reporters can be bloggers, too gatehouse news & interactive division
TRANSCRIPT
REPORTERSCAN BE
BLOGGERS, TOO
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION
The agenda
Why blog?Zope blog platformBlogging stateof mindIdeas for blogsEditing processWhat is a blog post?How toExamplesInteractionPromotionReverse publishing
Chris BiondiManager ofnewsroomdevelopmentGateHouse News& Interactive
Chris BiondiManager ofnewsroomdevelopmentGateHouse News& Interactive
Jean HodgesManagerof content development GateHouse News& Interactive
Jean HodgesManagerof content development GateHouse News& Interactive
Why blog?
Social, more personal interactionLinking and importance for SEOMaking better use of informationyou are already collectingA home for short pieces, observationsShare content from other news and socialmedia sources - news with local hookReader interaction and calloutsPage views: What can you expect?Chance to write with flair and have some fun
Why blog?
Why blog?
SOURCE: SEOmozSOURCE: SEOmoz
75 experts rank 100 search ranking factors75 experts rank 100 search ranking factors
Zope blogging platform
Announced last weekRolling out in nextcouple weeksAll within same CMSCan relate contentFeature in carouselExpectationsand process
Zope blogging platform
Expectations and processWeb updatesPhoto galleriesSubmit a ticket to launch discussion
Blogging state of mind
Ideally, daily posts - at least 3x a weekObservations that may be unrelated to storySidebar or breakout material - reverse publishConversation and interaction with readers
USA Today: On Deadline blogUSA Today: On Deadline blog
Blogging state of mind
Google alerts for your town name, namesof local leaders, members of CongressThink sports reporter’s notebookTidbits that don’t have a natural home in printReverse publishing potentialColor, details, emotion, insight …
Ideas for blogs
Editor, or shared newsroom, blog
State Journal-RegisterState Journal-Register
Ideas for blogs
Editor, or shared newsroom, blog
Wicked Local SomervilleWicked Local Somerville
Ideas for blogs
Editor, or shared newsroom, blog
Wicked Local CambridgeWicked Local Cambridge
Ideas for blogs
Beat blog
Patriot Ledger, Jon Chesto, business editorPatriot Ledger, Jon Chesto, business editor
Ideas for blogs
Beat blog
Daily Telegram (lenconnect.com)Daily Telegram (lenconnect.com)
Ideas for blogs
Special interest blog
How Does Your Garden Grow? MetroWest Daily News,Rob HaneisenHow Does Your Garden Grow? MetroWest Daily News,Rob Haneisen
Ideas for blogs
Special interest blog
The Beer Nut, MetroWest Daily News, Norman MillerThe Beer Nut, MetroWest Daily News, Norman Miller
Ideas for blogs
Timely blogs
Daily Telegram (lenconnect.com)Daily Telegram (lenconnect.com)
Ideas for blogs
Timely blogs
Holland Sentinel - West Michigan Elections 2010Holland Sentinel - West Michigan Elections 2010
Ideas for blogs
Timely blogs
Rockford, Jay TaftRockford, Jay Taft
Ideas for blogs
Timely blogs
Wicked Local PoliticsWicked Local Politics
Ideas for blogs
So you want to launch a blog?Galleries and updatesPick a sustainable topicLocal news - a newsroom blogLocal sports blog, high school football blogSet a schedule
Rockford, Sadye Scott-HainchekRockford, Sadye Scott-Hainchek
What makes a good blog post?
What to do to get goingSet a schedule for consistencyThe week ahead - what to watch forThis week’s best quotesThis week’s number to know3 Things I’ll Remember - council, game, event
What makes a good blog post?
Headlines should be specific, use links: SEOMost posts should be shortUse interesting devices: 5 Things, 10 new names, 3 top stories from the past week …Conversational writing style - not formal as print‘Insider’ information - how did you report?Photos, videos
Mashable.comMashable.com
Editing process
Should all posts be edited?Local decisionSet some guidelines [cops and courts,ask an editor]Observations, analysis vs. opinionsTry to remove hurdlesGo with ‘trusted’ reportersInteracting with commenters
How to blog
Practical examplesGovernment meetingCourt hearings and trialsBreaking newsInterview/featureTown celebrationsBusiness opening
How to blog
Government meetingLink to day’s story with an observation - a surprise, this was expected, something relevant from notebook that did not make it in storyA vignette - notebook-like observationThree Things to KnowNumber to knowLive blog a big meeting
How to blog
Court hearings and trialsObservations - inside-the-courtroom feel, asidesLink to your coverage on main site,tell readers what to expect nextAsk readers for information - sourcesAsk them their opinion on the case to this pointHistory and other cases
How to blog
Breaking newsReader calloutsSourcesLinks to coverage as it developsVignettes at a fire or accident sceneYour experiences and observations
How to blog
Interview/featureA photo and link to story3 Things to Know about this person - and tell readers to look out for the story or link to itSomething that surprised youor piqued your interestAsk readers whom they would liketo see featured next?Ask them if they know the subjector anything to addHow did you pick your subject, findout about your subject
How to blog
Town celebrationsHighlights from youtube videosPolls - ask about eventsReader memoriesReader photosVignettes
How to blog
Business opening/closingHistory of site - have an old photo? Ask.A quote or two that did not make it into your storyBy the numbers, reverse publish into breakoutRetail tipsAsk readers what businessesthey remember in town
Examples
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
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Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Examples
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Interaction
Reader calloutsSourcesJoin in commenting stringsLinks on FacebookAsk readers what they wantto know about a storyRelate polls
Promotion
NavigationRelated contentFacebook linksHouse adsPromote oneanother’s blogs
Reverse publishing
‘Best of’ each week into a columnUse blog content for breakouts or sidebarsGather best comments or strings ofcomments for Opinion page
Wrap-up
Upcoming webinar (go to ghnewsroom.com)
Managing templates, style sheets and librariesWhen: Thursday, August 26, 2 p.m. Central [3 p.m. Eastern]Content: Styles that should be part of every sheet, organization and
best practices to improve design and layout efficiencyPresenter: GateHouse design director Joe Greco
http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/photoblog/
[email protected]@gatehousemedia.com
REPORTERSCAN BE
BLOGGERS, TOO
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION