Drupal

Definition

Drupal is an open-source content management system (CMS) used to build and manage websites, known for its flexibility, scalability, and community support. It allows users to create a wide range of digital platforms, including blogs, forums, and complex web applications, making it a popular choice among journalists and media organizations for investigative journalism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Drupal is known for its robust security features, making it a preferred choice for organizations that handle sensitive information in investigative journalism.
2. The platform supports multiple user roles and permissions, allowing for collaborative work among teams while maintaining control over access to sensitive content.
3. Drupal's flexible taxonomy system allows journalists to categorize content efficiently, enabling easier navigation and discovery of information.
4. The active Drupal community contributes thousands of modules and themes, enabling users to customize their websites to suit specific needs without extensive coding.
5. Drupal is suitable for both small projects and large-scale applications due to its scalability, meaning it can grow alongside the needs of the organization.

Review Questions

• How does Drupal's open-source nature benefit journalists and media organizations in creating digital platforms?
  • The open-source nature of Drupal allows journalists and media organizations to access a wide range of customizable features without incurring high software costs. This flexibility enables them to tailor their digital platforms according to their specific reporting needs. Moreover, the collaborative nature of open-source development fosters a community that continually improves security and functionality, which is essential for protecting sensitive investigative work.
• Discuss the importance of Drupal's security features in the context of investigative journalism.
  • Security is crucial in investigative journalism as it often involves handling sensitive information. Drupal's robust security features help protect against data breaches and unauthorized access. With regular updates from the community, as well as built-in security protocols, Drupal offers journalists peace of mind while working on high-stakes stories that may attract scrutiny or backlash.
• Evaluate how Drupal's modular approach can enhance the efficiency of an investigative journalism team working on a complex story.
  • Drupal's modular approach allows investigative journalism teams to integrate various functionalities through modules tailored to their workflow. This enables them to implement features like document management, multimedia publishing, or user collaboration tools quickly. By customizing their site with specific modules, teams can enhance communication among members, streamline content management processes, and ensure that all necessary resources are readily accessible, ultimately leading to more efficient reporting on complex stories.

Related terms

Content Management System (CMS): A software application that enables users to create, edit, manage, and publish digital content without requiring extensive technical knowledge.

Open Source: A type of software whose source code is made available to the public for use, modification, and distribution, promoting collaboration and community-driven development.

Modules: Extensions or plugins in Drupal that enhance the functionality of the core CMS by adding new features or modifying existing ones.