Johnston Press is to trial an interactive online family announcements service, using the web platform iAnnounce.

The service allows readers who place a notice in a newspaper, announcing a birth, marriage, death, birthday or congratulations, to also create a mini-website online and add further photographs and comments.

Other friends and relatives can also add to the tribute, if approved by the original advertiser.

It will be trialled by the Portsmouth News and its website www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk first, and if successful it could be rolled out across all Johnston Press titles.

Alex Green, the group’s director of digital publishing, told HoldtheFrontPage: “This will add value to the family announcements offering we provide.

“It allows the sharing of memories or celebration between the person placing an advert and a network of friends and relatives.

“We think it will be popular but we are very much at the trial stage.”

The group has chosen to use iAnnounce, which already works with Newsquest and the Kent Messenger Group.

iAnnounce reads and approves every message left, and takes responsibility for this, removing any liability from the papers. Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or e-mail
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