Welcome to the new-look 24dash.com » Featured » 24dash.com

This website is currently at Beta stage, but we're so excited about the way it looks we wanted to let people start using it as soon as possible.

In the coming weeks and months we will be adding a host of new features designed to enhance the user experience.

For me, one of the most exciting elements of the new 24dash.com - coming in early 2008 - is the introduction of 'user generated' content.

For the first time, registered users will be able to load their own news on to the site, providing local authorities, housing associations, charities and other relevant organisations with the opportunity to get their press releases across to a dedicated readership of thousands, as well as a world-wide audience through search engines such as Google News and News Now.

To be honest, the reason we have decided to hand over the keys of our site is due to the demand we face on a daily basis. Quite simply, with over 1,000 emailed press releases flooding into my inbox everyday and with high expectations that every single one will appear, it is the only way we can keep everyone happy.

Rather than me, as Editor, making a snapshot decision about what should and shouldn't appear (and many apologies if your news hasn’t been on the website in recent weeks), I have decided to stand aside and let the floodgates open.

The move towards 'user generated' content will also help the 24dash editorial team to concentrate on delivering a daily mix of housing and local government-related news and features that are unavailable anywhere else, as well as keeping users up to speed with national news through our unique partnership with the Press Association.

The success of the website has always been built on giving national and 'grass roots' public sector and housing news an equal footing and that philosophy will be carried over.

The new 24dash.com website will also include a range of other new features for registered users including the '24dashboard', a personal area for users to keep tabs on their comments and manage their profiles. From here it will also be possible to add content to 24dash.com.

Anyway, that's enough from me. Take time to have a look around the new website, sign up to start enjoying registered user privileges and, because we're still at Beta stage, I'd love to hear what you think. Feel free to email me at jon.land@24dash.com or post a comment at the end of this article.

You can also sign up to start using the new website today by clicking on the following link: www.24dash.com/signup/individual/

All the best,
Jon Land,
Editor.