Agenda

•  Print  research

•  Online  research

•  Data-­‐‑driven  digital  insights

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About  New  Media

2

LOCAL  NEWS

New  Media  is  one  of  the  largest  publishers  of  locally  based    print  and  online  media  in  the  U.S.  

Portfolio  Overview

Community  Publications

Yellow  Page  Directories

Related   Websites

429

356

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100%  of  our  daily  newspapers  have  been  published  for  More  Than  50  Years

Digital  Marketing  Services  Business

New  Media  Reach

Operate  in  356  Markets  Across  24  States

Reach  over  12  million  people  on  a  Weekly  Basis Serve  over  130k  Small  &  Medium  Businesses

Research

•  We’ve  invested  heavily  in  reader  research

•  Trying  to  understand  what  will  balance,  grow  audience

•  We  haven’t  asked  readers  what  makes  them  happy

•  Ensure  results  are  actionable

•  This  is  a  form  of  data  —  a  very  important  one

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Panel  and  Survey  Overview

•  5,900  member  consumer  panel,  across  seventeen  GateHouse  markets •  Panelists  recruited  via  newspaper  and  online  ads,  email  blasts,  Publisher/Editor  leHers

•  Survey  response  rate:  20-­‐‑50%,  always  1000+  respondents

•  To  date,  seven  print-­‐‑focused  content  surveys  fielded: •  Baseline  survey:  Studied  consumers’  aHitudes  and  interests  with  respect  to  local  news,  

with  specific  focus  on  GHS  print  and  digital  products

•  Content  interest  survey:  Gauged  panelist  interest  in  broad  categories  and  specific  topics  of  content

•  Two  prototype  surveys:  Tested  content/photo  mix  and  design  preferences

•  Three  topical  surveys:  Gauged  interest  in  category  subtopics  and  presentation  format

•  Things  to  Do •  National,  International  and  State  News •  Sports

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Key  Insights

•  GHS  papers  –  strong  brands,  but  vulnerable •  In  almost  all  markets  surveyed,  the  leading  source  for  local  news

•  Emotional  connections  to  papers  run  deep

•  Panelists  desire  paper  to  feel  more  substantive  –  highlighting  need  for  strong  enterprise  reporting

•  Trustworthy,  high  quality,  investigative,  complete,  in-­‐‑depth  and  smart  are  among  top  aHributes  aligned  with  positive  evaluations

•  ‘More  local  coverage  in  the  Main  section’  and  ‘More  depth  to  news  stories’  =  greater  value  

•  Preference  for  front  pages  with  more  text,  fewer  photos      

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Key  Insights

•  Five  areas  readers  consistently  say  are  most  important  to  them,  in  aggregate,  across  GHS  markets: 1.  Things  to  do

2.  Investigative  

3.  Crime

4.  Nation  and  world

5.  Politics  and  government

•  Content  interests  are  more  similar  than  different  across  markets •  Investigative,  Things  to  Do  rank  consistently  high

•  Personal  impact,  relevance  increase  interest

•  Variations  in  emphasis  exist  by  market

•  Story  interests  mostly  similar  among  men  and  women      

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Page  One  Design:    Two  rounds  of  prototype  testing  included  more  traditional  designs…

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And  less  traditional,  with  greater  emphasis  on  photography

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Clear  winner  identified

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Skybox  has  3  story  items,  with  varied  color  backgrounds    Preferred  56%  to  22%  over  Actual  P1 (asked  of  all  8  markets)

Briefs  in  rail  separated  as  “National  News”  and  “Local  News”    Preferred  61%  to  21%  over  Actual  P1 (asked  of  all  8  markets)

3-­‐‑day  forecast  top  right    Preferred  70%  to  12%  over  Actual  P1 (asked  in  Peoria,  Norwich,  Holland)

4  stories  vs.  3  on  the  front  page: •   “Gives  it  more  substance”          (54%  vs.  34%) •   “Looks  beHer”  (52%  vs.  33%) •   “Makes  it  easier  to  find  a  story            I’m  especially  interested  in”              (55%  vs.  27%) (asked  in  the  5  markets  where  the  actual  P1  paper  had  3  stories  rather  than  4)

