Co-workers and visitors to our newsroom forever strike up conversations with them. They get the best opportunities for photos and videos. They have some of the best memorabilia. They're not bogged down with meetings and news releases. They grab their gear and go.
It's bad enough sports is the cool department in the newsroom, it's better at producing hyperlocal content and using social media.
But don't tell them I said so.
They probably have the best rapport with the public. They're constantly asked to cover sporting events, issues and personalities. On the news side, we're forever asked to promote, promote, promote, rewriting news releases and being treated like glorified -- and free -- PR agents.
The Sudbury Star, for example, live blogs Ontario Hockey League games, and the Winnipeg Free Press is doing the same with Blue Bomber games. On the news side, some online newspapers have live blogged elections or web streamed debates. Montrealers live blogged the shootings at Dawson College. The London Free Press in Ontario is covering play-by-play on a criminal trial using micro-blogs.
Sports is truly local since scores, information, photos and video of some games might not be found anywhere else, especially in smaller markets. And it generates a lot of comments from armchair coaches.
News can learn a lot from sports; planning our days better and devoting staff to generate interesting local content that will bring a lot of web hits. Let's give a foam finger to promotional news releases and use our news staff to cover truly local events, issues and people who deserve the attention. Time for us to be cool, too.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Hyperspace meets hyperjournalism
My family used to go five-pin bowling when I was a kid. I would sneak off to a video game room and pay reams of quarters for the privilege of getting nowhere near the high score in Asteroids.
There was something trance-like about the two-note music for a 2-D screen, and the triangle of pain that aimed its lined shots at asteroids that looked like they were drawn with an Etch A Sketch. Buckner & Garcia — who brought us the horrible 80s song Pac Man Fever — wrote a song Hyperspace using Asteroids sound effects. Not exactly a chart topper.
Some online newspapers offer computer games on their websites, and I’m hooked. As I continue looking at online newspapers in Ontario, I see the St. Catharines Standard offers 25 games. There are word games for people who like to stretch their minds, and brainless shoot-em-ups for the rest of us.
The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal lets readers play online crossword, while other sites, including the Brampton Guardian, are serving up Manhattan clam chowder and other recipes.
It’s inexpensive to license small flash games, and these extra bonuses are a fun way to keep readers on a news site or coming back for more. Purists would roll their eyes at the thought, but I say let’s have some fun on the job.
Hypersodoku anyone?
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
There was something trance-like about the two-note music for a 2-D screen, and the triangle of pain that aimed its lined shots at asteroids that looked like they were drawn with an Etch A Sketch. Buckner & Garcia — who brought us the horrible 80s song Pac Man Fever — wrote a song Hyperspace using Asteroids sound effects. Not exactly a chart topper.
Some online newspapers offer computer games on their websites, and I’m hooked. As I continue looking at online newspapers in Ontario, I see the St. Catharines Standard offers 25 games. There are word games for people who like to stretch their minds, and brainless shoot-em-ups for the rest of us.
The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal lets readers play online crossword, while other sites, including the Brampton Guardian, are serving up Manhattan clam chowder and other recipes.
It’s inexpensive to license small flash games, and these extra bonuses are a fun way to keep readers on a news site or coming back for more. Purists would roll their eyes at the thought, but I say let’s have some fun on the job.
Hypersodoku anyone?
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Does whatever a spider can
That is a bad headline. It doesn’t tell you what the blog is about, and apparently being vague and mysterious turns people off. Looking back, it appears each of my blog entries is a lesson about what NOT to do. My work headlines, I’m pleased to say, are much better.
Even web headlines have to be “hyperlocal” with key words to catch local interest and engine spiders — Aha! — used by aggregators like Google and Yahoo to turn up the most relevant results to an online search. I’m a name dropper when it comes to web headlines. I hope that’s working.
It’s a good lesson in search engine optimization. The best article won’t earn that almighty click if it’s linked to a shabby headline. And keep it short. Only 65 characters, for example, show up in a Google search engine result page.
A quick scan of daily online newspapers in larger markets shows headlines are short, sweet and to the point.
Canucks hit the ice for training camp this weekend - Vancouver Sun
New year, new hope for Leafs - Toronto Sun, showing its sense of humour Ba dum pum.
Albertans must like alliteration:
Calgary Sun — Vipers slugger playoff proven; Sergent pumped for pitch at title (Say those three times fast)
Edmonton Sun - Protest boils over Bosco Homes closure; Crash cop dodges another bullet
The threat of an election call brings out the most blunt headlines. Wish politicians were as straightforward:
Government could fall Friday - Toronto Star (‘nuff said)
The return of credit, the return of risk as economy begins to mend - Globe and Mail (That’s actually 66 characters, but leaves no doubt what the article is about.)
Print handcuffed us into trying to summarize an article in just a few words. I for one am grateful to make use of more space online and give readers what they bargained for. But not in my blogs. I’m afraid those headlines will continue to be vague and mysterious.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Even web headlines have to be “hyperlocal” with key words to catch local interest and engine spiders — Aha! — used by aggregators like Google and Yahoo to turn up the most relevant results to an online search. I’m a name dropper when it comes to web headlines. I hope that’s working.
