1.
1
chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Everything changes when you make readers leaders
Dean Betz, online news editor

2.
2chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Blogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more
with readers

3.
3chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Blogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more
with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we
could with our own staff alone

4.
4chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Blogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more
with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we
could with our own staff alone

Changing the way we cover news
– for the better

5.
5chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Blogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more
with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we
could with our own staff alone

Changing the way we cover news
– for the better

The future? It's not about us.
It's about the readers

6.
6chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The staff

7.
7chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The staff

Blogging by reporters and editors

8.
8chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The staff

Blogging by reporters and editors

Still the newspaper’s voice

9.
9chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The staff

Blogging by reporters and editors

Still the newspaper’s voice

First steps at building a relationship with the
readers through comments and feedback

10.
10chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
MeMo

11.
11chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
MeMo

Started as a daily
commentary on
popular culture for
staff

12.
12chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
MeMo

Started as a daily
commentary on
popular culture for
staff

Now one of site’s
most popular
blogs, earned
honors (including
an EPpy) for its
clever, oblique
angle.

13.
13chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Mama Drama

14.
14chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Mama Drama

Early step at giving
community a voice

15.
15chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Mama Drama

Early step at giving
community a voice

Launched early
2006

16.
16chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Mama Drama

Early step at giving
community a voice

Launched early
2006

Original videos,
great comment-
conversation

17.
17chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Hurricane Rita

18.
18chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Hurricane Rita

Real-time
reporting of
storm’s approach,
massive
evacuation

19.
19chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Hurricane Rita

Real-time
reporting of
storm’s approach,
massive
evacuation

Readers connect,
share experiences
in comments

20.
20chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The Road Home

21.
21chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The Road Home

Readers’ report on
evacuation via
phone, e-mail, text

22.
22chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The Road Home

Readers’ report on
evacuation via
phone, e-mail, text

Share tips on gas,
supplies, highway
congestion

23.
23chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
The Road Home

Readers’ report on
evacuation via
phone, e-mail, text

Share tips on gas,
supplies, highway
congestion

‘Networked
journalism’ on a
simple scale

24.
24chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

25.
25chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

"Number One …
the Houston
Chronicle. By a
mile"

Relationship with
readers:
“Alternately
inform, and be
informed by them”

26.
26chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

Ease-of-use, clear
navigation

27.
27chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

Ease-of-use, clear
navigation

Currency

28.
28chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

Ease-of-use, clear
navigation

Currency

Quality of writing,
thinking and
linking

29.
29chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

Ease-of-use, clear
navigation

Currency

Quality of writing,
thinking and
linking

Voice

30.
30chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

Ease-of-use, clear
navigation

Currency

Quality of writing,
thinking and
linking

Voice

Comments, reader
participation

31.
31chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Best blogs

Ease-of-use, clear
navigation

Currency

Quality of writing,
thinking and
linking

Voice

Comments, reader
participation

Range, originality

32.
32chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Changing reporting

33.
33chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Changing reporting

Reporters blogged
Enron trial live

34.
34chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Changing reporting

Reporters blogged
Enron trial live

Readers added
depth via
comments

35.
35chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Changing reporting

Reporters blogged
Enron trial live

Readers added
depth via
comments

Back-and-forth
grew into “Ask
Mary”

36.
36chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Readers add
breadth

37.
37chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Readers add
breadth

… from pets

38.
38chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Readers add
breadth

… to guns

39.
39chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Readers add
breadth

… to gadgets

40.
40chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
Readers add
breadth

… to faith

41.
41chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
It’s not about us

42.
42chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
It’s not about us

It’s about the
network

43.
43chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
It’s not about us

It’s about the
network

Tools for people to
tell their own
stories

44.
44chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
It’s not about us

It’s about the
network

Tools for people to
tell their own
stories

Make groups

45.
45chron.com
Blogging: Just the beginning
It’s not about us

It’s about the
network

Tools for people to
tell their own
stories

Make groups

Drive the news