This guide provides full details on how News Editors and News Reporters can use each of the News Blocks:
Text Block
Along the top of the News Editor are the formatting options and text options (such as bold and italics).
News Editors and News Reporters can access the formatting options, such as headers or bulleted lists, by first selecting Text Block and then clicking on the arrow on the formatting tool bar to open the dropdown menu.
Tips:
- These format options aren't just for headings. For example, if you want your overall font size to be larger than the default size of Paragraph, you can type your whole Text Block in Heading 3 instead.
- When using a Text Block, your Return or Enter key will create a new block. To start a new paragraph within your current block, hold down Shift + Return.
- If you have an empty block you want to remove, simply click into it and hit your Backspace key.
- If you want to include a list in your block, change the block format to Bulleted List or Numbered List (you can do this before or after typing the first item on your list). You'll then be able to hit "Return" after each item and populate your list within that block.
Image Block
With the Image Block, News Editors and News Reporters can drag and drop images directly into it or browse for files and select the images they want to insert. Once added, you can add a caption (character limit: 255) to the field directly below the image.
Click on the three dots to the right of the block to open its Action Menu, where you can initiate actions like Edit Image, Replace Image, Add More Images, Reorder Gallery, and Delete Block. Click on Edit Image if you want to rotate, crop, and/or fill the image to the frame.
If you add more images to your Image Block, it will automatically turn it into a gallery and display the additional images in a scroll above the main image. To change the order of the images in the gallery, tap the "three dots" to the right of the Block and then select Reorder Gallery.
Tips:
- If you want to add multiple full-sized images to your News Item, use a separate block for each image.
- For the best results, use images with aspect ratios close to 16:9 (e.g. 960 x 540 px).
- If you want to insert a smaller image that's square-shaped, like an icon or logo, with a 1:1 ratio (e.g. 400 x 400 px), the editor will automatically enlarge it until it fills the width of the article. So, to avoid this you can try this workaround:
Adding 1:1 images without them being resized:
- Place your 1:1 image in the center of a blank Google or PowerPoint slide
- Download/export that slide as an image
- Insert the slide image into an Image Block in your News Item
Since the ratio of the slide image will be 16:9, it won't be resized. And because the background of the slide won't be visible, you'll only see the original image at its original size.
Poll Block
A poll is a powerful tool to engage your audience, understand their interests, and foster participation.
When a News Editor or News Reporter adds a Poll Block, they'll see the settings where they can customize details like the number of options participants can select, the poll’s closing time, and whether votes will be anonymous.
Once you’ve configured these settings, you can revisit them any time by tapping the three dots located to the right of the Block and selecting Poll Settings.
After saving your settings, the News Editor or News Reporter can proceed to input the poll question and provide various options for participants to choose from during the voting process. (You need to include a minimum of two options in order to publish a poll.)
Poll Options can feature both text and images, or they can be exclusively text-based or image-based. To add an image to your Poll Option, simply click the image icon.
Additionally, you can rearrange your Poll Options (answers) by dragging the arrow icons.
To remove or replace an Poll Option’s image or delete an Option, tap the "three dots" to the right of the Option to access the Replace Image and Remove Image actions.
Once a poll closes, News Editors and the person publishing the poll will have the option to download a CSV file of the results by selecting Download Poll Results from the Action Menu of the News Item it was included in.
Video Block
News Editors and News Reporters can use the Video Block to either upload video files or to insert an online video by entering its link/URL.
If you're uploading your own video, click Browse for File in the Video Block, or drag the video file over from your desktop and drop it in the block. You can continue creating your article while the video is processing.
If you’d like to add your video using a link, tap Link to Video and paste the link into the input below. Once you’ve entered your link, click Save to add the video to your News Item.
Once you’ve added a video to the block, you’ll be able to replace the video file or edit the link by clicking the three dots to the right to open its Action Menu.
Tip: If you want to add a video from Library to a News Item, use the Embed Block.
Link Preview Block
The Link Preview Block is an ideal way for News Editors or News Reporters to share links in a way that allows their audience to see more details about the link before clicking on it. Some links shared via the Link Preview Block will even allow users to do everything they need to without having to navigate away from your News Item to the link.
Simply insert the link you want to include in the field provided and click Save. Your link will now appear as a preview with a thumbnail image and info blurb (if applicable).
To edit the link or change the layout of the Link Preview, hover over the Link Preview Block and tap the three dots to open its Action Menu.
File Attachment Block
News Editors or News Reporters can add up to six files (of any type) into each File Attachment Block.
To replace or remove a particular file that has been added to the File Attachment Block, tap the Action Menu of that file and select the desired action.
After your News Item has been published, users will be able to tap on any of the files to preview it in the viewer, then return to your News Item by clicking the arrow in the top left corner of the viewer.
Using the File Attachment Block to feature a single file in situ
By default, all files in the block will be in compact layout, but when only one file has been added to the block it is possible for News Editors or News Reporters to Change to Full Layout.
Full Layout allows the file can be viewed in situ right in the News Item itself. If the file is a multi-page PDF, users can click through and view its pages right in the News Item, without needing to open it separately in the viewer. This is a great way to republish a workplace poster.
Embed Block
News Editors and News Reporters can use the Embed Block to add videos, as well as any embeddable content, such as forms, tables, or charts (for example, use the "Share" option on tables created in MicroSoft or Google products to retrieve an embed code and use that with the embed block to insert the table into your News Item). The format and options are nearly identical to those of the Video Block, except you’ll be entering embed code instead of a link.
After adding the block, paste your embed code in the given area and select Save to embed your content.
As with the Video Block, you can only edit the code you entered, not the embedded content itself.
Note: Due to security policies regarding iFramed content, some embedded videos may not display properly—most notably, if the video is hosted on OneDrive or if the user is on the Safari browser. In cases like these, inserting a "You can also view this video here" link in your News Item to the video's location will ensure your readers can view the video.
Embedding electronic forms in News
When you embed an electronic form (Microsoft Forms, Google Forms, Wufoo, Survey Monkey, JotForm, etc.), users will be able to fill in the form right in News view. The data is collected directly in the form platform.
Embedding Library videos in News
News Editors and News Reporters can embed a video from Library in News Items. To do this, open the Library Item's Action Menu and select Copy Embed Code. Paste this code into the Embed Block.
Keep in mind that videos embedded from a Library Volume will retain the visibility restrictions of the Library Volume it is in, so if someone doesn't have permission to view a Volume, they won't be able to play a video embedded from that Volume either.
Embedding tables/charts
News Editors and News Reporters can embed tables or charts created in Microsoft (Word/Excel) and Google (Docs/Sheets) by using the Share > Publish function to provide an embed code that can then be inserted into an Embed Block (Google Docs shown below).
Once embedded, a table can't be edited through the News Item. However, any edits made to the original table will be automatically reflected in the embedded table.
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