Like my journalism career, my web development experience is grounded in orthodoxy also. In the ’90s (boy that seems so long ago), I learned how to build sites from scratch using html, then css. Howver, realizing non-developers need to focus on their core business/activities as not designing websites, I embraced content management systems (CMS) as deputy editor of the Sun-Times editorial page. There I was charged with managing the board’s online presence and cultivating feedback mechanisms, such as blog dubbed “Backtalk” and producing video editorials.
Since my tenure at the Sun -Times, I’ve fully embraced the world of CMS, particularly WordPress. I’ve used this open-source content management system to produce sites for a variety of businesses, including physicians, law offices, contractors and this site. In addition, I’m quite fond of attending WordPress meetups and the annual WordCamp to share ideas and collaborate with the vast array of individuals who have found creative freedom through the use of CMS. Here’s one site I developed for a Chicago-based physician, Dr. Mary Palmore.