COMMUNITY BLOGGING INNER CIRCLE 2012 GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION

Today’s agenda Overview of community blog strategy Quick review of Inner Circle 2012 community blog expectations Quick review of community blog recommendations Tips and best practices: Allison Cooper Tips and best practices: Mindy Carl Tips and best practices: Jeanette Kendall Tips and best practices: Wendy Ledbetter Top 10 GateHouse blogs for 2011 Managing the expectations Resources

Inner Circle Inner Circle in 2012 Constant updates Photo galleries Video Community blogging Social media Reader involvement Platform-appropriate publishing Community Partner or Public Service Journalism

Inner Circle Why change for 2012? Project Apple - Grow digital audience and revenue - Stabilize print Serve mobile audience. Continue to tell stories in multiple platforms. Reach audience wherever they are.

Community blogging expectations Goal: Develop a group of community bloggers who are experts in specific fields in an effort to build a robust network of community voices online. Expectations 1-2 staff members: 2 community bloggers 3-5 staff: 2 community bloggers 6-19 staff: 3 community bloggers 19+: 6 community bloggers Every blog should be updated at least twice every seven days.

Community blogging strategy Why community blogging? Position your news organization at the hub of community conversation online. Offer additional resources for your readers. Possibility for reverse publishing.

Community blogging recommendations How do we recruit bloggers? Use your website (carousel), Facebook, Twitter, newspaper to find existing or new bloggers (we have copy and an image for you to use). Search on Google, WordPress and Blogspot for existing bloggers in your area. Approach prospective bloggers in your community who you think would add a valuable perspective.

Community blogging recommendations Ideas for community bloggers Community leaders or organization PR people: Hospital, chamber, park district, religious leaders, arts council, veterans organizations, ag extension office, local clubs. Family therapists or parents. Pet owners, humane society director. People with specialized knowledge: master gardener, chef, established foodies, history buff. Local athletes, such as tennis pro, golf pro, etc. High school organizations: Band, newspaper, etc.

Community blogging recommendations Ideas for community bloggers A blog with more than one participant can work well The blog needs to be updated twice a week, no matter how many bloggers it has Use smart, local syndication

Community blogging recommendations How do I choose good bloggers? Choose topics that will resonate with your town. If you choose an existing blogger, you’ll have a good sense of content. Ask for samples of blog posts for new bloggers. Avoid business promotions. Avoid caustic, negative bloggers. Make sure people know they must publish at least twice a week. Seek people you’ve worked with before (regular submitters, columnists, etc.)

Community blogging recommendations Resources Tip sheet for bloggers Non-paid freelance contract Promotional material for recruiting bloggers Instructions for newsrooms on setting up blogs Instructions for bloggers on how to post a Zope blog Instructions on stats for blogs

Community blogging recommendations W hat do I do when I recruit a blogger? For an established blogger, submit a ticket, and we’ll help set up feed. For a new blogger, we’ll create a blog section in Zope.

Managing the blog expectations 5 tips to managing your community bloggers Ask for samples Look for trusted partners Offer feedback Share analytics Have more than the minimum.

Tips and best practices Alison Cooper, Managing Editor, Messenger Post How many community bloggers do you currently have? How did you recruit them? What was your most successful recruiting method? Which ones, if any, didn’t work? What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Tips and best practices Mindy Carls, Editor, Orion Gazette, Cambridge Chronicle How many community bloggers do you currently have? How did you recruit them? What was your most successful recruiting method? Which ones, if any, didn’t work? What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Tips and best practices Jeanette Kendall, Executive Editor, Times Newspapers How many community bloggers do you currently have? How did you recruit them? What was your most successful recruiting method? Which ones, if any, didn’t work? What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Tips and best practices Wendy Ledbetter, Editor, Daily Siftings Herald How many community bloggers do you currently have? How did you recruit them? What was your most successful recruiting method? Which ones, if any, didn’t work? What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Top 10 GateHouse blogs for Off the Clock – SJ-R.com (group arts and entertainment blog) 2.Blogness on the Edge of Town – WickedLocal.com (All about The Boss) 3.Illini Talk – SJ-R.com (sports blog) 4.Fresh Brownies- CantonRep.com (sports blog focused on Cleveland Browns) 5.Newton TAB blog – WickedLocal.com (newsroom blog) 6.Somerville Blog – Wickedlocal.com (newsroom blog) 7.The Front Page Blog – PatriotLedger.com (newsroom blog) 8.Mass Market – PatriotLedger.com (business news blog) 9.The Wicked Local Blog – WickedLocal.com (humorous take on local news) 10.The Beer Nut - MetroWestDailyNews.com (all about beer)

Contact us Let us know if you have any questions Jean Hodges, Sarah Corbitt, Resources Inner Circle 2012 handbook on Ghnewsroom.com GateHouse News Service

COMMUNITY BLOGGING INNER CIRCLE 2012 GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION