REPORTERS CAN BE BLOGGERS, TOO GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION

The agenda Why blog? Zope blog platform Blogging state of mind Ideas for blogs Editing process What is a blog post? How to Examples Interaction Promotion Reverse publishing Chris Biondi Manager of newsroom development GateHouse News & Interactive Jean Hodges Manager of content development GateHouse News & Interactive

Why blog? Social, more personal interaction Linking and importance for SEO Making better use of information you are already collecting A home for short pieces, observations Share content from other news and social media sources - news with local hook Reader interaction and callouts Page views: What can you expect? Chance to write with flair and have some fun

Why blog?

SOURCE: SEOmoz 75 experts rank 100 search ranking factors

Zope blogging platform Announced last week Rolling out in next couple weeks All within same CMS Can relate content Feature in carousel Expectations and process

Zope blogging platform Expectations and process Web updates Photo galleries Submit a ticket to launch discussion

Blogging state of mind Ideally, daily posts - at least 3x a week Observations that may be unrelated to story Sidebar or breakout material - reverse publish Conversation and interaction with readers USA Today: On Deadline blog

Blogging state of mind Google alerts for your town name, names of local leaders, members of Congress Think sports reporter’s notebook Tidbits that don’t have a natural home in print Reverse publishing potential Color, details, emotion, insight …

Ideas for blogs Editor, or shared newsroom, blog State Journal-Register

Ideas for blogs Editor, or shared newsroom, blog Wicked Local Somerville

Ideas for blogs Editor, or shared newsroom, blog Wicked Local Cambridge

Ideas for blogs Beat blog Patriot Ledger, Jon Chesto, business editor

Ideas for blogs Beat blog Daily Telegram (lenconnect.com)

Ideas for blogs Special interest blog How Does Your Garden Grow? MetroWest Daily News, Rob Haneisen

Ideas for blogs Special interest blog The Beer Nut, MetroWest Daily News, Norman Miller

Ideas for blogs Timely blogs Daily Telegram (lenconnect.com)

Ideas for blogs Timely blogs Holland Sentinel - West Michigan Elections 2010

Ideas for blogs Timely blogs Rockford, Jay Taft

Ideas for blogs Timely blogs Wicked Local Politics

Ideas for blogs So you want to launch a blog? Galleries and updates Pick a sustainable topic Local news - a newsroom blog Local sports blog, high school football blog Set a schedule Rockford, Sadye Scott-Hainchek

What makes a good blog post? What to do to get going Set a schedule for consistency The week ahead - what to watch for This week’s best quotes This week’s number to know 3 Things I’ll Remember - council, game, event

What makes a good blog post? Headlines should be specific, use links: SEO Most posts should be short Use interesting devices: 5 Things, 10 new names, 3 top stories from the past week … Conversational writing style - not formal as print ‘Insider’ information - how did you report? Photos, videos Mashable.com

Editing process Should all posts be edited? Local decision Set some guidelines [cops and courts, ask an editor] Observations, analysis vs. opinions Try to remove hurdles Go with ‘trusted’ reporters Interacting with commenters

How to blog Practical examples Government meeting Court hearings and trials Breaking news Interview/feature Town celebrations Business opening

How to blog Government meeting Link to day’s story with an observation - a surprise, this was expected, something relevant from notebook that did not make it in story A vignette - notebook-like observation Three Things to Know Number to know Live blog a big meeting

How to blog Court hearings and trials Observations - inside-the-courtroom feel, asides Link to your coverage on main site, tell readers what to expect next Ask readers for information - sources Ask them their opinion on the case to this point History and other cases

How to blog Breaking news Reader callouts Sources Links to coverage as it develops Vignettes at a fire or accident scene Your experiences and observations

How to blog Interview/feature A photo and link to story 3 Things to Know about this person - and tell readers to look out for the story or link to it Something that surprised you or piqued your interest Ask readers whom they would like to see featured next? Ask them if they know the subject or anything to add How did you pick your subject, find out about your subject

How to blog Town celebrations Highlights from youtube videos Polls - ask about events Reader memories Reader photos Vignettes

How to blog Business opening/closing History of site - have an old photo? Ask. A quote or two that did not make it into your story By the numbers, reverse publish into breakout Retail tips Ask readers what businesses they remember in town

Examples

Interaction Reader callouts Sources Join in commenting strings Links on Facebook Ask readers what they want to know about a story Relate polls

Promotion Navigation Related content Facebook links House ads Promote one another’s blogs

Reverse publishing ‘Best of’ each week into a column Use blog content for breakouts or sidebars Gather best comments or strings of comments for Opinion page

Wrap-up Upcoming webinar (go to ghnewsroom.com) Managing templates, style sheets and libraries When: Thursday, August 26, 2 p.m. Central [3 p.m. Eastern] Content: Styles that should be part of every sheet, organization and best practices to improve design and layout efficiency Presenter: GateHouse design director Joe Greco

REPORTERS CAN BE BLOGGERS, TOO GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION