Going live with the Why we liveblogged a day in the life of a newspaper

The Aim To trial some new and varied ways of engaging with readers To increase interactivity between the newsroom and our audience To experiment with some new technology To give everyone on the LDP the chance to get involved And…

To trial some new and varied ways of engaging with readers

To increase interactivity between the newsroom and our audience

To experiment with some new technology

To give everyone on the LDP the chance to get involved

And…

... because we could!!

The Practicalities Convince Editor why wild idea should become reality Create liveblog with free software – LDP used coveritlive.com ( www.scribblelive.com or backnoise.com are alternatives) Ensure clear internal communication Tell the world – several times!

Convince Editor why wild idea should become reality

Create liveblog with free software – LDP used coveritlive.com ( www.scribblelive.com or backnoise.com are alternatives)

Ensure clear internal communication

Tell the world – several times!

Crowdsourcing Interaction takes various forms - our liveblog allowed us to run polls throughout the day. One poll on bottled water helped us plan a new campaign This poll shows what people thought of the liveblog.

Interaction takes various forms - our liveblog allowed us to run polls throughout the day.

One poll on bottled water helped us plan a new campaign

This poll shows what people thought of the liveblog.

Views and news

Plan B in action

What we learned Interaction and engagement – and entertainment – boosts audiences (1,500 people on liveblog section through the day) Some posts develop may threads of their own without LDP involvement Liveblogging is exciting; immediate communication and reaction engages staff

Interaction and engagement – and entertainment – boosts audiences (1,500 people on liveblog section through the day)

Some posts develop may threads of their own without LDP involvement

Liveblogging is exciting; immediate communication and reaction engages staff

What we learned (cont) Online users expect to interact and share their opinions, questions and experience How you tell the story is vital; text and photos are just the start Liveblogging takes time and effort but a busy blog means readers will stay for more

Online users expect to interact and share their opinions, questions and experience

How you tell the story is vital; text and photos are just the start

Liveblogging takes time and effort but a busy blog means readers will stay for more

Final thoughts Prepare… but don’t plan too rigidly Something(s) will go wrong: Technology + newsroom = meltdown Don’t censor unless it’s essential Give all staff the opportunity…but don’t force them to take part Live-blogging is addictive for everyone involved!

Prepare… but don’t plan too rigidly

Something(s) will go wrong: Technology + newsroom = meltdown

Don’t censor unless it’s essential

Give all staff the opportunity…but don’t force them to take part

Live-blogging is addictive for everyone involved!

(Some) Industry Views