Creating a new newsroom structure to work online.

1. Christina Drain
Pensacola State College

2. Throw out the traditional
newsroom structure
THINK
outside the box

3. Get rid of the online editor
All editors need to learn to post stories,
should be part of their job description

4.  What is the best way to tell
the story?
Some stories are better told
through visuals or sound.
Look beyond text.
Does the story need a timeline, map,
or other interactives that can be achieved
online?
Livestream, livechat.

5.  Keep site stats in the forefront
Add Google Analytics to the site
to track information.
Make sure editors get a monthly report
of page views, most read, other stats.

6.  Cut back on the print edition
If you are weekly, go bi-weekly.
If you are bi-weekly, go monthly.
Print the best-of the web in the edition or
change the format of the paper to more
in-depth reporting and opinion, leaving
the more immediate news
for online.

7.  Recruit outside the journalism
department
Marketing - Facebook and Twitter
Art – web designers, Flash designers,
videographers, photographers
English – bloggers
Honors - opinion

8.  Set up a Facebook Fan Page
◦ Embed the Facebook widget on your site
◦ Encourage others to become fans through
a cross-promotion ad in the newspaper
◦ Post stories of interest or photos from an
event on the fan page

9.  Set up Twitter
 Use Twitter to break news
 Tweet links to stories of interest. (Use
sparingly.)

10.  Events
 Invite students to Student Center or other
gathering place with WiFi and demonstrate
interesting parts of site.
 Ask to be announced at sporting and campus
events. (Thank photographer and
videographer and remind attendees to check
online to view photos and video.)
 Make business cards with site name and URL to
pass out in the crowd and to visiting team.

11.  Decentralize
Consider using Editorial Board
vs. Editor in Chief

12.  eCorsair Model
Five Sections – Editor for each
News (includes sports)
Features
Community Conversation
Arts & Entertainment
Multimedia

13. News and Sports
 Work primarily online
◦ Breaking stories and upcoming events through Twitter
◦ Short news and sports stories
◦ Coverage of campus events and advances
◦ Sports coverage through livestreaming or live
blogging
◦ Story sharing on Facebook
◦ Mobile journalists at various campuses

14. Features
 Produces multimedia packages for print and
online on specific topics
◦ Features on student profiles, programs, instructors
◦ Main focus is on providing several stories per topic
for print issue
◦ Package will also contain online components such
as video, audio, interactive graphics, polls

15. Community Conversation
 Staff members work both online and in print
 Includes:
◦ Staff (unsigned) editorials
◦ Editorial cartoons
◦ Columnists
◦ Bloggers
◦ Poll questions
◦ Monitor comments area

16. Arts & Entertainment
 Responsible for local and campus coverage of
arts and entertainment events
 Profiles local arts and entertainment talent
 Posts selected upcoming campus events
online through Twitter

17. Multimedia
 Responsible for producing multimedia
content for online.
 Also produces graphics and design for print
 Produces video, audio, graphics, photo
galleries, in support of other sections as well
as content which originates with the
multimedia team
 Podcasts, webcasts, livestreaming, design for
multimedia packages

18.  Combines print, online, broadcast
content producers in one
organization
◦ One breaking news team
◦ One visual team
◦ One watchdog team
◦ One sports team
◦ One weather team

19.  Web site that can be accessed by the staff –
content management system works the best
 Place story budget online – Google site,
Google Docs, or protected area on main site
 Equipment – video camera, digital camera,
digital recorder, cell phones, laptop,
accessories

20.  Interactive databases
 Interactive maps
 Breaking news text and Twitter alerts
 Liveblogging
 Video, including webcams
 Slideshows, photo galleries
 Flash multimedia projects
 Crowdsourcing, user contributions
 Social networks (Flickr, Twitter, Facebook …)