About HTFP Connect
Welcome to the About page for HTFPConnect. Here you will find a basic introduction to the site plus more detailed information about registration, creating content and using the site for social networking.
Use the jump links below to navigate to the section you want or simply continue scrolling down the page.
General Introduction
Registration
Social Networking
Creating Content
For information about the main HoldtheFrontPage site, click here
What is HTFPConnect?
It's a new social networking and blogging platform for HoldtheFrontPage - hence 'your community, your space.'
What can I use it for?
You can use HTFPConnect to link with other journalists - colleagues, former colleagues and college mates - and to create your own blogs on the site. You can also use it to create forum topics, post to forums, and to post web links on the site which may be of interest to other journalists.
How do I get started?
You first need to register and create a profile. To do this, click here and fill in your details.
How can I use the site to network with other journalists?
As you fill in your profile, the site will ask you for your current workplace, former workplaces and where you went to journalism college (if applicable.). This will create pages that link people together according to their profiles and also prompt you to link up with colleagues, former colleagues and classmates. You will need to tag your profile to make it fully searchable.
You can also use the site to create 'groups' of journalists (eg college alumni from a particular year) and invite colleagues, former colleagues and classmates to join them.
How do I create content?
Once you are logged in, you can use one of the four content creation buttons below the navigation menu to submit your content: Write a Blog post, Post a Weblink, Create a Group and Post to the Forum.
How do I start a blog?
You will get a blog automatically when you create your profile. You can call your blog whatever you like, but if you do not give it a name, it will default to 'username's blog.'
Will my blog posts appear on the Connect homepage?
Yes. We want as much of user-generated content as possible to appear on the homepage, although there will be an element of 'quality control' exercised by the editors.
Will any other blogs appear here?
Yes, Steve Dyson's blog reviewing local newspapers up and down the UK will now appear here each other Wednesday along with our Editor's Blog, The Journalism Hub, and any other blogs that have been created by users.
Do I need to be registered to leave comments on these and other blogs?
Not as yet, although comment registration may well be introduced on both this and the main site in due course.
How does registration work?
Registration for the site is a simple process and can be done either via the link in the main navigation menu or via the login box.
All you have to do is enter your email address, a username, and the CATCHPA to confirm you are not a spammer and click to accept our terms and conditions. The only restriction is that usernames have to be a single word.
What happens once I have registered?
When you register you will receive a welcome email and a password enabling you to login to the site and to enter your account information (including a picture or avatar if desired). Once you have done this you will be encouraged to enter a profile that will enable you to use the site to network with other journalists. For more information about creating profiles, see the Social Networking section below.
Why do I have to register on HTFPConnect but not on the main HoldtheFrontPage site?
Logging into HTFPConnect enables you to do much more than is possible on the main site. For instance you will be able to create blogs, forum topics, post to forums, add weblinks, create profiles and network with other journalists.
What can users do without registering?
Guest users can view all content on the site, including blogs, weblinks, forums, directories and profiles, but they cannot create any kind of content themselves except post comments.
How can I use the site to network with other journalists?
Once you have registered you can use the site to add your profile, send private message to other users, post Facebook-style status updates, and add your Facebook account to the site.
As you fill in your profile, the site will ask you for your current workplace, former workplaces and where you went to journalism college (if applicable.). This will automatically generate searchable pages that list you and other journalists who have entered those workplaces and colleges and thus enable you to link up with colleagues, former colleagues and classmates.
You can also use the site to create 'groups' of journalists (eg college alumni from a particular year) and invite colleagues, former colleagues and classmates to join them.
How much information do I need to enter in my profile?
It is entirely up to you how much profile information you choose to enter. If you just wish to use your username to add comments, for instance, you will not have to fill in your full name or add any other information. You will however be required to verify your email address.
Adding additional information such as your workplace, former workplaces and journalism college will however enable you to network with other journalists from the same workplaces and colleges.
Can my profile be seen by anyone?
If you wish to keep the information in your profile private, you can alter your profile settings to make it available only to people you choose as colleagues. In addition the padlock icons will enable you to hide selected parts of your information if you so wish.
How do I edit my profile settings?
You can alter your settings at any time through the edit profile link in the top right hand corner of the profile page.
How do I add a picture or avatar to my profile?
