Results matching “webinars print”

Thank you for your continued participation to the Editors Weblog Webinars. To take advantage of the special price of €39 for the Interactive Visual Journalism webinar, please click on the PayPal button below. You will save €20! If you have any questions, please contact John Burke, World Editors Forum Deputy Director, at jburke@wan.asso.fr or +33 1 47 42 85 41.

Interactive Visual Journalism: How to enhance stories with print and online, interactive graphics
With Alberto Cairo, Professor of Visual Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tuesday 20 October 2009 at 16h30 GMT (London time)
1. how superb informative visuals help readers go deeper
2. increasing website traffic with engaging graphics
3. redefining workflow to include visual journalists
4. how to use online graphics in print
Buy the Interactive Visual Journalism webinar for only €39!

As online news becomes more and more prevalent, with an unimaginable amount of information available at users' fingertips and Internet now ranked as US consumers' top way to access their news, how can media organisations make sure that readers find their articles?  Part of the answer is search engine optimisation, which is becoming an essential part of the daily life of a newsroom. For the printed product, newspapers must try to sell the paper as a whole; online, articles can attract traffic individually as readers come across them while searching for specific topics. It is therefore important that each story, rather than simply the site as a whole, is 'optimised' to appear higher in search results. Aside from highly technical aspects like HTML meta tagging, URL structure or site navigation, what can a newspaper do to optimise its content for search engines?

How to introduce SEO to the newsroom

One major potential stumbling block is that journalists might view SEO as a way to manipulate their stories and take away their true value. So the way it is presented to staff is extremely important. And indeed, it is crucial that newspapers do not get carried away with prioritising SEO above all else. Even Google advises creating content "primarily for your users, not search engines:" it is important to make your site easily accessible to search engines but still remain focused on your visitors' needs.

Clearly, it is important for all reporters to be aware of the ways that they can make each individual article more search-friendly. After all, journalists have always wanted their stories to be as widely read as possible, in print as well as online, and are likely to be willing to help make that happen. And often, the principles of SEO echo the principles of writing a good story: such as the idea that the first sentence should be a summary of the rest of the article, containing relevant concepts or keywords. One difference is that less generic, more specific works for SEO in terms of names or concepts. Google recommends shorter rather than longer titles.

Esa Peltonen, who has been working as a web analyst at the largest Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat for three years, said that he has worked extensively with editorial staff, for example on how to use Google, to get an idea of how users will be searching and what kind of search words people are using. Head of audience development at the Telegraph, Julian Sambles, said in March that the paper was trying to give journalists "the knowledge and understanding that they need so they can apply it to their daily production process and make informed decisions about content when they're writing or publishing it." Thinking about SEO should be second nature, he added.

Papers must also consider their goals in optimising content for search engines. As Drew Broomhall, head of search at the Times explained, if you rank success by sheer volume of traffic, then you should "write the same as everyone else but more of it and more frequently updated." However, if you are looking to increase engagement on a specific subject you need more detailed keyword analysis and niche research.

One straightforward course is the need to stay ahead of the trends: predict what people are going to be talking about in upcoming months and provide appropriate content. "Fix SEO requirements into the editorial calendar," Broomhall suggests. Obviously much news is unpredictable, but there are some events that are year-in-year-out, or which are easy to prepare for in advance, such as an election or a festival. It is necessary to consider both specific, distinct events, such as religious holidays, and longer, less defined periods such as winter travel. Articles that contain links and that have been linked to by others appear higher in search results. Therefore, with annual events, it is beneficial to link to last year's coverage and make use of old content that already has inbound links to help promote the new content.

Hiring a SEO specialist?

As well as training all reporters to be aware of the principles of search engine optimisation, many newspapers have taken the step of hiring an in-house specialist. Ideally such a person would have deep technical knowledge combined with considerable journalistic experience, but such candidates might be hard to find. Peltonen comes from a business background, Broomhall from journalism and technology.

There are also many third party services available to news outlets, supplementary to the guidance of an in-house expert, such as Thomson Reuters' OpenCalais which recently announced deals made with the Huffington Post, DailyMe and the Mail Online. OpenCalais offers an 'Archive Express' feature which can tag an archive of up to 20 million documents in 24 hours. The service 'reads' and breaks down articles into their essential elements - who, what, when, where, how - and tags and sorts them so that it is easier to bring archived articles into 'related stories' sections and improve their search relevance.

Analysing traffic

A SEO specialist would be responsible for analysing traffic to a news outlet's site, looking at how readers find content, readership patterns and what methods of optimisation work best. Peltonen explained how he started off looking at basic data such as what are the top news stories, how many people are going where on the site, and started to work out how to increase traffic. His paper partnered with Microsoft to further analyse traffic data. Such traffic data analysis can be used to spot and develop potential niche verticals to focus on, for example, by looking at repeat visitor figures.  

Google keywords

Purchasing Google keywords to guarantee that news articles appear higher on search results is one of the more costly ways for news outlets to promote their content. Peltonen said that his paper frequently buys specific words, for instance for sports events, but stressed that it would be cheaper to improve the paper's SEO. Buying keywords could also raise ethical issues, depending on the words and their context. The Sun, for example, reportedly purchased the key words 'Natasha Richardson' immediately after the British actress's sudden death in March, in what appears to be a blatant attempt to profit from the tragedy. The Guardian came under considerable criticism last August when, apparently accidentally, it purchased the Google keywords "Madeleine McCann," giving any searchers the link to its coverage of the child's disappearance. The Guardian promptly relinquished the rights, and said it would review its list of keywords. Purchasing Google keywords in order to promote a product is common practice, but is it ethical for newspapers?

Evidently, SEO strategies are necessary in today's media landscape, not only to make more money but also to spread awareness of stories and help readers find what they are looking for and therefore should be embraced by journalists and editors as well as publishers. Search engine 'friendliness' should not be prioritised over good, accurate stories but it should be used to promote such content. Journalistic training is vital in order to optimise each individual article, and larger strategic steps should be taken by editors in conjunction with SEO specialists.

On Tuesday 23 June at 14.00 London time, Drew Broomhall, Head of Search at the Times of London will be speaking at a WEF webinar on "How to teach your journalists to write for the web." More details here.

Instructions on Webinar usage                     Webinars Archives                     Back to Main Menu



Welcome to the archives of Editors Weblog Webinars. The webinars provide you with pertinent information and innovative ideas that can be immediately adapted in your newsroom.

When purchasing Editors Weblog Webinars, you receive:
1. the recording of the live webinar
2. the transcript of the live webinar
3. the powerpoint presentation
4. the presenters' contact information

You may purchase individual webinars by clicking on the "Buy Now" icon. If you would like to purchase more than one webinar, please contact Antoine Laurent, Editors Webinars Manager: Click Here, for discount pricing.


Limitations imposed on media coverage of sports events - How to understand accreditation contracts with FIFA, and how to protect news-gathering on the ground at sport events (click to learn more).
Webinar held on Tuesday 16 March at 14h00 GMT (London Time)

Speakers:
- Juan Ignacio Gallardo, Deputy Director, Marca; the sport daily Marca, one of the founder members of the IASN, has a readership of over 2,300,000, the highest in Spain for a daily newspaper and more than half of sports readership.

- Andrew Moger, Executive Director, News Media Coalition; the News Media Coalition (NMC), with headquarters in London and Brussels, seeks to preserve the function and ability of news organisations to inform public society about major events of interest.
1.    How to understand your accreditation contract, understand FIFA terms
2.    How to take the right steps to protect news-gathering at events
3.    What can you do about negotiating terms
Buy the Limitations imposed on media coverage of sports events Webinar for only €59!

