Mapping the news

North Wales-based newspaper publisher NWN Media has launched a series of websites using mapping technology to highlight news and advertisers by location, reports Holdthefrontpage.

Editorial content from the publisher’s 12 newspapers, along with advertising from that area, will be automatically plotted onto Google Maps, a system the company believes to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Speaking to the website, NWN Media digital editor Christian Dunn said: "We had been experimenting with geotagging stories for a while – adding a latitude and longitude to an article and plotting it onto a digital map – and wanted to make more use of this when we re-launched our websites.

"Our readers can now easily see all the news that's happened in their neighbourhood or village.

"By linking our editorial system in with our advertising system we can also make sure we deliver tailored adverts with every article."

The new-look websites will also feature third party applications while Twitter feeds, Flickr image slideshows and YouTube videos will be embedded on the company's main website leaderlive.co.uk.

The newspapers include the Powys County Times, the Chester Standard and the Wrexham-based Leader.