Consistent  use  of  4  Column  photo Photo/edit  mix  ratings  significantly  higher  in  more  traditional  presentations  

Areas  of  focus  based  on  initial  Baseline,  Content  Interest  research

•  Enterprise  Content

•  Package  Labels

•  Brag  Boxes

•  Things  to  Do

•  Localize  Content

•  Design  Process

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Package  Labels

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Sunday, June 23, 2013 Our 182nd year, No. 226 News 24/7 at www.sj-r.com $3

MORE INSIDE

INDEXAdvice ..................................39Business .............................. 16Celebrations ........................33City & State ...........................9Classifi ed ............................. 47Heartland ............................. 37Obituaries ..................... 40, 54Opinion ............................14-15Our Towns ............................ 27Puzzles...........................42-43Sports .................................. 19Weather ...............................26

The oldest newspaper in Illinois Springfi eld, Illinois

THEY EARN HOW MUCH?

A STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER SPECIAL REPORT

THE STATE’S $100,000 CLUB

RETIREMENT SYSTEM CIO , SANGAMON COUNTY

$357,500Editor’s note: This is the fi rst of a two-part series by GateHouse Media’s Illinois newspapers looking at state government employees who earned $100,000 or more in 2012. Look forthe second part in Monday’s editions.

By Kevin HaasRockford Register Star

There’s an unoffi cial club in state government whose robust membership may surprise ma-ny taxpayers, especially given the ongoing challenges of grow-

ing debt, pension obligations and bud-get cuts.

The “club” has 6,215 members, about 8 percent of the state’s workforce, each of whom earned more than $100,000 last year.

Those employees earned about 17 per-cent of the total $4.5 billion payroll, ac-cording to an analysis of state records in 2012 provided by the state comptroller’s offi ce. The analysis did not include em-ployees of state universities.

More than $780.6 million was paid to those 6,215 state employees. The group includes doctors, judges, nurses, police offi cers, investment managers and the state’s chief executive, Gov. Pat Quinn, to name a few.

It’s a growing club, with 1,131 new members in 2012. Nearly 2,000 addi-tional state employees made $100,000 or more in 2012 than in 2010, when

More than 6,200 state employees earned $100,000 or morelast year. The state’s top earners accounted for more than 17 percent of Illinois’ total payroll. Who are they? And ...

InsideA low-paid CEO? Gov. Pat Quinn has the top job in state government, but hardly the top salary. Page P4

How we did it: A look at how the database of top salaries was compiled. Page P4

Search our online database of Illinoisemployees who earned $100,000 or more during 2012. http://bit.ly/100Kclub

PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST, WINNEBAGO COUNTY

$300,193

BRIDGE MECHANIC, WILL COUNTY

$217,841

SUPREME COURT JUDGE, ROCK ISLAND COUNTY

$210,128

SOCIAL WORKER, UNION COUNTY

$203,813

STATE POLICE LIEUTENANT, COOK COUNTY

$201,402

PATRICK QUINN, GOVERNOR, STATE OF ILLINOIS

$177,411**686 state workers earned more than Quinn in 2012.After Quinn, there are well over 5,300 earning $100K-plus.

SEE SALARIES, P4

SCHOENBURG: ROSENTHAL LEADS DOWNSTATE GOP CAUCUS P14

SO Extra looks at health, educationSEE INSIDE

Inside the strange science of siblingsPARADE MAGAZINE

By Molly BeckStaff Writermolly.beck@sj-r.com

It’s been rough for any-one working in an Illinoisschool district who has toput together a budget forthe upcoming school year.

Three-quarters of thestate’s 880 school districtsare spending more thanthey take in.

The job is made evenmore diffi cult in Sangam-

on County,where dis-tricts can’tfi ll the gapwith moreproperty taxmoney be-cause of a

cap that limits the annu-al growth of property taxrevenue to 5 percent or therate of infl ation, whicheveris lower.

After reducing fundingfor years, the Illinois legis-lature decided this springto at least halt its directionby not further proratinggeneral state aid from thecurrent level of 89 percentof what schools are sup-posed to get.

But that’s not exact-ly good news to areasuperintendents.

“They put it back to a lev-el that’s still choking dis-tricts like us,” said DarrenRoot, superintendent ofthe Auburn School District,which is heavily dependenton state funding because ofits comparatively low prop-erty tax base.