 

Multimedia solutions for editors to cover the World Cup - How to create great multimedia and interactive content to engage your readers and boost your audience during the FIFA World Cup (tm)
Webinar held onThursday 4 March at 14h00 GMT
Speaker: Diego Antonelli, Director, Gazzetta.it , Gazzetta dello Sport.
1.    How to define your strategy for your coverage of the World Cup
2.    How to manage your editorial team
3.    How to create exclusive and engaging multimedia content
Buy the Multimedia solutions for editors to cover the World Cup Webinar for only €59!

Search engine optimization for newsrooms: How to teach your journalists to write for the web
With Times of London Head of Search, Drew Broomhall
Webinar held on 23 June 2009
1. how SEO works
2. how to teach SEO to journalists and editors
3. how to make sure SEO is being implemented and tracking effectiveness
Buy the SEO for Newsrooms Webinar for only €59!

Twitter for journalists: How the real-time Web can improve your newspaper's journalism
With CEO of Visual Editors and international newspaper consultant, Robb Montgomery, US
Webinar held on 30 June 2009
1. how to use Twitter to find stories
2. how to use Twitter to virally spread stories
3. how to encourage journalists to use Twitter
4. what are some of the best newspaper strategies for using Twitter
Buy the Twitter for Journalists Webinar now for only €59!
 

Local databases: How to dig deep into the most important community stories
With Tom Callinan and Brian Butts, Cincinnati Enquirer/ Gannett, USA
Webinar held 7 July 2009
1. how to create a community database for your newsroom and audience
2. how to find stories and information with community databases
3. how to improve interaction with your audience
Buy the Local Databases Webinar now for only €59!

Going Web-Only: JOHN YEMMA, Editor-in-Chief, Christian Science Monitor
Webinar held on March 24, 2009
On 1 April, 2009, the Christian Science Monitor was the first major US newspaper to switch its daily production to an all-online format accompanied by a weekly print magazine. Listen to John as he talks about:
1. managing the newsroom through its transition
2. the strenghts and weaknesses of online-only
3. CSM's new "three-pronged" workflow
For more information about the Christian Science Monitor's radical overhaul, click on the links below:
Why the move away from print?
Preparing the newsroom for a paperless future
New weekly edition

Buy John Yemma's Webinar now for only €59!

The World Editors Forum held its first webinar on Wednesday with Christian Science Monitor Editor John Yemma. The CSM is due to publish its last daily print edition today, Friday 27 March, and switch to a predominantly online publication, with a weekly print product. The issue is a particularly pertinent one at the moment, following the Seattle P-I's move to web-only last week and Ann Arbor News's switch this week.  

Yemma stressed that the CSM's decision was a true plan, rather than just a crisis response: the idea was discussed for two years and the decision taken months ahead of time, in October, so the paper has had time to thoroughly develop its strategy, and to consult its readers. Yemma was clear that the changes are all aimed at allowing journalists to concentrate as much as possible on original content production, which he maintains is the most crucial aspect for success.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors embraces the technological age by holding a "virtual convention" in place of its cancelled annual convention that was scheduled for April in Chicago. So far ten Webinars have been scheduled to address media issues, such as shifting to the web or cutting back on print editions and staff, in order to help newsroom leaders deal with challenges ahead.

This February ASNE announced the cancellation of April's convention due to the stress of structural changes in their newsrooms, deep recession, and expectation of low attendance. This is only the second time since ASNE was founded in 1922 that the organization has not held a convention; it was also cancelled in 1945 during the last critical days of World War II.

On Tuesday 24 March the World Editors Forum will be holding a webinar with guest John Yemma, Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Science Monitor which is due to switch its daily production to an online-only format on April, accompanied by a weekly print magazine. Given the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's recent move to drop its print edition and keep its website, this issue is extremely topical.

Webinar participants will be able to speak with John Yemma about issues such as managing the newsroom through the transition, finding a new business model for news, the innovative "three-pronged" workflow model and crucial implementation of Content Management Systems.

The session will take place at 14h00 GMT on Tuesday; to register, please click here: www.editorsweblog.org/webinars.html

For more information  about the Christian Science Monitor's radical change, please see:
Why the move away from print?
Preparing the newsroom for a paperless future
New weekly edition