The document discusses strategies for seen-on-scene photo galleries that show people at local events. It recommends publishing one seen-on-scene gallery per week to drive traffic to news sites. Examples of successful seen-on-scene galleries generate tens of thousands of pageviews. The document provides guidance on best practices for shooting, editing, and publishing these galleries and gives 36 event ideas for potential coverage.

1. INNER CIRCLE 2013:
SEEN-ON-SCENE
PHOTO GALLERIES
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION
Call in: (877) 411-9748 Access code: 630 956 8834

2. Today’s agenda
• Overview of seen-on-scene galleries strategy
• Who is doing this well?
• Examples of recent seen-on-scene galleries
• 36 ideas for seen-on-scene galleries
• Recap
• Q&A

3. Overview
What are seen-on-scene galleries?
• Seen-on-scene galleries are photos of people at
local events, shot close up, with faces clearly
visible.
What are the Inner Circle expectations for seen-
on-scene galleries?
• 1 each week

4. Overview
Why are seen-on-scene galleries part of Inner
Circle 2013?
• All of our Inner Circle 2013 strategies are part of a
project over the summer that involved editors
from across GateHouse, from our smallest to our
largest papers, serving communities of all sizes.
• This group saw seen-on-scene galleries as driving
significant page views, unique visitors and time on
site in 2013.

5. Overview
”These galleries have been a HUGE success in driving
traffic to our site. For example, in November one
iSpy gallery at an annual father-daughter dance
got nearly 40,000 pageviews. Another one from a
performance got nearly 30,000.”
-- Kris Worrell, Editor, The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY

6. Overview
This doesn’t seem like journalism to me.
• Not everything we produce is hard news. This is
simply another way to cover events in your
community, with this advantage: Seen-on-scene
galleries will draw viewers to your site, where they
can find all your other great content.

7. Overview
”Readers may come for the iSpy but they stay for the
news. Without fail, when we have a hugely popular iSpy
gallery, we see pageviews go up across ALL our content.
Total pageviews and uniques go up, numbers on individual
stories go up -- everything goes up.
“Even if you don't think these galleries are high level
journalism, do them anyway. They will deliver the eyeballs
you want to all your quality journalism.”
-- Kris Worrell, Editor, The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY

8. Overview
Should we differentiate between a regular news
photo gallery and a seen-on-scene gallery?
Yes. News galleries are spontaneously generated,
mostly candid shots, and cutline information is
specific in identifying the subjects and giving the
reader information regarding the event. Seen-on-
scene galleries are posed shots, and cutlines are
very broad, generally just event-identifying
information.

9. Overview
Whose responsibility is it to shoot these
galleries?
It is ultimately the editor’s call, but everyone in the
newsroom should be trained and capable of
shooting this type of gallery: photographers,
reporters, editors.
What type of events work best?
Any event where there is a high concentration of
people. Examples include: festivals, shows, county
fairs, competitions, fundraisers, sporting events
and school functions. NOTE: There will be more
examples later in this presentation.

10. Overview
How many people should typically be in a seen-
on-scene photo?
Two or three. The goal is to make the faces easily
identifiable.
How do I write a cutline for a seen-on-scene
gallery?
Only the event is identified in these galleries. For
example: The fourth annual Rotary Club
Oktoberfest was held on Oct. 6 at Heritage Hall in
Ardmore, and was attended by more than 2,000
people.

11. Overview
How can we use these photos in print if we
aren’t naming everyone in them?
Seen-on-scene photos in print can be largely
promotional – include a callout for reader-
submitted photos from that event or others.
Ultimately, editors and publishers can make their
own decision on whether to include seen-on-scene
photos in print. Only online publication will be
required.

12. Overview
How many seen-on-scene photos are required
to qualify for a gallery?
In this type of gallery, more is better. A gallery should
have a minimum of 15 photos in it. If you have
concerns about meeting this requirement, please
contact your content team manager and we will
work with you.
Where will these galleries be hosted on our
website?
They will appear with your other galleries. To
distinguish them from other galleries, label them in
the title when you upload. For example: “Seen on
scene: Palmyra chamber mixer.”

13. Overview
Can community groups and individuals
contribute to these galleries?
Yes. If community members have taken seen-on-
scene style photos, you can upload them to your
site just like a gallery a staff member shot.
Can subjects purchase the staff photos?
Yes, they would use the same process that is used to
purchase news photos.
Do seen-on-scene galleries increase the number
of galleries expected for Inner Circle?
No, the number of galleries for Inner Circle hasn’t
increased.

14. Overview
Can sites share seen-on-scene galleries through
a syndication?
Newsrooms that are located in close proximity can
share seen-on-scene galleries if they are relevant
to other sites.

15. Overview
Do we have to make a separate assignment to
meet this requirement?
For the most part, the goal is to have staffers shoot
these galleries as part of their regular workflow.
However, if meeting this requirement on occasion
means you get out into the community and attend
events you otherwise might not have, that’s not a
bad thing.

16. Who is doing this well?
Are there examples
of newsrooms
doing this well?
The Utica Observer-
Dispatch has been
posting these
galleries with great
success. Visit
www.uticaod.com
and click on the iSpy
tab under the photo
bucket to see
examples.

17. Who is doing this well?
The State Journal-
Register has been
producing “On the Town”
photo galleries for years.
They now have a list of
groups requesting to
participate.

18. Examples of recent galleries
Community theater reopening Charity fashion show

19. Examples of recent galleries
Senior center activity Historical society exhibit

20. Examples of recent galleries
High school basketball game Concert hall opening

21. Examples of recent galleries
Chamber mixer Community recreation

22. Examples of recent galleries
Farmers’ market Boys & Girls Club event

23. 36 ideas for seen-on-scene galleries
• Farmers’ markets
• Exhibit openings
• Senior center
• Library
• Youth sports
• Sledding spot
• Ice skating
• School events (Science fair, art exhibit, play)
• YMCA
• Popular breakfast or lunch spot
• Holiday events
• Organization events

24. 36 ideas for seen-on-scene galleries
• Concerts
• Fundraisers
• Awards banquets
• Board inductions (National Honor Society,
Chamber)
• “After Dark” business gatherings
• Wine tasting/food contest
• Grand opening of a business
• Park/recreation classes, events and gatherings
• Fairs/festivals
• Lines for hot movie or concert
• Charity runs, walks

25. 36 ideas for seen-on-scene galleries
• Flea markets
• Neighborhood block parties
• Church events
• Nature walks
• Craft shows
• Book signings
• Beaches
• Groundbreaking/ribbon cutting
• Bingo
• After-school programs
• Food/clothing drives
• Recycling center
• Town dump

26. Recap
• How many each week?
• 1 each week
• Why are we doing this? Our goal is pageviews,
time on site and visitors to our sites.
• How do we do this? By getting photos of faces:
shoot close, two to three people

27. Recap
• How can I make this less of a burden? Don’t
worry about IDs – a single caption allows for faster
uploading. Also, think of seen-on-scene galleries
when you plan your regular assignments.
• I cover a small community. How can I meet
this requirement? Regional events can help
multiple sites
• Are these the only galleries I should shoot?
Don’t forget about news galleries – they still help
tell your story in meaningful ways

28. Q&A

29. INNER CIRCLE
2013
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION