The Des Moines Register uses over 60 staff-written beat blogs to provide unique focus and extra information on specific topics. Reporters are experts in their fields and blogs include links, photos, videos and reader interaction. There are over 3,500 subscribers to the blogs distributed via email and RSS feeds. The Register also maintains over 50 staff Twitter accounts and 14 brand pages on Facebook with over 35,000 total fans. Social media plays an active role in sharing and expanding the reporting on breaking news stories.

1. Des Moines Register beat blogs 60+ beat blogs by staffers Each blog has unique focus and goals Reporters are experts and provide extra info, links, photos, videos, interaction Readers can subscribe via e-mail and RSS 3,500 subscribers

5. @DM_in_the_PM @JenniferJJacobs @ReidForgrave @DanPiller @newbiz_dmreg @SophiaAhmad @KMracek @JasonClayworth @KObradovich @TomBeaumont @Enviroscribe @CynthiaReynaud @NJobst @SeanKeeler @JohnNaughton @RobWGray @RandyPete @AndrewMLogue @JuliaThompson @Brianne_Sanchez @JoeLawler @JoeBobHawkins @TimPaluch @TFPerry @AJHolladay @MichaelMorain @ChrisSnider @KyleMunson @YvonneBeasley @Vickieashwill @Jess_Knight @ElizabethOwens @PhilipBrasher @KaylaDMRBiz @WilliamPetroski @ArturoFernandez @LindaFandel @MarkEmmert @Gary_Lake @JensManuel @AdamBelz @DMRegister @DMRHawkeyes @DMRCyclones @metromixdm @dmjuice @DMRPanthers @DMRSports @DMRBiz @DMRPolitics @DM_MomsLikeMe @RAGBRAI_Iowa 50+ staff accounts. 46,000 followers. @DMRegisterDeals

6. Des Moines Register Des Moines Register Opinion DesMoines.MomsLikeMe.com desmoines.metromix.com D.M. in the P.M. Kyle Munson’s Iowa Juice Magazine RAGBRAI Hawk Central Cyclones Insider Drake Bulldogs coverage UNI Panthers coverage High School Insider Central Iowa Networking 14 brand pages. 35,000 fans.

7. Social media in action: Slipknot death On Twitter: 800 people linked to us; 100 new followers 12 percent of traffic from Facebook & Twitter

9. Social media in action: Slipknot death Twitter feed on DesMoinesRegister.com Asked for fan remembrances on all platforms Blog posts as story evolved to provide context