How local newspapers can thrive online
Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on July 30, 2007 at 3:52 PM
In the Online Journalism Review, Robin Miller gives a few tips as to how newspapers “can thrive on the World Wide Web.” This includes offering simple services such as calendars, producing engaging video, as well as extensive use of citizen stringers.
“In a world where citizen journalism is becoming ever more popular, newspapers can either fight the trend -- and lose -- or go along with it and adopt it,” says Miller.
At the same time, a newspaper “cannot rely on volunteers.” If papers don’t pay for their journalists, the latter would simply produce their own blogs or hyperlocal news sites.
Miller proposes that papers scout for successful local bloggers, who are dedicated to original reporting, and offer to pay for their work.
The difficulty is to then create ties between the paper’s regular journalists and the bloggers. In line with the Assignment Zero model, journalists could become team leaders and coaches for their team of citizen stringers.
“Reporter-led newsgathering teams will not only be able to be in more places, gathering more information, than any single reporter, but will have more and deeper ties to the community they cover than any individual reporter.”
On another note, “one of the most useful services a local information medium can provide is a comprehensive events calendar,” writes Miller. This isn’t anything ground-breaking, but he rightly argues that putting together such an online calendar is both simple and rewarding for a local newspaper.
Maintaining the online calendar hardly requires a skilled worker, and events calendars are often among the sought-for features of a local paper – thus can bring in ad revenue.
Miller also proposes that newspapers “beat local TV at its own game.” A paper can invest in a full video gear for less than $3000. With the hiring or the help of an experienced video director, as well as a few video stringers, a paper can build solid local video coverage at a fraction of TV costs. Granted the video journalists might have to gain some experience, but they can learn hands-on, Miller argues.
A few tips that can lead local newspapers a long way… if they do it right. According to Miller, the real question is whether “Web-hip publishers and editors will work for existing local newspapers or for new, Web-only publications that eventually replace newspapers.”
Newspapers already have the brand name and credibility. Up to them.
For the full article, click below.
Source: Online Journalism Review
At the same time, a newspaper “cannot rely on volunteers.” If papers don’t pay for their journalists, the latter would simply produce their own blogs or hyperlocal news sites.
Miller proposes that papers scout for successful local bloggers, who are dedicated to original reporting, and offer to pay for their work.
The difficulty is to then create ties between the paper’s regular journalists and the bloggers. In line with the Assignment Zero model, journalists could become team leaders and coaches for their team of citizen stringers.
“Reporter-led newsgathering teams will not only be able to be in more places, gathering more information, than any single reporter, but will have more and deeper ties to the community they cover than any individual reporter.”
On another note, “one of the most useful services a local information medium can provide is a comprehensive events calendar,” writes Miller. This isn’t anything ground-breaking, but he rightly argues that putting together such an online calendar is both simple and rewarding for a local newspaper.
Maintaining the online calendar hardly requires a skilled worker, and events calendars are often among the sought-for features of a local paper – thus can bring in ad revenue.
Miller also proposes that newspapers “beat local TV at its own game.” A paper can invest in a full video gear for less than $3000. With the hiring or the help of an experienced video director, as well as a few video stringers, a paper can build solid local video coverage at a fraction of TV costs. Granted the video journalists might have to gain some experience, but they can learn hands-on, Miller argues.
A few tips that can lead local newspapers a long way… if they do it right. According to Miller, the real question is whether “Web-hip publishers and editors will work for existing local newspapers or for new, Web-only publications that eventually replace newspapers.”
Newspapers already have the brand name and credibility. Up to them.
For the full article, click below.
Source: Online Journalism Review
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