Getting to Know Organization News Site in SharePoint Online
Tags: sharepoint, powershell
Published: 2024-04-30 06:30:00

Ever feel like company news gets lost in the digital abyss? You're not alone! SharePoint Online offers a solution: **Organization News Sites**. These aren't just regular SharePoint sites – they're like designated "official news zones" within your company's digital space.

![Businessman reading a business newspaper by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdd95e166-353a-430c-9aee-8cf5533c7365_640x424.jpeg)

Here, you'll find answers to questions like: What are **Organization News Sites**? Why are they so great? And, if you have admin rights, how to create one yourself! By the end, you'll be an expert at keeping everyone informed!


## Introducing Organization News Sites

Think of your company's SharePoint as a digital toolbox. It's got all sorts of features, like team sites and document libraries. But what if you wanted a dedicated space for official company news, like announcements and updates? That's where **Organization News Sites** come in!

Here's the cool part: An **Organization News Site** isn't a whole new thing. It's actually a regular SharePoint site you already have, like your intranet or a communication hub, with a special upgrade. It's like flipping a switch – the site keeps all its normal features, but it also becomes the official news center for everyone in the company.

This upgrade doesn't change how you use the site itself. You can still create pages, lists, and libraries like before. But now, it has a special badge that says, "Hey everyone, this is where you'll find all the important stuff!" By picking a site as the official news hub, you create a central location for all company announcements, making sure everyone stays informed and on the same page.


## Benefits of Organization Sites

**Organization News Sites** in SharePoint Online are here to save the day! They offer some serious perks for keeping everyone informed:

1. **Catch Those Eyeballs:** News from these special sites gets a colorful spotlight, making them stand out on the SharePoint start page. No more hunting for important announcements – they'll practically jump off the screen!
2. **One-Stop News Shop:** Forget information overload! News from these sites gets woven seamlessly into the regular SharePoint news feed. It's like having all the company updates in one, central location – convenient and easy to access.
3. **No More News Hide-and-Seek:** With a dedicated news site, employees know exactly where to go for official announcements. No more digging through endless emails or channels – it's all right there, waiting to be read.

In short, **Organization News Sites** are like a superhero cape for your company news. They make it clear, accessible, and impossible to miss – the perfect recipe for a well-informed workforce.

![SharePoint Online regular and official news visualization by Microsoft](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4d97818a-5f83-4298-8892-31deec013796_515x470.png)


## Making Your Site Official (Admins Only)

Alright, Admins, this part's for you! Turning a regular SharePoint site into the official news hub requires some special skills. Here's the lowdown:
1. **Admin Lock:** Only SharePoint admins have the power to upgrade a site to an official news zone. This keeps control of important announcements in the right hands.
2. **PowerShell Perks:** Creating a news site involves using special commands. Don't worry, it's not rocket science! Microsoft has resources to guide you through it all. We've even included the links below:
    - See all existing organization news sites: link to `Get-SPOOrgNewsSite` command: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/get-spoorgnewssite](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/get-spoorgnewssite)
    - Make your site the news boss: link to `Set-SPOOrgNewsSite` command: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/set-spoorgnewssite](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/set-spoorgnewssite)
    - Downgrade an organization news site (if needed): link to `Remove-SPOOrgNewsSite` command: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/remove-spoorgnewssite](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/remove-spoorgnewssite)
3. **Limited Spots:** There's a cap of 100 news sites per organization. This keeps things organized and ensures only the most important news gets the spotlight. Choose your sites wisely!


## Conclusion

You've learned how **Organization News Sites** grab attention with colored blocks and seamlessly integrate into the SharePoint news feed. This ensures employees can't miss official announcements. Plus, a dedicated news site eliminates information overload by giving everyone a central location for company updates. 

Now you have the knowledge to empower your employees to stay informed!


## References

- *Create an organization news site: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/organization-news-site](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/organization-news-site)*
- *Create and share news on your SharePoint sites: [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-and-share-news-on-your-sharepoint-sites-495f8f1a-3bef-4045-b33a-55e5abe7aed7](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-and-share-news-on-your-sharepoint-sites-495f8f1a-3bef-4045-b33a-55e5abe7aed7)*
- *Get-SPOOrgNewsSite PowerShell command: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/get-spoorgnewssite](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/get-spoorgnewssite)*
- *Set-SPOOrgNewsSite PowerShell command: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/set-spoorgnewssite](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/set-spoorgnewssite)*
- *Remove-SPOOrgNewsSite PowerShell command: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/remove-spoorgnewssite](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/sharepoint-online/remove-spoorgnewssite)*
- *Businessman reading a business newspaper by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash: [https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1444653614773-995cb1ef9efa?q=80&w=1776&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1444653614773-995cb1ef9efa?q=80&w=1776&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D)*