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Is WordPress Right for Your News Organization?
Prior to identifying the right-fit WordPress variants and plug-ins, you will want to assess whether the platform is the best alternative for your news org compared to other CMS tools (see here).
What size news organization am I?
When WordPress is a plausible fit
- Your primary goal is straightforward content creation and delivery (e.g., blogs, simple articles) without complex features or custom workflows
- You have a tight budget and want to avoid high upfront costs, along with acceptance of using WP more or less “out of the box” with inexpensive hosting and support
When you should look elsewhere
- You lack resources to handle ongoing updates, plugin management, or security checks
- You require advanced features (like interactive graphics, customized ad solutions, or unique content monetization models)
When WordPress is a plausible fit
- Fee-based, news-oriented variants will suffice and you can afford them; or
- You can afford and manage additional news-specific functionality via curated set of plugins atop one of the low-cost core variants
When you should look elsewhere
- You need advanced editorial workflows, team collaboration, or multiple content approval steps
- You require news-specific features but lack budget for fee-based, media-centric WordPress variants
When WordPress is a plausible fit
- WP tests out as a good balance between simplicity and customization
- You are somewhat more focused on content production than audience engagement
- You have the budget to scale when necessary
When you should look elsewhere
- You rely heavily on advanced user analytics, personalized content delivery, or complex subscriber management
- You need complex workflows, multi-channel integrations, automated content syndication, or integrated print publishing
When WordPress is a plausible fit
- You conduct large-scale digital publishing but with simple authoring and workflows
- You have sufficiently abundant budgets and WP expertise
When you should look elsewhere
- You need advanced permissions, or complex approval chains across multiple departments
- You are subject to stringent regulatory standards (e.g., USA’s HIPAA) or security protocols
- Your editorial model prioritizes component-driven, omnichannel distribution, and/or print publishing
- You have an unusually bespoke front-end visitor experience
Which WordPress variant is right for you?
We evaluate WordPress variants across key factors for news publishers, including how they match against your specific needs. For each column, you may sort for your specific requirements.
What WordPress plugins are right for you?
We evaluate news-relevant WordPress plug-ins based on compatibility, overall reliability, user satisfaction, uptake, and affordability -- across 15 functional categories.
*suitable for small publishers
Plugins that facilitate email marketing and managing subscriber lists
Plugins that help optimize content for search engines to improve visibility and rankings
Plugins that enable creating surveys and polls, and displaying results
Plugins that enhance default commenting, including spam protection and social integration
Plugins that enable running ads, or inserting ads from a third party service
Plugins that enable donations as a method of generating revenue
Plugins that enable paid subscriptions, including some services that are not WordPress-specific
Plugins that track and report website traffic and user behavior
Plugins that enable easy sharing of content on social media platforms
Plugins that help manage various aspects of content creation, organization, and display
Plugins that enable the creation and display of forms, as well as managing form data
Themes that determine the overall look and feel, often with additional functionality and plugins
Plugins that enhance site speed, including caching and image optimization
Plugins that provide security features to protect from threats and vulnerabilities
Plugins that create backups to prevent data loss and enable recovery