Which Platform Is the Better Choice for Community Newspapers?
WordPress powers more websites than any other content management system in the world—and for good reason. It's flexible, easy to get started with, and supported by a massive community of developers.
Many newspapers use WordPress successfully.
So why did Surf New Media choose a different path?
The answer comes down to one simple idea: Community newspapers have unique needs.
Managing reporters, editors, advertisers, subscriptions, newsletters, obituaries, public notices, special sections, and digital publishing workflows requires more than simply publishing articles online.
Surf New Media was built specifically to simplify those daily newsroom operations.
Surf New Media at a Glance:
✓Built for Community Newspapers
✓AI-Powered Publishing Tools
✓Publish Everywhere Technology
✓Newsletter Automation
✓Digital Subscriptions
✓E-Edition Support
✓Responsive Website Design
✓Secure Hosting Available
✓Website Migration Assistance
✓Training Included
✓Ongoing Platform Enhancements
✓Personalized Support
Helpful Tip: Every newspaper has different needs. Ask any CMS provider how these features are implemented, what's included in your package, and how well the platform supports your newsroom's daily workflow.
WordPress Is an Excellent Platform
Let's start with something important.
WordPress is an outstanding content management system.
Its popularity comes from:
- Ease of use
- Huge developer community
- Thousands of themes
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- Flexibility for many different industries
For blogs, business websites, nonprofits, restaurants, schools, churches, and many news organizations, WordPress can be an excellent choice.
The question isn't whether WordPress is good.
The question is whether it's the best long-term fit for your newspaper.
Why Surf New Media Chose Drupal
Rather than building our platform on WordPress, we built Surf New Media on Drupal.
Why?
Because Drupal provides an enterprise-level foundation that allows us to build complex publishing workflows while maintaining flexibility, security, and scalability.
That means we can deliver a platform designed specifically around how newspapers operate instead of adapting a general-purpose website platform.
Built Around the Entire Newsroom
Publishing a newspaper isn't just writing articles.
Your staff is also managing:
- Breaking news
- Community calendars
- Obituaries
- Public notices
- Sports
- Opinion
- Advertisers
- Classifieds
- Newsletters
- Reader subscriptions
- Staff permissions
- E-editions
Surf New Media brings these responsibilities together in one publishing platform.
Less Time Managing Technology
One of WordPress's greatest strengths is the availability of thousands of plugins.
Many publishers appreciate being able to extend their websites in different ways.
Surf New Media takes a different approach.
Instead of requiring publishers to assemble multiple third-party tools, we've integrated many of the features community newspapers commonly need directly into the platform.
That means less time managing technology—and more time publishing news.
AI Built Into Your Daily Workflow
Artificial Intelligence is changing how newsrooms operate.
Surf New Media includes built-in AI tools that help staff generate:
- Headlines
- Story summaries
- SEO descriptions
- Newsletter introductions
- Social media posts
- Advertising copy
Editors remain completely in control while AI helps eliminate repetitive work.
Publish Everywhere
Today's newsroom doesn't stop at the website.
Every story may also need to appear on:
- Email newsletters
- RSS feeds
- Mobile devices
- Additional digital channels
Surf New Media's Publish Everywhere technology allows your staff to publish once and distribute content across multiple platforms from a single workflow.
Newsletter Automation
Email newsletters continue to be one of the most effective ways to increase reader engagement.
Surf New Media allows your staff to:
- Select stories
- Build newsletters
- Schedule delivery
- Manage subscribers
- Grow your email audience
Instead of manually copying and pasting articles into another system, newsletters become part of your publishing workflow.
Digital Subscriptions
Growing reader revenue has become increasingly important for community newspapers.
Surf New Media supports:
- Subscriber management
- Premium content
- Digital access
- Secure payments
- Flexible subscription options
These tools help newspapers build sustainable digital revenue.
Designed for Long-Term Growth
As your newspaper evolves, your website should evolve with it.
Surf New Media continues adding features based on publisher feedback, including:
- Publishing tools
- Newsletter improvements
- Advertising capabilities
- Website performance updates
- Security improvements
We're committed to helping newspapers grow—not just launching websites.
Personalized Support
Software is important.
Support is even more important.
When you work with Surf New Media, you're working with people who understand community newspapers.
Whether you're training new staff, launching a special section, or preparing for election coverage, we're here to help.
Migration Made Simple
Switching to a new CMS doesn't have to be stressful.
Our migration process includes:
- Discovery
- Planning
- Website setup
- Content migration
- Staff training
- Private preview website
- Testing
- Launch
- Post-launch support
Most newspapers launch within 4–8 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surf New Media built on WordPress?
No.
Surf New Media is built on Drupal because it provides the flexibility, security, and scalability needed for modern newspaper publishing.
Can WordPress work for newspapers?
Absolutely.
Many newspapers successfully use WordPress. The right solution depends on your goals, staff, workflow, and long-term digital strategy.
Why did Surf New Media choose Drupal?
Drupal allows us to build advanced publishing workflows, granular user permissions, enterprise-level security, and newspaper-specific features on a strong long-term foundation.
Do I need lots of plugins?
Every website is different.
Surf New Media integrates many of the capabilities community newspapers commonly need into a single publishing platform, reducing the need to assemble and maintain numerous third-party tools.
Can you migrate my existing WordPress website?
Yes.
We regularly assist newspapers with migrating articles, pages, photos, menus, categories, and other website content while minimizing downtime.
Related Resources
Continue exploring:
- Best Newspaper CMS
- Community Newspaper CMS
- Why Community Newspapers Choose Surf New Media
- Why Newspapers Choose Drupal
- Newspaper AI Software
- Newspaper Newsletter Software
- Website Migration Guide
- Launch Timeline
- ROI Calculator
- Newspaper Resource Center
Every Newspaper Is Different
We don't believe there's one CMS that's right for everyone.
Our goal is to help publishers make an informed decision by comparing features, workflows, support, long-term costs, and how well each platform fits their newsroom.
If Surf New Media is the right solution, we'd love the opportunity to earn your business.
If another platform better fits your needs, we hope this guide has helped you make a confident, informed decision.
Ready to See the Difference?
Reading about features is one thing.
Seeing them in action is another.
We'll give you a live demonstration of:
- AI-powered publishing
- Publish Everywhere
- Newsletter automation
- Digital subscriptions
- E-editions
- Migration tools
- Modern newsroom workflows
We'll answer your questions and show you why more community newspapers are choosing Surf New Media.