Story from June/July issue: Media companies have high hopes that hyperlocal news online will bolster their newspapers’ futures. But early returns suggest the financial outlook for such ventures is not bright.
Read AJR's story here.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
What drives traffic? Reader comments
Tuesday, June 19: Our lead editorial on Nifong and the Duke case rises to No. 6 on charlotte.com's What's Hot list. Editorials generally don't make this list.
It's just three notches below "Doctors find six sewing needles in baby," wryly noted Lew Powell.
Obviously, the case has long been an Internet hot button. Still, I suspect enabling reader comments on this one helped lots too. By 2 p.m., 30 people had commented online, and I bet each one of those commentators hits the site again after they make their comment to see how people respond. At least once.
It's just three notches below "Doctors find six sewing needles in baby," wryly noted Lew Powell.
Obviously, the case has long been an Internet hot button. Still, I suspect enabling reader comments on this one helped lots too. By 2 p.m., 30 people had commented online, and I bet each one of those commentators hits the site again after they make their comment to see how people respond. At least once.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Free slideshows
Problem: We have at least 100 "Draw Your Dad" submissions for readers and no way to get them in the paper or online with existing staff and software.
First obvious solution: Purchase Adobe Photoshop CS at $499 each for seven locations, total cost of $3,500 plus training for clerks. Add web staff from redeployed newsroom people to upload and position slideshows.
Alternative solution: Use free software and server space from outside sources built for individuals and small independents to accomplish the same goal.
Avoid adding another clog in our existing production pipe. Use a different pipe, with a different destination, and link from our website to that different destination. Use the paper to direct readers first through our website, with one image each on regional pages, then link from there to Flickr. We don't need to save these images in our servers. Don't worry about the loss of hits to the website. More on that later.
Specifics: Use Flickr (free), Picasa (free) and gmail (free) to email and resize the images for Flickr. Cutlines (metadata) can be edited before uploading. Captions show up on top of the images if the viewer clicks on the "I" in a slideshow. See advice on the Internet to find out how to upload easily. Use one existing photo-savvy clerk reporter like Lukas or one Flickr-savvy copy editor like Adam to do the work, over two days, max. Make sure the scanning is spread out over several locations, and make sure there's one networked place where all those images can be gathered.
If the space limitations of a free Flickr account are too small, spring for one $24.95 Pro account for the whole newsroom.
But again, what about web traffic? Isn't that why we're encouraging reader interaction? What happens when the hits go to some outside company instead of us?
We direct readers from the regular newspaper to regional webpages to find the slideshows. We use one image on those pages as a visual refer. From there, we use a direct link to the specific set at Flickr, so it's only two clicks for readers.
TV stations regularly send viewers to their websites to get links to outside information. We can too.
Readers do not have to create an account or come up with another password to see the slideshow at Flickr. If they want to comment, that's when they have to sign in.
Yes, Flickr gets the page views and not our website ... but we preserve and build our relationship with loyal readers. We brand our presence at Flickr and broaden our audience. And consider the alternative: no slideshows or hits at all.
First obvious solution: Purchase Adobe Photoshop CS at $499 each for seven locations, total cost of $3,500 plus training for clerks. Add web staff from redeployed newsroom people to upload and position slideshows.
Alternative solution: Use free software and server space from outside sources built for individuals and small independents to accomplish the same goal.
Avoid adding another clog in our existing production pipe. Use a different pipe, with a different destination, and link from our website to that different destination. Use the paper to direct readers first through our website, with one image each on regional pages, then link from there to Flickr. We don't need to save these images in our servers. Don't worry about the loss of hits to the website. More on that later.
Specifics: Use Flickr (free), Picasa (free) and gmail (free) to email and resize the images for Flickr. Cutlines (metadata) can be edited before uploading. Captions show up on top of the images if the viewer clicks on the "I" in a slideshow. See advice on the Internet to find out how to upload easily. Use one existing photo-savvy clerk reporter like Lukas or one Flickr-savvy copy editor like Adam to do the work, over two days, max. Make sure the scanning is spread out over several locations, and make sure there's one networked place where all those images can be gathered.
If the space limitations of a free Flickr account are too small, spring for one $24.95 Pro account for the whole newsroom.
But again, what about web traffic? Isn't that why we're encouraging reader interaction? What happens when the hits go to some outside company instead of us?
We direct readers from the regular newspaper to regional webpages to find the slideshows. We use one image on those pages as a visual refer. From there, we use a direct link to the specific set at Flickr, so it's only two clicks for readers.
