What software do I need?
 

I just bought a Canon XL1s and I am going to use the camera to shoot press conferences and to do interviews that will be posted on an internet site. To me the only real thing I am concerned about is being able to chop some wasted time at the beginning or at the end and to be able to chop into parts if the press conferences are lengthy. I also plan to shoot high school football games and would like the ability to pickout certain highlights...

The footage of all of these things will be shown in windows media format on my website.

p.s. I have never operated a camcorder in my life and my first camera is a XL1s... I am definitely in the frying pan.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

First I would learn anything you can about the camera and how
it works. Take your time for this and learn through experience.

Second Windows XP comes with a free NLE called Windows
Movie Maker. That will at least allow you to easily chop and get
highlighst. I assume it can export to WMV as well. Otherwise
you can get the standalone media encoder from Microsoft
for that.

Most people who do a bit more work go with a more grown up
NLE like: Sony Vegas / Adobe Premiere / Avid / Pinaccle Edition
etc. etc.