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The Springfield State Journal-Register in Illinois is asking readers to help map the best holiday lights displays in the area. Check out how they're using reader involvement to create the "ultimate Christmas lights driving map."
WHAT THEY DID: Springfield is asking readers to e-mail them to let them know where the best holiday lights displays are located. Readers must provide the exact address, what makes the house special and a photo, if possible. As an added bonus, they've created a mobile-friendly version so people can use their mobile device to find the houses for a Christmas lights tour.
TAKEAWAY: Even if you don't create the mobile version, you can use Google maps to create a map using reader suggestions. You'll find the embed code on the upper right of the map in Google maps. Remember, when you use an embed code, you need to click on "Source" in the "body" field in Zope, paste the embed code, then click on "Source" again.
Jean Hodges served as a reporter and editor for more than 20 years and led groundbreaking projects that won national acclaim before coming to GateHouse to launch the company's news service. She worked most recently at the Chicago Sun-Times' Daily Southtown, covering the south side and south suburbs of Chicago. Before that she worked at the Killen (Texas) Daily Herald, the Clovis (N.M.) News Journal and the Ely Standard in Cambridgeshire, England. She now works with GateHouse news organizations on content strategies, Web initiatives, plus she leads training programs such as webinars and LEDE, GateHouse's leadership program.