“The perception is thatit’s equal across-the-board,but it’s not,” he said of thedisparity in property taxrevenue available to schooldistricts.

‘Have to make do’Riverton faces a similar

hardship given its proper-ty tax base and will have 34fewer positions next schoolyear and $2 million less

EDUCATION FUNDING

School districts plan for another lean year

Darren Root

SEE DISTRICTS, P3

SPORTS

Chatham Glenwood High School catcher Brooke Riemenschnei-der is the CS8 Softball Player of the Year. P19

The Deadbeat Illinois series takes a look at how ATS Medical Services in Galesburg is one of ma-ny ambu-lance ser-vices that has suff ered during the state’s fi nancial crisis.

Reg Brown talks about the Edsel, a car his fa-ther helped design for Ford Motor Co., at www.sj-r.com.

COMING IN PRINT

ONLY ONLINE

Sunday, June 23, 2013 Our 182nd year, No. 226 News 24/7 at www.sj-r.com $3

MORE INSIDE

INDEXAdvice ..................................39Business .............................. 16Celebrations ........................33City & State ...........................9Classifi ed ............................. 47Heartland ............................. 37Obituaries ..................... 40, 54Opinion ............................14-15Our Towns ............................ 27Puzzles...........................42-43Sports .................................. 19Weather ...............................26

The oldest newspaper in Illinois Springfi eld, Illinois

THEY EARN HOW MUCH?

A STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER SPECIAL REPORT

THE STATE’S $100,000 CLUB

RETIREMENT SYSTEM CIO , SANGAMON COUNTY

$357,500Editor’s note: This is the fi rst of a two-part series by GateHouse Media’s Illinois newspapers looking at state government employees who earned $100,000 or more in 2012. Look forthe second part in Monday’s editions.

By Kevin HaasRockford Register Star

There’s an unoffi cial club in state government whose robust membership may surprise ma-ny taxpayers, especially given the ongoing challenges of grow-

ing debt, pension obligations and bud-get cuts.

The “club” has 6,215 members, about 8 percent of the state’s workforce, each of whom earned more than $100,000 last year.

Those employees earned about 17 per-cent of the total $4.5 billion payroll, ac-cording to an analysis of state records in 2012 provided by the state comptroller’s offi ce. The analysis did not include em-ployees of state universities.

More than $780.6 million was paid to those 6,215 state employees. The group includes doctors, judges, nurses, police offi cers, investment managers and the state’s chief executive, Gov. Pat Quinn, to name a few.

It’s a growing club, with 1,131 new members in 2012. Nearly 2,000 addi-tional state employees made $100,000 or more in 2012 than in 2010, when

More than 6,200 state employees earned $100,000 or morelast year. The state’s top earners accounted for more than 17 percent of Illinois’ total payroll. Who are they? And ...

InsideA low-paid CEO? Gov. Pat Quinn has the top job in state government, but hardly the top salary. Page P4

How we did it: A look at how the database of top salaries was compiled. Page P4

Search our online database of Illinoisemployees who earned $100,000 or more during 2012. http://bit.ly/100Kclub

PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST, WINNEBAGO COUNTY

$300,193

BRIDGE MECHANIC, WILL COUNTY

$217,841

SUPREME COURT JUDGE, ROCK ISLAND COUNTY

$210,128

SOCIAL WORKER, UNION COUNTY

$203,813

STATE POLICE LIEUTENANT, COOK COUNTY

$201,402

PATRICK QUINN, GOVERNOR, STATE OF ILLINOIS

$177,411**686 state workers earned more than Quinn in 2012.After Quinn, there are well over 5,300 earning $100K-plus.

SEE SALARIES, P4

SCHOENBURG: ROSENTHAL LEADS DOWNSTATE GOP CAUCUS P14

SO Extra looks at health, educationSEE INSIDE

Inside the strange science of siblingsPARADE MAGAZINE

By Molly BeckStaff Writermolly.beck@sj-r.com

It’s been rough for any-one working in an Illinoisschool district who has toput together a budget forthe upcoming school year.

Three-quarters of thestate’s 880 school districtsare spending more thanthey take in.

