This presentation discusses strategies for developing an online presence for student media. It outlines reasons to go online like engaging mobile students and developing new content. Common myths about online media are debunked. Tips are provided on staffing, structure, promoting content across multiple platforms, and overcoming technical challenges. Examples of successful student media websites are shared.

1. A “Choose Your Own Adventure” presentation “ We have to go online”

2. Overview Why are you online? Myths Issues/Problems Structure The unexpected How do you do it How to promote it Useful Links/Examples

3. Why are you online?

4. Why we’re doing this: Make the students better overall journalists 1 to 1 initiative Kids are mobile

5. What our web staff does: Develops fresh new content on a daily basis specifically for the web Is a liaison between all of the publications. Coordinates stories that “match up” from the publications.

6. What our web staff does: Web = News TV show/Newspaper = Features Blogging is key Think “web-exclusive”

7. Myths

8. Myths Myth #1 - “It’s too expensive” Myth #2 - “It’s too time consuming” Myth #3 - “I’m not tech savvy at all”

9. There will be issues

10. Problems/Issues Time Staffing Admin Problems IT/Tech Problems

11. Expect the Unexpected

12. The Unexpected Staff buy-in Recruiting staff DON’T regurgitate your newspaper/yearbook/TV Is it an extra class or is it integrated into existing classes? New content is king Photos and videos dominate

13. How to do it (i.e. - getting your geek on)

14. Where to start? Write a mission statement Research and develop sitemaps Staff buy in The. Entire. Staff

15. Sitemap Home News Entertainment Featured Blog Video Gallery Staff Sports Pic of Day Galleries Briefs

16. What does your website look like?

17. What is the Website’s Role? Newspaper TV Yearbook Magazine WEBSITE Social Media (FB/Twitter) Staff Blogs Multimedia

18. How a web story should work ATTEND EVENT: Twitter Updates , Shoot photos/video AFTER EVENT: Post a Brief online NEXT DAY: Write a news story for the web SOON THEREAFTER: Gather news package for web/print/show Afterwords - Change to past tense for YB

19. A Week in the Life: Monday: Story Pitch Beat system Post weekend sports highlight videos Tuesday: Update Online poll Wednesday: Post briefs Thursday: Photo gallery updated review stories

20. A Week in the Life: Friday: Update poll Post stories

21. Promote! Promote! Promote! Did I mention to promote it?

22. PROMOTE IT! Use what you have Promote on Newspaper, TV/Podcast, etc. Facebook and Twitter Have “web exclusives” Online contests Pic/Vid of the Week T-shirts, giveaways, etc.

23. PROMOTE IT! Sidewalk chalk Flyers/signs at first home football game Kiss up to the PA announcer at the game, too. Make signs. Make your cheerleaders make signs.

24. Helpful Websites JEADigitalMedia.org SchoolTube Photo Sharing Flickr SmugMug

25. Great Examples FHN Today HiLite Harbringer 2011 Online Pacemakers

26. Contact Me: Email: [email_address] Phone: 402.343.2714 Twitter: @Matt_Raz