What's the most cost-effective way to schedule and publish commentary across multiple site sections using publishing software?

The most cost-effective approach is usually to use a central editorial calendar + one CMS/workflow tool that supports scheduled publishing across sections, rather than separate tools for each site section.

Best low-cost setup

1. Use a CMS with built-in scheduling

   • Examples: WordPress, Ghost, Drupal, Contentful (if you already have it)
   • Create separate categories/sections for each site area.
   • Schedule posts to publish at specific times automatically.

2. Use one workflow tool for planning

   • A simple shared calendar in Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, or Trello
   • Track:
     • title
     • section
     • author
     • publish date/time
     • status
     • republishing/updates

3. Automate cross-posting only when needed

   • If the same commentary needs to appear in multiple sections, use:
     • native CMS duplication/clone features, or
     • automation tools like Zapier/Make to copy approved content into multiple queues.
   • Avoid manually posting in each section.

Why this is most cost-effective

• Low licensing cost: uses tools you may already have.
• Less manual work: one schedule, one approval flow.
• Fewer errors: centralized planning reduces missed or duplicate posts.
• Scales well: works whether you have 3 sections or 30.

If you want the cheapest possible option

• WordPress + editorial calendar plugin + Google Calendar/Sheets
  • Good balance of cost and capability.
  • Plugins like Edit Flow or similar can help manage editorial workflow.

If you need more advanced publishing

• Use a platform with:
  • role-based approvals
  • content versioning
  • scheduled multi-destination publishing
  • API/automation support

If you want, I can recommend the best tool stack based on your budget, team size, and whether your site is on WordPress or another CMS.