The job is made evenmore diffi cult in Sangam-

on County,where dis-tricts can’tfi ll the gapwith moreproperty taxmoney be-cause of a

cap that limits the annu-al growth of property taxrevenue to 5 percent or therate of infl ation, whicheveris lower.

After reducing fundingfor years, the Illinois legis-lature decided this springto at least halt its directionby not further proratinggeneral state aid from thecurrent level of 89 percentof what schools are sup-posed to get.

But that’s not exact-ly good news to areasuperintendents.

“They put it back to a lev-el that’s still choking dis-tricts like us,” said DarrenRoot, superintendent ofthe Auburn School District,which is heavily dependenton state funding because ofits comparatively low prop-erty tax base.

“The perception is thatit’s equal across-the-board,but it’s not,” he said of thedisparity in property taxrevenue available to schooldistricts.

‘Have to make do’Riverton faces a similar

hardship given its proper-ty tax base and will have 34fewer positions next schoolyear and $2 million less

EDUCATION FUNDING

School districts plan for another lean year

Darren Root

SEE DISTRICTS, P3

SPORTS

Chatham Glenwood High School catcher Brooke Riemenschnei-der is the CS8 Softball Player of the Year. P19

The Deadbeat Illinois series takes a look at how ATS Medical Services in Galesburg is one of ma-ny ambu-lance ser-vices that has suff ered during the state’s fi nancial crisis.

Reg Brown talks about the Edsel, a car his fa-ther helped design for Ford Motor Co., at www.sj-r.com.

COMING IN PRINT

ONLY ONLINE

Brag  Boxes

12

Local  Events  and  Things  to  Do

•  Top  interests: •  Exhibitions  (museums,  galleries,  

historical  sites)  –  both  local  and  regional

•  Day  trips  (within  a  few  hours)

•  Festivals,  both  local  and  regional

•  Restaurant-­‐‑related  information  (reviews,  news,  cheap  eats)

•  Action  Steps: •  Weekday,  weekend  Things  to  Do  on  

Calendar  page

•  Exhibitions  and  festivals:  

•  Narrative  advance  with  practical  info

•  Recap  with  picture  pages

•  Ongoing  features  on  regional  daytrips •  Restaurant  coverage  

•  Openings  and  closings •  Weekly  reviews  of  local  eateries   •  Best  restaurants  for…  feature    

13

National,  International  and  State  News  Coverage

•  What  are  readers  looking  for  when  it  comes  to  non-­‐‑local  coverage?    

•  Acknowledge  primary  role  is  local  coverage;  yet,  don’t  want  to  rely  on  TV/  the  Internet  for  national  and  world  news

•  While  64%  select  TV  or  the  internet  as  their  primary  source  for  National  and  International  News,  nearly  50%  include  their  local  paper  in  their  ‘Top  3’  sources

•  Expect  coverage  of  breaking  news,  with  state-­‐‑wide  or  national  impact  

•  Tend  to  prefer  short  summaries  and  visuals/graphics

•  Sensitive  to  the  limited  resources/  space  their  paper  has  for  this  coverage

•  Hierarchy  of  interest:  State,  National,  International  news  

14

National.  International  and  State  News  Coverage

•  Topics  generating  most  interest:  

•  Politics/Government:  State  legislative  actions/major  issues;  State  politics;  Government  spending;  Legislation  in  process  (national);  Issues  of  intense  national  debate;  and,  Federal  political  leaders  

•  Breaking  News:  Crime,  bombings,  verdicts;  Natural  disasters;  and,  Extreme  weather

•  Business:  General  economic  reports;  Transportation  industry  news;  and,  Regulatory  news

•  Science  and  Technology:  Medical  technology;  Environmental  tech;  Healthcare  tech  (m-­‐‑health,  impacts  of  tech  on  health)

•  Health:  Health  studies  (medical  breakthroughs);  Healthcare  legislation;  Nutrition;  and,  Health  coverage/insurance

15

National,  International  and  State  News  Coverage

•  Action  Steps: •  Front  page  rail

•  Wire  content  allocation

•  State/National  wire  story  on  A1

•  Open  Pages

•  State:  Every  day •  National/International:  If  space  

allows

16

7 charged in Chicago gang signs machete attack

CHICAGO — Seven people, including three 15-year-olds, are accused

in a machete attack that left a deep wound on a man’s head after he and his brother refused to flash gang signs at a Chicago train station, authori-ties said Wednes-day.

