk Federation subscription.
easy to do!
And the really good news is that it is very easy and quick to do and lots of fun as well! This series of articles will guide you through the process of creating and editing your own JAM article. You might like to print them for easy reference - don't forget to use the 'Printer-friendly page' link below. Click here to download all seven 'Using JAM' articles as a single PDF file (400k).
These articles I have created are all you really need but if you would like to have more detailed instructions, download the Big Medium User Guide in PDF format from the Big Medium web site. You will also need a copy of Adobe Reader.
[next - JAM's 'Structure']