It’s a good lesson in search engine optimization. The best article won’t earn that almighty click if it’s linked to a shabby headline. And keep it short. Only 65 characters, for example, show up in a Google search engine result page.
A quick scan of daily online newspapers in larger markets shows headlines are short, sweet and to the point.
Canucks hit the ice for training camp this weekend - Vancouver Sun
New year, new hope for Leafs - Toronto Sun, showing its sense of humour Ba dum pum.
Albertans must like alliteration:
Calgary Sun — Vipers slugger playoff proven; Sergent pumped for pitch at title (Say those three times fast)
Edmonton Sun - Protest boils over Bosco Homes closure; Crash cop dodges another bullet
The threat of an election call brings out the most blunt headlines. Wish politicians were as straightforward:
Government could fall Friday - Toronto Star (‘nuff said)
The return of credit, the return of risk as economy begins to mend - Globe and Mail (That’s actually 66 characters, but leaves no doubt what the article is about.)
Print handcuffed us into trying to summarize an article in just a few words. I for one am grateful to make use of more space online and give readers what they bargained for. But not in my blogs. I’m afraid those headlines will continue to be vague and mysterious.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Friday, September 11, 2009
Citizen journalists and 9/11
One horrible day showed citizen journalists at their best.
It also brought out their worst.
Passengers on the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 used cellphones to call loved ones and were aware three other aircraft had also been hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. Flight 93 passengers gained control of the plane. It crashed in a field in Pennsylvania and missed its mark, believed to be either the White House or the Capitol.
On the ground, Jules Naudet happened to be making a documentary on NYC firefighters when he filmed the first plane hitting the World Trade Center North tower. Whether they used cellphones or video cameras, regular people suddenly became citizen journalists, capturing a moment that was shared with the world.
The newsroom where I work showed its best that day, reaching local people with ties to New York or trying to get out of the besieged city, reporting on international flights diverted to Canada, business impact of closing the Canada-U.S. border, and the safety of local infrastructure; water, power and government buildings. “Hyperlocal” angles to an international event.
Regrettably, we weren’t online yet. That cost us a valuable experience with citizen journalists who wanted to share their images and opinions.
This week, some Twitter users have added a red band to their avatar as a gesture to victims. It’s unfortunate citizen journalists are also firing up old conspiracy theories, blaming the U.S. government at the time for plotting the attacks, and striking at the media for not lending credibility to those theories.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
It also brought out their worst.
Passengers on the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 used cellphones to call loved ones and were aware three other aircraft had also been hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. Flight 93 passengers gained control of the plane. It crashed in a field in Pennsylvania and missed its mark, believed to be either the White House or the Capitol.
On the ground, Jules Naudet happened to be making a documentary on NYC firefighters when he filmed the first plane hitting the World Trade Center North tower. Whether they used cellphones or video cameras, regular people suddenly became citizen journalists, capturing a moment that was shared with the world.
The newsroom where I work showed its best that day, reaching local people with ties to New York or trying to get out of the besieged city, reporting on international flights diverted to Canada, business impact of closing the Canada-U.S. border, and the safety of local infrastructure; water, power and government buildings. “Hyperlocal” angles to an international event.
Regrettably, we weren’t online yet. That cost us a valuable experience with citizen journalists who wanted to share their images and opinions.
This week, some Twitter users have added a red band to their avatar as a gesture to victims. It’s unfortunate citizen journalists are also firing up old conspiracy theories, blaming the U.S. government at the time for plotting the attacks, and striking at the media for not lending credibility to those theories.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Too cool for school, the trilogy
The sins of the father will be visited upon the son, so they can take one car to the unemployment line.
I’m giving failing grades to The Nexus (www.nexusnewspaper.com) student newspaper for Camosun College in Victoria, B.C., for using its website to encourage readers to pick up the print edition. Thanks Nexus, you just set us back 15 years.
The online product cannot be held back in favour of print. If you’re turning out a generation of journalists who don’t know that, we’re going to get further behind instead of embracing digital journalism.
The Other Press (www.theotherpress) for B.C.’s Douglas College students is among the Canadian University Press student papers, and I’m expelling it for using CUP copy to fill its website instead of gathering local content.
Student newspapers are a different animal. I appreciate their websites and social media accounts in some cases haven’t been updated since the spring. For the few that stripped the content off their sites and left empty templates during the summer, that’s your choice. I would create a template showing the best of the past year’s content and use the site to tout the program.
Let’s end this on a high note.
Best mottos:
“Hearsay and rumour since 1875” — The Argosy (www.argosy.ca) Mount Allison University student paper in New Brunswick.
“Pushing buttons since 1968” — The Capilano Courier (www.capcourier.com) student paper for Capilano College in Vancouver.
Class dismissed.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
I’m giving failing grades to The Nexus (www.nexusnewspaper.com) student newspaper for Camosun College in Victoria, B.C., for using its website to encourage readers to pick up the print edition. Thanks Nexus, you just set us back 15 years.
The online product cannot be held back in favour of print. If you’re turning out a generation of journalists who don’t know that, we’re going to get further behind instead of embracing digital journalism.
The Other Press (www.theotherpress) for B.C.’s Douglas College students is among the Canadian University Press student papers, and I’m expelling it for using CUP copy to fill its website instead of gathering local content.
Student newspapers are a different animal. I appreciate their websites and social media accounts in some cases haven’t been updated since the spring. For the few that stripped the content off their sites and left empty templates during the summer, that’s your choice. I would create a template showing the best of the past year’s content and use the site to tout the program.
Let’s end this on a high note.
Best mottos:
“Hearsay and rumour since 1875” — The Argosy (www.argosy.ca) Mount Allison University student paper in New Brunswick.
“Pushing buttons since 1968” — The Capilano Courier (www.capcourier.com) student paper for Capilano College in Vancouver.
Class dismissed.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Too cool for school, the sequel
Everybody likes a sleeper hit, the kid from nowhere who grasps the Academy Award or hits a homer to capture the pennant.
I’ve been looking at Canadian online student newspapers. The Sheaf (thesheaf.com) from the U of Saskatchewan excels at social media. The paper started in 1912. You’ve come a long way baby.
The Sheaf uses Twitter (TheSheaf1912) and Facebook to interact with students and alert them to social opportunities and local events. It’s making itself available on iPhone and iPod through apps found at the iTunes store.
Ryerson Free Press (www.ryersonfreepress.ca) is an online paper for Ryerson University students in Toronto. It offers a ticker tape of public comments to its Twitter site (RyeFreePress.)
The Brock Press (www.brockpress.com) for students at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., uses Facebook, and has accounts with Digg and Newsvine citizen journalism sites to share copy.
Also at the top of the class is The Lance (UWindsorLance) for students at U of Windsor in Ontario (www.pastthepages.ca) for keeping its Twitter account fresh during the summer when a lot of student newspapers let them dry up.
Tomorrow, a look at young upstarts who need a timeout.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
I’ve been looking at Canadian online student newspapers. The Sheaf (thesheaf.com) from the U of Saskatchewan excels at social media. The paper started in 1912. You’ve come a long way baby.
The Sheaf uses Twitter (TheSheaf1912) and Facebook to interact with students and alert them to social opportunities and local events. It’s making itself available on iPhone and iPod through apps found at the iTunes store.
Ryerson Free Press (www.ryersonfreepress.ca) is an online paper for Ryerson University students in Toronto. It offers a ticker tape of public comments to its Twitter site (RyeFreePress.)
The Brock Press (www.brockpress.com) for students at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., uses Facebook, and has accounts with Digg and Newsvine citizen journalism sites to share copy.
Also at the top of the class is The Lance (UWindsorLance) for students at U of Windsor in Ontario (www.pastthepages.ca) for keeping its Twitter account fresh during the summer when a lot of student newspapers let them dry up.
Tomorrow, a look at young upstarts who need a timeout.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Too cool for school, Part 1
It’s the start of a new school year, and as I look around the class I can spot promising students, hopeless cases and diamonds in the rough.
You, York University! Spit out your gum when you’re on video!
I’ve been looking at Canadian online student newspapers. I won’t mark too hard. I see many of you haven’t updated your site since the spring, but I understand you’ve been off for the summer.
I see potential with “hyperlocal” truly local news and sports content directed to your niche audience — the students.
Some of you want to wax eloquent about international issues. You should know that’s becoming a no-no for “local media” unless there’s a local angle, and the days of writing several thousand words on anything are pretty much over. But you’re young, and it’s healthy to explore. Just make sure your views and research are informed.
Umm, U of Alberta? If The Gateway wants to showcase one person’s views about the value of the Canadian Senate, you need to point out it’s an opinion piece and not offer it as a news article. You’ll have to stay after class.
I see many of you excel at letting students know about social events, but very few of you are using social networking sites. Carlton U, your piece on using apps to buy textbooks was unique, but how many readers actually saw it?
My next two blogs will highlight the best student newspapers online, and offer extra-credit assignments for those of you who are falling behind.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
You, York University! Spit out your gum when you’re on video!
I’ve been looking at Canadian online student newspapers. I won’t mark too hard. I see many of you haven’t updated your site since the spring, but I understand you’ve been off for the summer.
I see potential with “hyperlocal” truly local news and sports content directed to your niche audience — the students.
Some of you want to wax eloquent about international issues. You should know that’s becoming a no-no for “local media” unless there’s a local angle, and the days of writing several thousand words on anything are pretty much over. But you’re young, and it’s healthy to explore. Just make sure your views and research are informed.
Umm, U of Alberta? If The Gateway wants to showcase one person’s views about the value of the Canadian Senate, you need to point out it’s an opinion piece and not offer it as a news article. You’ll have to stay after class.
I see many of you excel at letting students know about social events, but very few of you are using social networking sites. Carlton U, your piece on using apps to buy textbooks was unique, but how many readers actually saw it?
My next two blogs will highlight the best student newspapers online, and offer extra-credit assignments for those of you who are falling behind.
The Hyper Journalist
-30-
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