The attack occurred early Monday at the Kedzie Brown Line stop on the city’s northwest side. Cook County State’s Attorney’s office

spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said a 26-year-old man and his 17-year-old brother were sitting there when the seven suspects — four adults and three juveniles — surrounded them and told them to flash gang signs.

The man police say swung the machete, 18-year-old Mario Elvira, was ordered held in lieu of $450,000 bond at the hearing. A second suspect, 20-year-old Kevar Preston, was also held in lieu of $450,000 bond. Bond for Jean Salvatierra, 23, and Kevin Ramirez, 19, was set at $250,000 each.

Kidnapping suspect awaits separate trial

COLUMBIA — A south-western Illinois man accused of kidnapping a boy and keeping him in his basement has been await-ing trial on 2009 charges that he attacked a different boy in a store’s bathroom, court records show.

Prosecutors in Monroe County charged Robert Fricke, 45, with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint in connection with the case of a boy found Saturday in Fricke’s Colum-bia home. Authorities have declined to say how long that boy, identified only as being younger than 13, had been missing.

Lawyer pleads not guilty to coaching witness

CHICAGO — A high-profile defense attorney in Chicago pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges that he encour-aged a witness to lie on the stand in an ultimately failed bid to win an acquittal for his purported cocaine-dealer client.

At an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Beau Brindley, 36, pleaded not guilty to multiple perjury counts, a count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct. The obstruction of justice count alone car-ries a maximum 20-year prison term.

Brindley allegedly told the witness to lie about what she knew and to react surprised to questions that prosecutors would ask her at Alexander Vasquez Jr’s 2009 trial.

— The Associated Press

NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND ILLINOIS

STATE 1995 Chicago heat wave: The week of July 12, 1995, saw record-high temperatures (106 on July 13) and resulted in the deaths of more than 750 Chicagoans, many of them elderly poor whom had no air conditioning and were afraid to open doors or windows for fear of crime.

ILLINOIS HISTORY LESSON

IN BRIEF

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR RACE

By Tammy WebberThe Associated Press

CHICAGO — Supporters of high-volume oil and gas extraction said Wednesday that they’ll seek dozens of changes in proposed rules governing the practice in Illinois that they believe violate a hard-won compro-mise between industry and environmentalists.

A coalition of industry groups will outline more than 65 areas of concern to

a legislative panel that must decide whether the rules — written by the Department of Natural Resources to implement a new hydraulic fracturing law — can take effect as written, said Mark Denzler vice president of the Illinois Manufacturers Association.

The law, passed last year, was seen as a national model of compromise, but both advocates and opponents since have been critical of the rule-making process.

The DNR reworded some rules after receiving more than 30,000 comments on it original draft, and submit-ted the new version to the Joint Committee on Legisla-tive Rules on Aug. 29. JCAR has 45 days to approve the rules, reject them or ask for changes.

“We were very hopeful that the (DNR’s) rules would simply implement the law, not expand or contract a law that was very carefully negotiated over three years,”

Denzler said.Among the objections:

New language says the DNR can consider the cumulative health and environmental impact of multiple wells when evaluating a permit for a single well, which Denzler said was dismissed during negotiations over the law.

But taking into account compounded risk is reason-able, said Ann Alexander, senior attorney for the Nat-ural Resources Defense

Council, adding that the law allows the DNR to flesh out and clarify some parts of the statute, including how to determine if a permit protects public health and water resources.

Even so, environmen-tal groups also will seek changes, including to pro-visions that cap the total amount that companies can be fined. They also say the DNR failed to fully define when water has been polluted.

OIL DRILLING ‘FRACKING’

Industry to seek rule changes

New Jersey governor stumps for Rauner The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has pledged to come back to Illinois a “number of times” to help the cam-paign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.

Christie, chairman of the Republican Governors

Association, stopped in Springfield Wednesday for two private fundrais-ers and to join Rauner in meeting and greeting lunchtime diners at a local restaurant.

Christie told The Asso-ciated Press that the governor’s race is “the top challenger race for the RGA in the coun-try.” Quinn has similarly r e c e i v e d h e l p f r o m national Democrats and even the White House.

