1.
Managing an
Online Newsroom
NESPA –– May 2014
!
Jason Wallestad

2.
The high school newsroom has been built
around a print paradigm
●Number of stories
●Length of stories
●Timeline – Assignments, Writing
Process, Deadlines

3.
To see what the online newsroom should be,
let’s look at the capabilities of the medium.

4.
●You can publish one story at a time.
●There’s no limit to the number you can publish.
●There’s no length limit on stories.
●Stories will be more likely to be read if they’re
timely and relevant.
●You can publish video, audio, & unlimited
photos

5.
The online revolution in high school media should
fundamentally change your journalism classroom
●Your audience is redefined.
●Your timeline is redefined.
●Your definition of content is
redefined

6.
If we let the needs of an online newsroom
drive our teaching, what we get is…

7.
CHAOS

8.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 1:
Acceptance.
Embrace the chaos.

9.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 2:
Empower student leaders.
De-emphasize your role as
teacher.

10.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 3:
Create a culture of urgency.

11.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 4:
Motivate beyond the grade.

12.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 5:
Create a culture of
communication and
collaboration.

13.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 6:
Set and uphold standards.

14.
Managing the chaos – the big picture
Tip 7:
Make sure that students are
always thinking in terms of
their audience.

15.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 1:
Have an online EIC.

16.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 2:
Hold daily staff leadership
meetings.

17.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 3:
Hold daily staff meetings.

18.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 4:
Pull together small group
meetings regularly. Make
students physically move.

19.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 5:
Review analytics daily.
Don’t let your audience be
an abstraction.

20.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 6:
Have a virtual space for
tracking assignments.

21.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 7:
Have a virtual space for
communication outside of
class.

22.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 8:
Use Google Docs

23.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 9:
Set quotas for both writers
and editors

24.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 10:
Set up stations/desks for
individual editors

25.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 11:
Set deadlines realistically

26.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 12:
Check in with as many
students as you can every
day.

27.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 13:
Get your EIC to make
rounds.

28.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 14:
Don’t be stressed out by
downtime.

29.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 15:
Make all students involved
in a story sit together.

30.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 16:
Publish stories when they’re
ready. Don’t schedule
them.

31.
Managing the chaos – practical tips
Tip 17:
Have a plan for publishing
breaking news quickly.

32.
Managing the chaos – build systems
Story Assignment Process
Editing Process
Publishing Process
Grading