SNO Site Booster Tools

SNO Site Booster Tools

SNO Site Booster Tools

Cover breaking news events by creating a stream of chronologically-based updates for a story that display above or below the body of the story.

Check for Updates
Live Coverage
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Pinned
Updated
Mar 25, 2025, 1:40 pm
Sample Student

Pin Live Coverage Updates

Set important updates to always show first, above all other updates, using the “Pin Update” option.

Here are the steps to pinning a Live Coverage update to the top of the story:

  1. In the Publish box on the lower right side, click “Pin Update” then click the box for “Pin update to first position” to pin any updates to the top of the story page. You also have the option to check a box to hide the pinned icon and label, if you would like.
  2. If you pin more than one update, they will display newest to oldest.
  3. The default background color for pinned updates is light gray.
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Key Developments
Updated
Mar 25, 2025, 1:26 pm
Sample Student • Reporting from city hall

Use Design Options for Live Coverage Updates

Sample Student
Sample caption goes here.

Explore options for adding media and customizing the design of your live coverage updates.

Media Options 

Add a Photo, Slideshow, or Video/Embed to your update.

  1. Photo: Set Media Type dropdown to Photo. Click “Set Featured Image” button, then select or upload your photo. Use the Location dropdown to select the location for the photo to appear in your update.
  2. Slideshow: Set Media Type dropdown to Photo. Set the Location dropdown to Slideshow. Click “Set Featured Image” button, then the Upload Files tab. Slideshow photos must be directly uploaded to this update; you cannot select them from your Media Library. Once you have all photos uploaded, click the Set Featured Image button.
  3. Video/Embed: Set Media Type dropdown to Video/Embed. Click Add Video or Embed Code button. Enter video URL or embed code in the “Embed Code or Video URL” box, and add a credit or caption, if you would like.

Design Options

Add additional fields to your update or alter the design.

  1. Short Label for Update: Add a label to your update. Text in this field will appear at the top of your update.
  2. Byline Row Custom Field: Text entered here will appear in italics underneath the time the updated was added. This field appends to the byline row, if you have entered a Writer’s name for this update.
  3. Hide Update Date/time: Check this box to hide to time posted.
  4. Hide Update Headline: Check this box to hide the headline of your update.
  5. Set Custom Background Color: Check box for “Use Custom Background Color,” then click Select Color to set your background color. The default background color for updates is white.
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Updated
Mar 25, 2025, 1:14 pm
Sample Student

Add Live Coverage Updates via Site Dashboard

Use the “Live Coverage” tab in your site’s dashboard to add live coverage updates to your core story.

Here are the steps to adding an update to your Live Coverage story:

  1. Click on the Live Coverage tab on the left side of your SNO Dashboard.
  2. Click “Create New Update.”
  3. Give the update a headline, and enter Writer’s Name and Job title, if you would like. If the update’s author is the same as the core story’s author, we recommend that you leave the Writer’s fields blank.
  4. Enter the text for your update in the main text box.
  5. Choose a story to connect this update to in the Connect Update to Story box on the right side.
  6. Click the Publish button.

Live Coverage Overview

Provide a general description of the Live Coverage story here, within the “core” story. This will provide an overview of what event the Live Coverage story will cover (sporting events, breaking news, school board coverage, etc.). Live Coverage updates will be added to this “core” story.

Here are the steps to creating a “core” Live Coverage story:

  1. Create your core story, or open an existing story in edit mode.
  2. Check the box for “Activate Live Coverage” at the bottom of the Story Template box on the right side of your story in edit mode.
  3. Use the Live Coverage Placement dropdown menu to choose if you would like to the Live Coverage updates to appear Above Story Body or Below Story Body.
  4. Update/Publish your story.

When Live Coverage Mode is activated and updates are actively being added, the story page automatically checks for new updates every two minutes, and displays a red “Update(s) Available” button on the reader’s screen if it detects new updates for the story. Readers can click this button to load new updates.

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