“We’re going to spend a

lot of time, a lot of energy, give a lot of money, to help Bruce,” Christie said.

Christie’s visit comes a day after Quinn and Rauner ratcheted up the governor’s campaign on a personal level, taking jabs at each’s character and honesty in a televised newspaper editorial board meeting.

The Chicago Democrat accused Rauner of brib-ing lawmakers, lying about state pension business, “profiteering” with his

venture capital business and not taking responsibil-ity for companies in which he had a stake. The Win-netka Republican claimed Quinn has misled taxpay-ers, harmed the state’s business climate and con-tinued the hiring practices of now imprisoned ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

On Wednesday, Christie said Rauner “speaks his mind” and “makes sure he’s holding Gov. Quinn to account.”

Jersey sure

“We’re going to spend a lot of time, a lot of energy, give a lot of money, to help Bruce.”

Chris Christie, New Jersey governor

Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate and businessman Bruce Rauner (right) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie campaign Wednesday at Brickhouse Grill & Pub in Springfield. SETH PERLMAN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD — It’s unclear if Illinois officials will release complete information about com-panies seeking to grow or sell medical marijuana in Illinois because the state law that legalized medi-cal marijuana exempts prospective companies’ applications from open records laws.

The application period opened Monday and will close Sept. 22. Melaney Arnold, a spokeswoman for Illinois’ medical mari-juana pilot project, said the state won’t release any information about the number of applicants until after the deadline.

“We’re still working through the mechanics of the selection process,” she said.

The lack of transpar-ency will make it difficult to determine whether state regulators will show favoritism for companies with strong political con-nections, former state Sen. Susan Garrett, who oversees the Chicago-based Campaign for Political Reform, told the Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers. Nobody should be denied this information, she said.

“There should be reason to prevent the public from having access to these applicants,” Garrett said.

Lobbyists and former government officials have already begun to team up to compete for the 22 growing center licenses or 60 dispensary licenses.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Officials keep pot under wraps

The Associated Press

CHICAGO — Illinois Sen. Jim Oberweis, a Republican challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in November, sat down with The Associated Press this week for a wide-ranging interview. Here are excerpts of what he said and his stands on the issues:

CANDIDACYOberweis, who has spent just two years in public office, says his biggest selling point is that he’s a

successful businessman who understands what’s needed to create jobs. “I’m not a politician,” he said. “Dick Durbin is a much better politician. I’ll never out-Dick Durbin Dick Durbin.”

GOP SUPPORTOberweis says he hasn’t received as much support from national party officials as he’d like because they haven’t seen the race as competitive. He said that could change if polls show the race tightening. “We’re having

conversations,” he said. “I’m confident that in the coming weeks we’re going to get a lot more support from them.”

IMMIGRATIONOberweis said he has soft-ened his stance on allowing immigrants who entered the country illegally as young children to stay in the U.S. He now believes kids shouldn’t be punished for their parents’ actions. He told AP he doesn’t sup-port all parts of a federal immigration bill that has stalled in the House

because it sends a mes-sage that breaking the law is OK. He said he’d first like to see more border security. He said President Barack Obama’s intention to act without congres-sional approval would be “disastrous.”

GLOBAL AFFAIRSOberweis agrees with GOP Sen. Mark Kirk’s suggestion that the U.S. “bomb the hell out of” the Islamic State group, despite its pledge to retaliate.“We cannot afford to bow to threats,” he said.

MEET THE CANDIDATE JIM OBERWEIS

Dairy magnate challenging Durbin for seat

Illinois State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove

Salvatierra

Elvira

Ramirez

Preston

Design

•    Center  for  News  &  Design  opened  in  May  in  Austin,  TX

•   Hub  for  quality  editing  and  design  services  for  150  newspapers

• Also  providing  niche,  community  publishing  and  custom  content

• Starting  to  provide  services  for  clients

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Recap  and  Next  Steps

•  Recap:  Research  recommendations  that  apply  to  all •  Page  One:

•  3  sky  boxes •  3-­‐‑day  weather •  4  stories,  including  1  State/National  story •  4  column  photos