TV stations regularly send viewers to their websites to get links to outside information. We can too.
Readers do not have to create an account or come up with another password to see the slideshow at Flickr. If they want to comment, that's when they have to sign in.
Yes, Flickr gets the page views and not our website ... but we preserve and build our relationship with loyal readers. We brand our presence at Flickr and broaden our audience. And consider the alternative: no slideshows or hits at all.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Web first at Lawrence
After reviewing stories sent from the field via e-mail, editors at the Lawrence, Kan.-based Journal-World post content to the Web through a content management system that is accessible from home. In addition, reporters leave cell phone numbers on their voice mail messages so that sources can reach them after hours. According to ME Dennis Anderson, the newsroom is now staffed nearly 24 hours a day. He initially offered raises to those who embraced these new convergence tasks, but now it's expected of everyone
Cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, MP3 recorders and hand-held scanners are just some of the gadgets the reporters use to submit a variety of multimedia content from the field at any time of day. To handle this influx of all-hours information, Anderson encourages establishing an after-hours phone call order to determine which late-breaking stories receive coverage first. He also suggests becoming more selective as to which stories earn the “breaking news” label.
The Journal-Times “Web-first” model enables readers to follow online developments throughout the day by offering e-mail and text messages of breaking news to its readers, who can then submit their responses and participate in online chats based on weekly topics. Although the sometimes-spotty use of chats has decreased the number of letters to the editors, the reader-moderated comments often contain leads for future stories.
Source: Inland Press
Cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, MP3 recorders and hand-held scanners are just some of the gadgets the reporters use to submit a variety of multimedia content from the field at any time of day. To handle this influx of all-hours information, Anderson encourages establishing an after-hours phone call order to determine which late-breaking stories receive coverage first. He also suggests becoming more selective as to which stories earn the “breaking news” label.
The Journal-Times “Web-first” model enables readers to follow online developments throughout the day by offering e-mail and text messages of breaking news to its readers, who can then submit their responses and participate in online chats based on weekly topics. Although the sometimes-spotty use of chats has decreased the number of letters to the editors, the reader-moderated comments often contain leads for future stories.
Source: Inland Press
A contrarian
Consultants telling newspapers what to do are a dime a dozen, particularly because blogs are cheap and free.
Still, reading contrary views can make one think, whether it's about how to do online stuff better or how to reorganize a newsroom.
John Duncan writes long as The Inksniffer, but he quotes Lenny Kravitz at times. He's now added to the journalism links.
An older post on McClatchy, called "Dear Gary Pruitt: aka Calling All Angels," gives provocative suggestions on what we should stop doing, always the hard question.
Scary provocative quote:
---Stop rearranging deck chairs. ....redesigns alone rarely move readership permanently on its own. You have to rethink what a newspaper can be before that will happen. And you have to believe energetically in the product that drives most of your revenue instead of hoping that its decline will be slow and its death painless.
---Stop reducing staff by attrition. I know this is part of the McClatchy way and it feels warm and nice. But this is the cheapest and worst way to cut staff costs because it involves abdicating control of your staff to coincidence. I've done this. The people who leave are generally experienced (retirement) or talented (recruited elsewhere) and often both. It causes huge problems for management in getting the right people in the right chairs. The shuffles and compromises involved usually have little to do with the needs of readers and you can get saddled with them for years. Make a decision about where the resources need to go to match your vision.
Still, reading contrary views can make one think, whether it's about how to do online stuff better or how to reorganize a newsroom.
John Duncan writes long as The Inksniffer, but he quotes Lenny Kravitz at times. He's now added to the journalism links.
An older post on McClatchy, called "Dear Gary Pruitt: aka Calling All Angels," gives provocative suggestions on what we should stop doing, always the hard question.
Scary provocative quote:
---Stop rearranging deck chairs. ....redesigns alone rarely move readership permanently on its own. You have to rethink what a newspaper can be before that will happen. And you have to believe energetically in the product that drives most of your revenue instead of hoping that its decline will be slow and its death painless.
