Labour Day. It’s a national holiday in Canada. You can tell by the lack of fresh content on some mainstream newspaper websites.
Even journalists need a break, but the trick is planning so we’re not suddenly looking at an empty website and wondering how to fill it. The knee jerk reaction is to reach for wire copy. I say there’s a better way.
I started this blog a week ago. I’ve posted daily, even on a Sunday, yet I haven’t been writing every day. How is that possible! (You can’t see sarcasm in print.) I planned ahead. Blogs were written in advance. If something timely comes up, I’ll slip that in. I’m flexible.
Last week, I created a three-part blog that I’ll start posting tomorrow about the best and worst of Canadian online student newspapers.
I’ve read that blogs usually die after six months, so I have a long way to go to beat those odds. I love what I do and I plan ahead, and that seems to be absent in too many Canadian online newspapers.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Memories, all alone in the moonlight . . .
The key times for web traffic to online newspapers is morning when people are getting to work, and lunch time when they’re on a break.
The daily paper where I work is one in a sea of media outlets stuck in the past by filling our website with yesterday’s local news and predominantly wire copy.
I always found the deadlines for print media were more friendly than my broadcast brethren, and I admit I loved the luxury. But those days are over, and print has to deliver the news faster than ever before. Our readers demand it. We must deliver.
It’s been my experience that it’s difficult to work in a top-heavy, editor- run newsroom that does not free up staff to be innovative and efficient. Journalists know what stories, photos and videos can be produced and posted quickly and which ones need more time. Let us participate in the decision.
I’ve offered to take photos on my day off if I’m attending a local event that isn’t being assigned, and I’ve been turned down. Is it overtime? A photo only takes a few moments. You can’t spare the equipment? I checked with the other reporters, and our bases are covered. Is it the 45 minutes or so to produce a video? Let me come to work a bit later, let me leave a bit earlier. Is there no interest in publishing the photo in the print product? Who said anything about the print product?
Digital journalism is not just a side show, it’s the main event. It takes planning to make best use of limited resources (the workers) and consistently deliver fresh news and information in time for peak web traffic.
The Internet offers a lot of detours for readers who feel roadblocked by sluggish local media. We’ll have no one to blame but ourselves if we don’t clear the road and end the gridlock.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
The daily paper where I work is one in a sea of media outlets stuck in the past by filling our website with yesterday’s local news and predominantly wire copy.
I always found the deadlines for print media were more friendly than my broadcast brethren, and I admit I loved the luxury. But those days are over, and print has to deliver the news faster than ever before. Our readers demand it. We must deliver.
It’s been my experience that it’s difficult to work in a top-heavy, editor- run newsroom that does not free up staff to be innovative and efficient. Journalists know what stories, photos and videos can be produced and posted quickly and which ones need more time. Let us participate in the decision.
I’ve offered to take photos on my day off if I’m attending a local event that isn’t being assigned, and I’ve been turned down. Is it overtime? A photo only takes a few moments. You can’t spare the equipment? I checked with the other reporters, and our bases are covered. Is it the 45 minutes or so to produce a video? Let me come to work a bit later, let me leave a bit earlier. Is there no interest in publishing the photo in the print product? Who said anything about the print product?
Digital journalism is not just a side show, it’s the main event. It takes planning to make best use of limited resources (the workers) and consistently deliver fresh news and information in time for peak web traffic.
The Internet offers a lot of detours for readers who feel roadblocked by sluggish local media. We’ll have no one to blame but ourselves if we don’t clear the road and end the gridlock.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Saturday, September 5, 2009
I’ll show you mine if you show me yours
Some newspapers use social media sites to distribute headlines. Might as well use a Blackberry to just order pizza. Both are a tremendous underuse of technology.
I’m trying to find Canadian print journalists using Twitter, starting with WeFollow.com, and it’s no easy task. No surprise, I’m finding a lot of technology reporters.
The website for The Huntsville Forester in Ontario, for example, is asking the public for favourite rumours leading up to the G8 Summit in that town next year. Fun idea and great opportunity for social networking, but that media outlet doesn’t appear to be signed up to any networking sites.
The Hamilton Spectator, a much larger urban newspaper in Ontario, not only uses Twitter and Facebook, it created “Jamilton” as a sort of MySpace.com for bands to submit their bios, music and videos.
What a great idea!
People steal each other’s ideas off the Internet all the time. Maybe newspapers should give it a try.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
I’m trying to find Canadian print journalists using Twitter, starting with WeFollow.com, and it’s no easy task. No surprise, I’m finding a lot of technology reporters.
The website for The Huntsville Forester in Ontario, for example, is asking the public for favourite rumours leading up to the G8 Summit in that town next year. Fun idea and great opportunity for social networking, but that media outlet doesn’t appear to be signed up to any networking sites.
The Hamilton Spectator, a much larger urban newspaper in Ontario, not only uses Twitter and Facebook, it created “Jamilton” as a sort of MySpace.com for bands to submit their bios, music and videos.
What a great idea!
People steal each other’s ideas off the Internet all the time. Maybe newspapers should give it a try.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Friday, September 4, 2009
If you bill it, they will come
I know you’re out there. I can hear you tweeting.
As I begin to peek at newspapers with online sites, it’s clear the idea of social networking is not catching on. Some offer RSS feeds to deliver online content, but only a few appear to use social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. And if they do, it’s to distribute headlines.
Better than nothing, but a wasted opportunity.
It seems odd to me that newspapers spend money on cameras to shoot video, but they’re not making use of free social networking sites to interact with readers. And if their journalists have Twitter and Facebook accounts related to the job, their employers are quiet about letting the public know. You kind of have to stumble upon them by accident.
Some of the ones I’ve found have been excellent, telling readers what they’re working on, sharing anecdotes about the job, retweeting interesting links, answering questions and sparking debate.
I know there’s more out there, I just haven’t found them yet.
Some newspapers use their websites to offer a PDF of their print product. That’s not the aim of digital journalism which is to provide timely news and information to the public and engage them in a discussion.
I found one weekly newspaper, part of a national chain, that has gone nearly four weeks without updating its website.
Grab gun.
Aim at foot.
Shoot.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
As I begin to peek at newspapers with online sites, it’s clear the idea of social networking is not catching on. Some offer RSS feeds to deliver online content, but only a few appear to use social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. And if they do, it’s to distribute headlines.
Better than nothing, but a wasted opportunity.
It seems odd to me that newspapers spend money on cameras to shoot video, but they’re not making use of free social networking sites to interact with readers. And if their journalists have Twitter and Facebook accounts related to the job, their employers are quiet about letting the public know. You kind of have to stumble upon them by accident.
Some of the ones I’ve found have been excellent, telling readers what they’re working on, sharing anecdotes about the job, retweeting interesting links, answering questions and sparking debate.
I know there’s more out there, I just haven’t found them yet.
Some newspapers use their websites to offer a PDF of their print product. That’s not the aim of digital journalism which is to provide timely news and information to the public and engage them in a discussion.
I found one weekly newspaper, part of a national chain, that has gone nearly four weeks without updating its website.
Grab gun.
Aim at foot.
Shoot.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Dem dry bones
Paleontologists must feel a surge of energy when their work rewards them with a discovery of dinosaur bones.
As I began sifting through newspapers with online sites, I got the feeling I was looking at fossils, but I wasn’t excited about the find.
The Canadian Newspaper Association has the most members in Ontario, so that’s where I decided to start.
Some smaller media outlets do a decent job to offer “hyperlocal” truly local news to their online readers. Some post daily, but it’s clear many only post the day their print edition comes out, and that is not the intention of digital journalism. That means they go days or weeks without updating their website, and that makes for a stale product.
Much of the content is from promotional news releases anyway, so why not post those as they come? Why not let readers know where the media has been, what it’s doing?
Holding back the online product to not compete with the print edition is the type of thinking that needs to go the way of the dinosaur.
The Hyper Journalist
-30 -
As I began sifting through newspapers with online sites, I got the feeling I was looking at fossils, but I wasn’t excited about the find.
The Canadian Newspaper Association has the most members in Ontario, so that’s where I decided to start.
Some smaller media outlets do a decent job to offer “hyperlocal” truly local news to their online readers. Some post daily, but it’s clear many only post the day their print edition comes out, and that is not the intention of digital journalism. That means they go days or weeks without updating their website, and that makes for a stale product.
Much of the content is from promotional news releases anyway, so why not post those as they come? Why not let readers know where the media has been, what it’s doing?
Holding back the online product to not compete with the print edition is the type of thinking that needs to go the way of the dinosaur.
The Hyper Journalist
-30 -
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
R U on FB? ;)
I did three things before I started this blog on Monday.
I created an e-mail account (hyperjournalist@gmail.com), then I went to blogger.com and created this blog, then I went to Twitter and created a tweet (hyperjournalist).
I didn’t even think twice about it. Create a blog, and then tell people that I’ve created a blog.
I’ve also started a Facebook group.
I wasn’t thinking this way a few years ago. Print journalists didn’t market their work or play such an active role to engage the public.
Social networking is the lifeblood of digital journalism. Talk directly to your audience. Ask questions. Ask for opinions. Accept criticism. Learn to take a compliment.
We’ve always asked for news tips. The difference is now we mean it.
I don’t consider myself a leader in digital journalism and haven’t been doing it nearly as long as others in my field, but it works.
It’s like IKEA furniture. It can be a little frustrating in the beginning, but you eventually figure it out and can end up with something pretty cool.
I feel more tied in with the public. I retweet their events and exchange ideas with them in 140 characters or less. I empathize with their troubles. I celebrate their success.
Some of this — not much — has made it onto my newsroom’s online or print products.
We still demand that people send formal news releases.
“You will jump through our hoops, and you will like it.”
Well, our hoops don’t seem to have a lot of jumpers.
