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May 23, 2010

Topix – Aggregating Local News

Topix is a local news aggregator that brings all the latest information about what’s going on in your community right to your computer screen. The site searches through more than 50,000 news sources and 360,000 online forums for news that directly relates to your city or town. It then brings those articles directly to your Topix local news page as soon they come in. More than just an RSS feed or a series of Google news alerts, Topix also lets users search forums, comment on articles, and participate in real-time polls with people from around the country.

When you head over to Topix, the site will detect where you’re located and bring you to a local news page filled with the latest happenings in your community. You can filter news articles by topic or search for specific stories that mention a particular zip code, keyword, or phrase. Click on any article headline to be taken to the website where the article originated, or post a comment on the story directly through the Topix site. Although signing up isn’t required to use Topix, users who do create an account can make their own profiles pages, save favorite articles, personalize forum posts, and even help edit the news that appears on the site.

Within the forums and polls section, users can chat with neighbors in their own community about any topic they wish—from the latest news of the day to popular trends and upcoming events—or vote in local and nationwide polls created by other users. For Twitter users specifically, Topix offers a local news feed feature that sends tweets when breaking news happens in your area. If you’re tired of searching for local news on a dozen different websites, then Topix is a leading aggregator that can scour the web and deliver all the information that you care about on a 24/7 basis.

Practical Uses:

  • Save time by getting all your local news in one spot
  • Poll your neighbors to find out the best restaurant nearby
  • Share ideas with local citizens in the forums
  • Find out instantly when something is happening in your town

Insider Tips:

  • Follow the Topix Twitter feed to receive breaking news alerts
  • Topix recently started integrating with Facebook
  • Users with Topix accounts can apply to become “news editors” on the site
  • Find apartment listings through the site’s real estate section

What we liked:

  • Easy to hide your identity by posting comments anonymously
  • Real-time newswire updates as soon as the latest local news comes in
  • People who are moving can get a sense for their new community by checking out the city’s local news page
  • Share the articles you liked with friends on Facebook

What we didn’t like:

  • The site feature so much information, that it feels overwhelmingly cluttered

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: 2002
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
  • Founded by: Rich Skrenta
  • Web site: http://www.topix.com

Costs:

  • Free

Comments

  1. Thomas

    Topix is the most disgusting site on the internet. The forums are unmoderated meaning anyone can be brutally attacked. I have seen innocent law abiding citizens called pedofiles before and the attacks on children are ridiculous. They profit off of that and destroy lives. 20 plus attorney generals have written letters about their operating promises and they cite freedom of speech. Wrong! Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to libel. People have a right to live their lives without being attacked by cowards who don’t even have to register for the site. Cyberbullying is out of control and people have committed suicide over that sort of thing. This company deserves ZERO stars.

    • Certainly not making excuses for them as I don’t know the entire situation but the greatest strength of the internet is information accessibility – but it’s also it’s greatest weakness when the information isn’t right.

  2. Terrence747

    The greatest part about Topix that I like is the Free Speech. Finally, I can post things that are not mainstream on religion and philosophy without having stuff yanked by someone who is knowledgeable on this subject.

    Unfortunately, you have to take the good with the bad. If you want political correctness – where are you get is fed is CNN type stuff – that never criticizes anything then you should read the comments.

    As a gathering of news – I do not think any are the match of Topix. If you don’t want to read the nasty stuff – then don’t read the forums.

  3. Terrence747

    Terrence747
    The greatest part about Topix that I like is the Free Speech. Finally, I can post things that are not mainstream on religion and philosophy without having stuff yanked by someone who is NOT knowledgeable on these subjects. Lay folks.

    Unfortunately, you have to take the good with the bad. If you want political correctness – where all you get is fed is CNN type stuff – that never criticizes anything without also giving the opponent equal time then you should NOT read the comments. There are good posters. Seek them out and ignore the garbage – you are not the boss of the world!

    As a gathering of news – I do not think any are the match of Topix. If you don’t want to read the nasty stuff – then don’t read the forums

    * I had to repost this as I left out some key words that changed the context of the post.

  4. Thanks for finally talking about >Topix – Aggregating Local News | AppVita <Loved it!

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