Topix focuses on local news search

The news aggregator and news search service Topix.com, previously known as Topix.net, has changed into a Web 2.0 local news site.

Topix added forums to the site in December 2005. According to Topix, more than 1 million people posted 5.5 million comments, adding more than 30,000 comments a day. And many of the most passionate discussions were happening at the local level.

Topix says: “But even with 50,000 news sources, there just wasn’t enough local news – and what news there was, couldn’t be tuned finely enough with algorithms alone. So, in April 2007, we decided to open up our site, and give anyone the power to discuss, edit and share the news that matters to them.”

Topix now asks readers to become Topix editors for their own city or community. Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted photos and articles are to be included. They can even write their own articles.

For places without a local editor, Topix lets its automatic Roboblogger do the editing.

The new Topix is the idea of Rich Skrenta and Chris Tolles, the people behind the Open Directory — a volunteer based Web directory and one of the very first “social sites” one the Web.

Based on their experience they have probably decided that it is possible to trust volunteers to do some sensible editing. We’ll see how they cope with the spam.

So what about the old Topix services? Can you use Topix to follow news on a particular topic or area on a national or world level?

Yes, you can. There is, or instance, still a Top Stories page, and the Search Engine News page and RSS feed is still available — although it is not that easy to find. Here is a tip, use the Site Map to find your favorite topic.

See also Search Engine Land: Topix Transforms Into Community Generated Local News Site