ROCKY RIVER, Ohio—Certainly, ddn hasn't been a stranger to social media, with a Twitter account and Facebook account to help keep readers up to speed on notable news stories and other matters. But in an effort to complement the magazine's website, e-newsletter and social media presence, the publication recently launched the ddn Online blog at http://ddnonline.wordpress.com.

The blog will feature a combination of new material; follow-ups to articles from the magazine, website or e-newsletter; and re-posts of previous articles that might warrant greater discussion.

"The blog offers another venue through which we can reach people, and share news that might not have made it into the printed magazine or the e-newsletter," says ddn Publisher Bruce Poorman. "Also, unlike the website, which also allows us to keep up with breaking news better, the blog offers people the chance to comment and share their own insights."

"It's another tool for us, and a necessary one in this increasingly e-connected age," agrees ddn Associate Publisher Laurence Doyle. "Ultimately, what we hope to create is a place where we can stimulate discussion. Even as an extension of our website and e-newsletter efforts, it is a promising tool, but if it can be a place to share ideas and opinions, that will be a very rich addition to our news coverage."

Current plans call for the blog to be updated with new posts at least three days during the standard work week, and sometimes daily. Readers who have any suggestions for improving the blog can e-mail ddn's managing editor, Jeffrey Bouley, at bouley@drugdiscoverynews.com.