I'm a fairly traditional print journalist, having grown up in a world of paper and ink, but I do spend a fair portion of my day on the Internet and understand the growing importance of digital media in daily life and in business.
In the past 10-20 years we've all seen the Internet evolve rapidly. One aspect of that evolution is the growth in digital media – websites, E-newsletters, blogs and such – plus social networking and online communities.
WaterWorld's website (www.waterworld.com) is more than 10 years old and has gone through a few redesigns over the years. We've just completed the most recent evolutionary change, and I invite you to stop by the site and check out the new design.
Perhaps the biggest change is the use of Topic Centers to help guide readers to their specific areas of interest. Topic Centers are available for Drinking Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Industrial Water, Water Utility Management, Environment, World Regions, and Products & Services.
Each Topic Center is further divided into subtopics to help visitors drill down to specific topics of interest. The Topic Center pages contain relevant news, videos, webcasts, white papers, and featured editorial from our print magazines.
The search function is a key tool on any website, and ours gives you access to magazine archives going back more than a decade. The archive includes WaterWorld articles going back to January 1998. You can also find archived articles from our sister publications Industrial WaterWorld and Water & Wastewater International.
On the home page, you'll find the day's current news, as well as our weekly water industry video newscast. You can also find links to the current issues of our magazines and supplements.
To connect with water and wastewater colleagues, check out recent blog posts to the WaterWorld Community site. From there, you can join the WaterWorld Community, create a profile, and interact with industry peers.
Along with current news and feature articles from the magazines, waterworld.com also includes free webcast and white papers. We also offer a free, searchable Buyers Guide, located in the Products & Services topic center, where you can research your next equipment purchase.
Of course, the world of digital media stretches far beyond a simple website. Our parent company, PennWell Corp., has a host of partners and service providers that will keep us connected to the latest technologies available via the Internet.
As an example, later this year we will be presenting a "virtual trade show" that will include all the features of a real trade show event, only online. The Water Experts Virtual Conference will be presented by Hach Company. At this Internet-exclusive event attendees will be able to attend conference sessions, gather application and product information in virtual trade show booths, and participate in live chat and Q&A sessions with key water experts. And no travel or expense involved!
So, if you get the chance, stop by www.waterworld.com. Search our archives, join the WaterWorld Community, start a blog or post in the forums. Join -- and enjoy -- the digital age!
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