---Stop reducing staff by attrition. I know this is part of the McClatchy way and it feels warm and nice. But this is the cheapest and worst way to cut staff costs because it involves abdicating control of your staff to coincidence. I've done this. The people who leave are generally experienced (retirement) or talented (recruited elsewhere) and often both. It causes huge problems for management in getting the right people in the right chairs. The shuffles and compromises involved usually have little to do with the needs of readers and you can get saddled with them for years. Make a decision about where the resources need to go to match your vision.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Breaking the big story ... online
I recently received a complaint from Walker Lundy, former editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, that included concerns about our online coverage of a story. He was very interested in this local story, regularly checking charlotte.com, but "could find only a bare bones story."
"I found much better info on a TV news web site, which is pretty amazing given their resources and yours. The last time I checked was 11 p.m. and still there was no complete story."
He's right. We need to do a better job of moving quickly online when news hits. It's not just about posting stories to add to a daily count; it needs to be about being first and beating our competitors.
Otherwise, readers will start turning to our competitors -- TV news and their Web sites -- more frequently.
"I found much better info on a TV news web site, which is pretty amazing given their resources and yours. The last time I checked was 11 p.m. and still there was no complete story."
He's right. We need to do a better job of moving quickly online when news hits. It's not just about posting stories to add to a daily count; it needs to be about being first and beating our competitors.
Otherwise, readers will start turning to our competitors -- TV news and their Web sites -- more frequently.
Who needs a full time web developer?
Hire a company to do it for you.
I had an interview today with Jean Dubail, the AME/Online at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. They've been working with a California-based company called Caspio. Basic idea is that you get them your data through a wizard on their servers. They will then generate html code that you import onto your pagees. Readers can then search the database from your site, pulling information from their servers. Cleveland.com has used this a great deal for campaign finance information, crime, etc. Seems like a great way to get the developer in your hands when you need them most.
Couple examples built with the help of this Caspio technology:
Guitarmania http://www.cleveland.com/guitarmania/
A United Way fundraiser - like the cows or the rocking chairs Charlotte had a while back. Start from this database, pick the guitar you want to look at and it pulls the vitals from the database and then maps the location for you.
The King James Statistical Bible http://www.cleveland.com/sports/lebron_stats/
One of Dubail's favorites, this one lets you take a look at Lebron's stats in any number of ways.
Earthquake report http://www.cleveland.com/weather/earthquake_report/
A minor earthquake a couple months ago. The website asked readers to add their information to the database. It's then mapped on a Google map.
Cleveland.com's top hits are routinely sports - with the Cavs in the NBA Finals that's off the charts right now. Browns fans can't get enough. Dubail gave me today's stats: the top 5 stories were all sports. About half of Monday's unique visitors went to sports pages and accounted for about 45% of the page views.
They're developing a database of all things Browns that will encompass the 60-some year history of the team. It's taking a lot of manpower, but they're aiming to have it running in time for preseason. The hope is this database will let you search game by game for stats AND for stories from the PD. There's also one in the works for a huge high school sports database of schedules, records, results and the like.
For a town where sports traffic means big business, these two seem like fabulous ideas.
I had an interview today with Jean Dubail, the AME/Online at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. They've been working with a California-based company called Caspio. Basic idea is that you get them your data through a wizard on their servers. They will then generate html code that you import onto your pagees. Readers can then search the database from your site, pulling information from their servers. Cleveland.com has used this a great deal for campaign finance information, crime, etc. Seems like a great way to get the developer in your hands when you need them most.
Couple examples built with the help of this Caspio technology:
Guitarmania http://www.cleveland.com/guitarmania/
A United Way fundraiser - like the cows or the rocking chairs Charlotte had a while back. Start from this database, pick the guitar you want to look at and it pulls the vitals from the database and then maps the location for you.
The King James Statistical Bible http://www.cleveland.com/sports/lebron_stats/
One of Dubail's favorites, this one lets you take a look at Lebron's stats in any number of ways.
Earthquake report http://www.cleveland.com/weather/earthquake_report/
A minor earthquake a couple months ago. The website asked readers to add their information to the database. It's then mapped on a Google map.
Cleveland.com's top hits are routinely sports - with the Cavs in the NBA Finals that's off the charts right now. Browns fans can't get enough. Dubail gave me today's stats: the top 5 stories were all sports. About half of Monday's unique visitors went to sports pages and accounted for about 45% of the page views.
They're developing a database of all things Browns that will encompass the 60-some year history of the team. It's taking a lot of manpower, but they're aiming to have it running in time for preseason. The hope is this database will let you search game by game for stats AND for stories from the PD. There's also one in the works for a huge high school sports database of schedules, records, results and the like.
For a town where sports traffic means big business, these two seem like fabulous ideas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