You don't. Pictures are added in the user account section, which will be the first page you fill in on registration, rather than in the profile area.
How do I connect my profile to Facebook?
Connecting to Facebook will enable you to post to HTFPConnect and Facebook at the same time. You can either create a new account and link it to Facebook, or connect an existing account with Facebook.
You can either click on the Connect to Facebook button on the login page, or use the tab on 'edit account' under your account details. This is where you can also unlink your account with Facebook if you decide not to use it.
How do I create a group?
All registered users can use the site to create 'groups' of journalists (eg current work colleagues or college alumni from a particular year) and invite colleagues, former colleagues and classmates to join them.
To do this, click on the 'create a group' tab. The site will then ask you to create a title and description for your group. You can create private groups, in which you as the administrator can decide who else can join, or public groups which anyone can join.
Who can make posts to the group?
Any member of the group can make posts into the group, by clicking the link in the Groups navigation box.
How do I send a private message?
Messages can be sent between any two registered members of the site. You can message another member of the site in one of two ways:
(1) Use the box in the right-hand column of the homepage (underneath status) where you will find the links 'write new message' and 'messages.' In 'write new message' enter the username of the person you want to contact and enter the message into the field provided.
(2) Click on a person's icon or username link and message them directly from their profile via the box headed 'send a message to this user'.
If you have enabled email alerts for private messages in your account settings, your messages will also be sent to your email address.
How can I view private messages sent to me by other users?
Messages can either be viewed by clicking the 'message' link in the box in the right-hand column of the homepage, which will take you to your private message inbox, or via the box on your profile page.
Can I block private messages from particular users?
Yes. If you wish to block someone from sending you further messages, open a message they have sent you and click 'block author' to do so.
How do I post a status update?
You can do this either via the 'Update your status' box on the homepage, or via your own profile page. You can also respond to another user's status update.
There are six main types of content you can create on the site as follows:
• Blogs and blog posts
• Web links
• Forums and forum posts
• Comments
• Profiles
• Groups and group posts
The last two are dealt with more fully in the section above on Social Networking. [link]. To create any new content on the site, you need to be registered and logged-in.
How do I start a blog?
You will be automatically assigned your own blog when you create an account. This will be given the title of [usernames]/blog
You can change the title of your blog (for example to that of your ‘real name’ or a nom-de-blog) by editing your profile settings.
How do I create a blog post?
To create a blog post, click the content creation button and will launch a window with a text editor.
The page will enable you to enter a title for your blog post, any appropriate tags for the post, then the body text. If you like, you can switch between rich text and plain text and you can post HTML.
How can I add images to my blog posts?
The third button from the end of the text editor (the one shaped like a mountain) will enable you to upload an image from your PC. There is currently a limit of 2MB per user on the total filesize of all images uploaded.
Will my blog posts appear on the Connect homepage?
Yes. Once you click publish, your blog post will automatically appear on the homepage, although the editors reserve the right to edit the post, restrict comments or remove it from the homepage if the content is not appropriate.
Which other blogs will appear here?
Steve Dyson's blog reviewing local newspapers up and down the UK will appear here along with our Editor's Blog, The Journalism Hub.
What are web links and where will they appear?
The web links facility enables users to post interesting journalism-related web links to the site. They will appear on the Connect homepage and also on the Weblinks page. Logged-in users will be able to add their comments to all weblinks.
How can I post a web link?
You need to enter a name for the link, choose a category from a drop down list, and if you wish a description of what the link goes to. Then simply add the URL as illustrated below.
How can I create a forum topic?
Simply click on the 'Post to the Forum' button underneath the header and it will take you to a plain text box. Create a title for your forum topic and then add it to one of the categories in the 'Forums' drop down.
How do I reply to a forum post?
Visit the forum to participate and click on the forum to see the list of topics. Click on the topic you would like to reply to and click 'post reply' to enter your message.
How do I comment on HTFPConnect?
For the time being, all users will be able to comment on blog posts, web links and group posts, although comment registration may be introduced in due course on both this and the main site.
A comment box will appear below the links or articles which will bring up your username, an option to publish to Facebook (if you have connected with Facebook) and a comment text box.
Will the site automatically notify me of any responses to my comments?
Yes.
