Does anybody know of any open source applications or commercial applications that facilitate a press release system similar to this website http://www.mediacontacts.org.uk/ I am intending to make a website that would do exactly the same as Media Contacts site does but obviously for a different market. Any input on how this can be achieved either using open source applications or a combination of scripts would be massively appreaciated.... Thanks.

It can be done using several different Microsoft ASP 3.0 scripts and a SQL Server database, but it will still not be all that cheap however. Look at this website: http://www.gymkids.us/portals for one possible starting point. But you need a secured membership system, an eMail mass sending program, a WYSIWIG Editor, etc. I could do it so that you could have multiple instances, one for Media/Arts, one for Real Estate Brokers Open Houses, one for Software Developer Press Releases, etc. But the dev costs for such a hosted system with ASP source code could approach or exceed $10,000 is my best front end guesstimate. But cloning it for multiple instances would only cost about $1,000 per clone after that. Let me know if you are interested. Hosting would cost you $250-350/year per instance for a distinct URL and Domain Name using SQL Server 2000 or 2005 which would be the right way to go. If you go for PHP and MySql you will eventually be regretful.

He asked for opensource solution and you put up so many $$$ there =D (j/k). --- I don't really get it, but from my point of view, the service is intended to "tell people" about "press releases" right? If so, from my point of view, collecting and categorizing the "journalist's" data is also a big task. About using ASP 3.0, I'm not familiar with ASPs, but if it's not ASP.NET then I've heard people said that using PHP-MySQL is better? For WYSIWYG editor, I don't see a commercial one that can beat TinyMCE, not because I never bought a commercial editor, but by looking at reviews such as this one. @ Wulfy: If you have no clues about serverside scripting then you do need to hire someone. There're opensource scripts to maintain databases, send mass email, WYSIWYG editors, membership management, etc, but none fits mediacontact.org's specification. And also from my point of view, the main service the website offer is the extensive & up to date "journalists" info they have. This require special effort outside the website management. --- Site of the Day