•  Other: •  State  page,  daily •  Calendar,  daily •  5  Things  to  Do  this  Weekend  (Wednesday  or  Thursday)  and  This  Week  (Sunday)

•  Research:  Final  baseline  tracking  survey  October  2014  

•  Will  roll  out  across  entire  organization  later  this  year

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Online  Research

•  Several-­‐‑month  digital  engagement  for  our  weekly  newspapers  in  NE

•  Tried  to  establish  the  content  and  user  experience  our  readers  wanted

•  Tried  to  understand  top  content  topics

•  Mix  of  hyper  local,  regional  and  national  content

•  New  experiences  we  can  build:  Forums,  marketplace,  etc.

•  Make  it  actionable!

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Members  seek  variety  of  local  info:  News  stories  (i.e.,  local,  breaking,  crime/public  safety),  events  and  town  government  info  are  most  sought

30%

31%

41%

41%

43%

44%

46%

51%

51%

53%

60%

63%

63%

64%

65%

66%

68%

71%

76%

76%

79%

79%

94%

Car listings

Commuting/Transportation

Youth sports (Pre-high school)

Food, wine and cooking

Service/business reviews and ratings

Volunteer opportunities

Job listings

High school sports

Shopping/Local deals

Restaurant reviews

Opinions/Editorials

School/Education information

Arts & Entertainment

Photos of friends, family or people in town

Local business news

Obituaries

Family activities

Real estate news, features and listings

Town government information

Events calendar

Crime/public safety

Breaking news

Local news

Local community news and information topics sought for (n=80)

**

While  Wicked  Local  is  most  widely  used  source  for  community  info  and  news  within  Community  Connec7on,  most  members  rely  on  mul7ple  sources    

**

“To  be  honest,  I  haven’t  really  found  a  one  stop  shopping  site  that  has  everything  I’m  looking  for  in  a  local  community  news  source:  something  with  relevant  informa>on  on  my  community  (e.g.,  Patch.com  featured  news  last  year  leading  up  to  the  transi>on  to  an  automated  trash  collec>on  system),  important  announcements  (e.g.,  info  on  the  Watertown  overnight  parking  ban,  which  Patch.com  most  oDen  has  info  on),  event  lis>ngs  (nothing  I’ve  found  is  truly  comprehensive  so  I  have  to  scan  a  couple  of  different  sites),  real  estate,  etc.”  -­‐  Daniela  B.,  25-­‐44,  Watertown  

Because  no  single  local  source  has  been  able  to  meet  all  of  their  needs…  

Most frequently requested content topics!

Aside from local news and town government, these are some of the top things people are looking for from their local website!

Things to do/events/family activities!— Consistently a top request. Static calendar is not enough!

Local business!— Restaurants/food and dining!— Real estate!

School coverage!— Beyond school committee!

Police/fire/crime!— Top traffic section. Want additional content.!

!!!!

Online  Research

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Members seek a wide variety of local information: News stories (i.e., local, breaking, crime/public safety), events and town government info are most sought!

Local  community  news  and  informa>on  topics  sought  for  

Driving content forward!

5 things to do this weekend feature, great calendar management!

Restaurant reviews/profiles!

House of the Week !

Best of the police scanner!

Inside the classroom video!

Heavy does of proactive story telling!

!

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Online  Research

“Educa(on/Schools  seems  to  be  the  most  difficult  area  to  obtain  up  to  date  informa7on  on.  I  have  a  really  hard  (me  finding  out  informa(on  regarding  anything  going  on  at  my  children’s  schools.”    -­‐  Melissa  D.,  25-­‐44,  Plymouth  

Digital  Newsrooms

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Digital  content  challenges •  Digital  planning •  Print  mentality

•  Experimentation  with  tools

•  Actionable  data

 Digital  content  opportunities

•  Help  newsrooms  make  data  actionable  

•  Seek  data  solutions  for  newsrooms

•  Understand  digital  leadership  is  key  to  our  growth

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Digital  Newsrooms:  A  view  of  the  future

•  Daily  data  analysis  next  level  of  our  research

•  Newsroom  budgeting,  for  digital,  has  to  be  a  priority  going  forward

•  Measuring  content  has  to  evolve  past  looking  at  PVs

•  Find  data  solution  for  newsrooms

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