In my experience, people want to work with their local media, but they have options now. If local media tunes out, they’ll turn to something else.
News judgment is still king. Some issues deserve to be scrutinized by a journalist, but many others can be summarized in a few sentences or a photo.
Twitter, blog, phone, e-mail. Who cares how people get in touch with our newsrooms? Digital journalism is the future. People want a reliable and reputable source for impartial local news and information, and that’s something we have over amateur websites and bloggers with a bias.
Our dance card isn’t exactly full these days. Let’s boogie! I, for one, want to be the life of the party.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
I created an e-mail account (hyperjournalist@gmail.com), then I went to blogger.com and created this blog, then I went to Twitter and created a tweet (hyperjournalist).
I didn’t even think twice about it. Create a blog, and then tell people that I’ve created a blog.
I’ve also started a Facebook group.
I wasn’t thinking this way a few years ago. Print journalists didn’t market their work or play such an active role to engage the public.
Social networking is the lifeblood of digital journalism. Talk directly to your audience. Ask questions. Ask for opinions. Accept criticism. Learn to take a compliment.
We’ve always asked for news tips. The difference is now we mean it.
I don’t consider myself a leader in digital journalism and haven’t been doing it nearly as long as others in my field, but it works.
It’s like IKEA furniture. It can be a little frustrating in the beginning, but you eventually figure it out and can end up with something pretty cool.
I feel more tied in with the public. I retweet their events and exchange ideas with them in 140 characters or less. I empathize with their troubles. I celebrate their success.
Some of this — not much — has made it onto my newsroom’s online or print products.
We still demand that people send formal news releases.
“You will jump through our hoops, and you will like it.”
Well, our hoops don’t seem to have a lot of jumpers.
In my experience, people want to work with their local media, but they have options now. If local media tunes out, they’ll turn to something else.
News judgment is still king. Some issues deserve to be scrutinized by a journalist, but many others can be summarized in a few sentences or a photo.
Twitter, blog, phone, e-mail. Who cares how people get in touch with our newsrooms? Digital journalism is the future. People want a reliable and reputable source for impartial local news and information, and that’s something we have over amateur websites and bloggers with a bias.
Our dance card isn’t exactly full these days. Let’s boogie! I, for one, want to be the life of the party.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
In a galaxy far, far away . . .
The irony of “hyperlocal” news coverage is how valuable it can be for people who don’t live anywhere near it.
(I learned this the hard way. Humble pie, anyone? There’s plenty to go around in this industry.)
I’m a full-time reporter/photographer/videographer/copy editor/page designer at a daily newspaper — a link in a corporately owned Canada-wide chain. We’re trying to call ourselves “media outlets” to give the impression we’re fresh and exciting compared to our pulp and paper past.
Here’s the rub: We fill our website with articles, photos and videos from other “media outlets” in the chain. What little online local content we offer gets lost in the shuffle. I call that “hypo” journalism.
Recently, we posted a truly local story late in the day, and I rolled my eyes at the subject matter. A reunion? Not exactly Woodward and Bernstein.
http://tinyurl.com/4oyxln
While my nose was in the air, I failed to see this was a milestone local event. People who lived far away relied on our website for photos and information. I know this because they posted online comments.
I have to guess their families clicked on us, too, along with local residents, and people who did attend and wanted to see how the media covered it. This piece brought thousands of hits to our website that day.
I’m a big believer in regularly updating media websites with “hyperlocal” truly local news, and I never underestimate the importance of serving an online audience.
But I learned a valuable lesson that day. Local news doesn’t just serve a local audience. People with ties to our city rely on us to keep in touch and stay informed. Their web hits are just as valuable for digital journalism to thrive.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
(I learned this the hard way. Humble pie, anyone? There’s plenty to go around in this industry.)
I’m a full-time reporter/photographer/videographer/copy editor/page designer at a daily newspaper — a link in a corporately owned Canada-wide chain. We’re trying to call ourselves “media outlets” to give the impression we’re fresh and exciting compared to our pulp and paper past.
Here’s the rub: We fill our website with articles, photos and videos from other “media outlets” in the chain. What little online local content we offer gets lost in the shuffle. I call that “hypo” journalism.
Recently, we posted a truly local story late in the day, and I rolled my eyes at the subject matter. A reunion? Not exactly Woodward and Bernstein.
http://tinyurl.com/4oyxln
While my nose was in the air, I failed to see this was a milestone local event. People who lived far away relied on our website for photos and information. I know this because they posted online comments.
I have to guess their families clicked on us, too, along with local residents, and people who did attend and wanted to see how the media covered it. This piece brought thousands of hits to our website that day.
I’m a big believer in regularly updating media websites with “hyperlocal” truly local news, and I never underestimate the importance of serving an online audience.
But I learned a valuable lesson that day. Local news doesn’t just serve a local audience. People with ties to our city rely on us to keep in touch and stay informed. Their web hits are just as valuable for digital journalism to thrive.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
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