I've searched for information on the Mailman-to-news since I'm looking for a way to allow answering list messages from the web also. Is there documentation online about this? Does it require running a private news server?
Yes, or at least working with a news provider that allows you to add newsgroups--though in the latter case you've got to deal with a wider audience.
I think what the other poster was recommending was using newsgroups *instead* of a web forum. Otherwise, once you've got the newsgroup running you still need to create the Usenet-Web gateway software. We've done it, but it required programming (I don't know if there are any off-the-shelf solutions for Usenet-Web gateways).
Jerry
jerry@sandiego.edu http://www.sandiego.edu/~jerry/ Serra 188B/x8773
The more restrictions there are, the poorer the people become. The greater the government¹s power, the more chaotic the nation would become. The more the ruler imposes laws and prohibitions on his people, the more frequently evil deeds would occur. --The Silence of the Wise: The Sayings of Lao Zi