“We are all publishers now” 10 Challenges and 10 Rewards of moving your high school paper online Melissa Wantz/June 2012

“We Don’t Use Paper for This” Launching The Foothill Dragon Press (October 2009) (video)

CHALLENGES TO PUBLISHING ONLINE? What are the

1. Jack of all trades Master of none? – Writing – Photos – Video – Audio – Content management system – Design – Social networking – Interactive elements – Technology! – Security Will sound reporting principles take a back seat ? How can you teach all this in one period? >

2. The ground constantly shifts Online resources are developing daily Keeping up is difficult Is it possible to feel like you know what you are doing? >

3. Audience expectations are high As mainstream media and social networking sites add more digital goodies at ever cheaper cost and higher speed… the pressure is on to do the same. >

4. Online = Always on There is no reason not to publish news as or shortly after it happens. This is difficult when you have a staff less than 5 hours a week. When your students – Have responsibilities interestselectivesfinals LIVES>

5. Online requires more monitoring Inappropriate comments Inappropriate articles The publication is like a baby, rarely sleeping always crying out for attention. >

6. Online is more fragile The freedom, fluidity and flexibility of online also creates a vulnerability that must be protected from student error and from outsiders Your entire site can disappear in an instant. – I know this for a fact – It’s happened several times >

7. Online scares some people Some administrators worry about… “things getting out of control” and “teenagers running amok” >

8. Online is forever Digital footprints do not easily go away. Responsibility is really on staff to use good judgment in deciding what to publish. >

9. The competition is vast At school, teachers won’t give up time for kids to read our online publication the way they might for a print newspaper. At home, there are a million other online places for readers to go. Everyone is a “journalist” now which means our competition is “everyone.” >

10. The technology can be inconsistent... Just like a student, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This is frustrating.

BENEFITS OF PUBLISHING ONLINE Top 10

1. Student voices go farther. In the past 10 months: Dragon Press visited 51,600 times (175% increase) 115 countries (170% increase) 229,00 page views (115% increase)

Student voices go farther.

1. Student voices go farther.

Student voices travel farther.

2. Student work travels faster.

3. Student opportunities are greater.

4. Feedback is more authentic.

5. Costs are less. After accounting for one-time expenses – equipment – software Online is cheaper than print. Hosting fee: $25 a month Domain fee: $12 per year …versus ?? annually for printing

6. Online is interactive.

7. Online has more room. Space is unlimited More students can publish more (frequently & in depth) This year: – 50 videos – articles – 600 tweets – 2000 photos & illustrations

8. Makes history more accessible.

Last year:This year:

9. Creates a searchable database.

10. Builds positive digital identities

All new staff created an online resume as their final project for second semester. Used free website:

Review of Benefits 1.Reaches farther 2.Travels faster 3.Provides unexpected opportunities 4.Allows authentic, immediate feedback 5.Costs less 6.Is interactive 7.Has unlimited space 8.Is searchable 9.Offers accessible archives 10.Builds positive digital identities

Parting thoughts “I don’t think these are dark days. I think this is just what disruptive change feels like. The barrier has never been lower. You are all journalism entrepreneurs, innovators.” —Bill Gannon, Director of Online Operations, Lucasfilm LTD

Last word How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable? Seth Godin, sethgodin.typepad.com

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