a procrastinator's guide to digital election coverage

A Procrastinator’s Guide to Digital Election Coverage

September 27, 2012

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DigitalServices.NPR.org – Click on News Training

Teresa [email protected]

@gteresa

mailto:[email protected]

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1.How is your coverage unique?

Questions to ask

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1.How is your coverage unique?2.What does your audience

expect?

Questions to ask

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1.How is your coverage unique?2.What does your audience

expect?3.What can you do well in the

time left?

Questions to ask

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10 Steps to an Election Coverage Plan

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1. Choose your battles


8http://www.flickr.com/photos/aheram/7885306114/sizes/z/

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Choose your battles

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Choose your battles

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Set yourself apart from the competition Write the second day story on the first day

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Set yourself apart from the competition Write the second day story on the first day

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What does this mean??

Provide

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Provide •Perspective

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Provide •Perspective•Analysis

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Provide •Perspective•Analysis •Why it matters

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Provide •Perspective•Analysis •Why it matters•A different take

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1. Choose your battles2. Write breaking news in advance


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2. Write breaking news in advance

Google likes speed

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Google likes speed Only way to get ahead with ‘what happened’ is

to be on it immediately

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to be on it immediately Focus on the implications of key initiatives or

local races – not results

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to be on it immediately Focus on the implications of key initiatives or

local races – not results Write three different versions for the most

important stories

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Write breaking tweets in advance

XYZ wins New Hampshire Republican primary with XYZ % of vote LINK #NHPrimary

XYZ comes in last in #NHPrimary, with XYZ% of vote LINK

XYZ% of precincts are reporting. XYZ is ahead of XYZ by XYZ%.

Romney #NHPrimary win means election is his to lose, Shields says LINK

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1. Choose your battles2. Write breaking news in advance3. Selectively use NPR tools


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3. Selectively use NPR tools: API

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3. Selectively use NPR tools: API

What does your audience expect from you?

Does it have local relevance?

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3. Selectively use NPR tools: NPR apps

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http://apps.npr.org/early-voting-2012/#oh

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http://apps.npr.org/early-voting-2012/#oh

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Twitter.com/NPRApps

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1. Choose your battles2. Write breaking news in advance3. Selectively use NPR tools4. Link out to other local and national coverage


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Do what you do best

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Do what you do best

Link to the rest

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Link out

“It is not a sign of weakness to point to others' good work. It's a service,” Mark Memmott.

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Link out: Be consistent

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Link out: Keep it short

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1. Choose your battles2. Write breaking news in advance3. Selectively use NPR tools4. Link out to other local and national coverage5. Embed multimedia that is useful


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http://bit.ly/mapembed

5. Embed multimedia that is useful



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Embed useful media: Video

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Embed useful media: Social media

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1. Choose your battles2. Write breaking news in advance3. Selectively use NPR tools4. Link out to other local and national coverage5. Embed multimedia that is useful6. Create informal partnerships


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Informally share content plans

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Share a common hashtag

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1. Choose your battles2. Write breaking news in advance3. Selectively use NPR tools4. Link out to other local and national coverage5. Embed multimedia that is useful6. Create informal partnerships7. Use social media to find out what your audience wants to

know


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Use social media to find out what your audience wants to know

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Use social media to find out what your audience wants to know

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know8. Create and update guides to other good content


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http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2012/09/19/what-to-know-about-floridas-amendment-8/#more-13268

Create and update guides to other good content

Combine tactics:

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http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2012/09/19/what-to-know-about-floridas-amendment-8/#more-13268

Create and update guides to other good content

Combine tactics:

Pick issues and races that are of interest

Provide context Write in advance Link out Answer questions Dive into your

archives

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know8. Create and update guides to other good content9. Cover it live on election night


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9. Cover it live with blogs and social media

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1.Post live updates on election night

2.Host a live blog3.Live tweet from viewing parties,

newsroom, voting places

Do it live

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Do it live

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Do it live

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know8. Create and update guides to other good content9. Cover it live on election night10. Streamline coverage


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Streamline coverage

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1.Call it something recognizable

Streamline coverage: Keep it simple

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1.Call it something recognizable2.Make it easy to find


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1.Call it something recognizable2.Make it easy to find3.Keep it simple – do you really

need to spend a lot of time making a separate page?


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know8. Create and update guides to other good content9. Cover it live on election night10. Streamline coverage


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Questions?Up next:

• “Beyond November" - Behind-the-Scenes of a Public Media Collaboration in St. Louis: Oct. 4, 1 - 2 p.m. ET

• How to Live Blog the Election: Oct. 11, 1 - 2 p.m. ET• Cover the Election, Core Publisher Style: Oct. 18, 1 - 2 p.m. ET

a procrastinator's guide to digital election coverage

News & Politics