Download - Managing an Online Newsroom
MANAGING an ONLINE
NEWSROOMLogan Aimone, MJE // School Newspapers Online
Tuesday, March 18, 14
MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
You’ve decided to adopt an online first attitude.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Now what?
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Here’s what:• Commit.
• Build the audience.
• Develop a structure for writing, editing and teaching.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
In the same way you must adapt the tools to work on the Web, you must adapt the classroom.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Students will be in different points of the
production schedule daily.And that’s OK.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
What do teachers and students need to do
to accommodate Web publishing?
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5 things to think about and address:• Day-to-day activities
• Leadership structures
• Coverage decisions
• Grading
• Fun
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DAY-TO-DAYACTIVITIES
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Day-to-day Activities• The daily activities of an online-first news staff look a lot like
the daily activities of a print-only class.
• However, each student could be at a different place in the publishing process.
• You can bring order to the chaos.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Day-to-day Activities• Brainstorm and plan stories. Have a quick session daily.
What’s happening? What do readers need to know?
• Teach lessons. Large-group, mini-lessons, ad hoc.
• Focus on the day’s priority. If it’s the print edition, spend time on design, editing.
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Day-to-day Activities• Communicate beyond classroom. Develop a method to
facilitate organization and communication.
• One-on-one checkins. These add accountability and opportunity to redirect student efforts.
• Outside class. Coverage might require evenings, weekends and layout work nights (for print).
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LEADERSHIPSTRUCTURES
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Leadership Structures• Accommodate the online-first philosophy by revising student
leadership positions and descriptions.
• Empower students to make decisions responsibly.
• Plan for when big news happens.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Leadership Roles• Online Editor-in-Chief option. A student with a title and
responsibilities equal to the print editor.
• Expanded roles option. Assignment role for managing editor and additional coordinating for photographers/photo editors must be expanded.
• Social media coordinator. This person supervises adoption, policies, training and voice via social media channels.
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COVERAGEDECISIONS
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Coverage Decisions• Determine the best platform. Some stories are told better in
print, while others are told better online (or will appear first online).
• Post when it’s ready. Don’t just dump content on the website every three or four weeks.
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Coverage DecisionsUse a planning process:
• Which stories will appear in print? Online? Both?
• How can online and print combine to create multimedia coverage?
• How can you tell advance and follow-up stories using both platforms? Live coverage?
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Coverage DecisionsDiscuss the Web-specific elements:
• What components does a Web story need to be effective at telling the story:
• photos• video• audio• poll
• hyperlinks• infographic• pull quote (mug optional)• related stories
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage DecisionsEstablish timelines and deadlines:
• Set up an editing process that allows for students to finish and publish work at different times, not just the general deadline for a print issue.
• What deadlines make sense?
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage DecisionsDetermine the editing flow:
• You need a tool that allows you to collaborate in real time.
• This speeds up the editing process.
• Google Drive (Apps/Docs) is great for this.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage DecisionsDetermine the publishing flow:
• Users can have different roles with levels of permission and responsibility.
• Have reporters place story in draft mode, including contextual links and pull quote suggestions.
• Once a story is edited, it can be approved and published.
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GRADING
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Grading• You will likely need to shift your paradigm for grading.
• You might need to try a few different formats until you find what works for you and your school.
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
Grading• Assignments will have many forms. How do you
accommodate this in grading?
• Your school may have requirements. Work within them.
• Set up a checklist of requirements to earn grades.
• Determine competency levels and grade based on level.
• Establish production quota for quarter/semester.
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Grading• What happens when students slack off, flake out or just don’t
produce?
• There are tools to help. CSPA, NSPA, JEA, state associations, your colleagues.
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FUN
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Fun• The production cycle doesn’t have the same ebb and flow as
each printed paper, so you will need to build in time to celebrate, evaluate, bond and grow.
• Incorporate Web milestones (analytics, hits, likes, retweets) into the celebration list.
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Managing online firsttakes some work
and an open mind.
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The great journalismyou produce willlook different.
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You’re using today’s technology and laying a
foundation for the future.
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You’ll teach your students (or your peers) to adapt
to changing circumstances.
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Take the leap!
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Ready to jump in?
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MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM
QUESTIONS? Let’s hear ’em.• Contact me at [email protected] or @loganaimone
• School Newspapers Online
• See me at the table in the exhibitor area?Tuesday, March 18, 14