Transcript
How to survive the first year
onlineEvelyn Lauer
Niles West H.S., Skokie, ILNiles West News
www.nileswestnews.orgevelau@d219.org
www.nileswestnews.org
About the NWN
• Online-only• School size: more than 2,500 students• Debut Date: Sept. 20, 2010• Staff Size: 5 to 10 to 30 (plus broadcasting
classes)• CMS: WordPress (Premium Theme)• Average Pageviews: 29,000/month• Total Pageviews: 280,000 (as of 11/10/11)• Total Comments: 1,000• Online Pacemaker winner April 2010.
5 Steps to Success
1.Immediate Content/Breaking News2.Comments3.Social Media4.Multimedia5.Collaboration
Immediate Content"The site is updated regularly, daily if possible." --NSPA guidelines
You CAN be immediate, you'll WANT to be immediate, you WILL BE immediate--and,
eventually, your readers WILL EXPECT you to be immediate.
What does DAILY mean?
• 3-5 stories per day (at least 10 a week)• photo galleries (homepage updated weekly)• photo of the day (daily)• homepage poll (weekly)• ticker information (daily)• scoreboard (daily)• videos (2-3 times a week)• social media (daily)
www.nileswestnews.org
Breaking News"Important news events are reported in a timely way."
BREAKING=within 12 hours of an event (leeway on this)
Comments"Readers are able to interact with the publication in numerous ways."
http://nileswestnews.org/comment-policies/
Comments: Questions to consider
• Who will have the rights to approve comments?
• Who will monitor the comments?• How will you deal with inappropriate,
offensive, or spam comments?• Will students have to register to comment?• Will you publish anonymous comments?• BE CAREFUL OF: Impersonation
Comments: How to garner more
• Comment contests• Comment days in the cafeteria • Restaurant Reviews + Gift Cards= Lots of Comme
nts• Controversy• Opinion pieces that matter
Social Media"Social networking & community tools...are used to empower the
reader.."
Facebook is King
About 15% of NWN's pageviewsLinks to contentStarting conversationsStory ideasReader contentMarketingContests
http://nileswestnews.tumblr.com/
Multimedia"The site maximizes the capabilities of the Web, making use of multiple
media and interactivity"
1. PACKAGES (text, photos, video, etc.)
2. Interactive Graphics (TONS of great ideas at http://www.jeadigitalmedia.org/2011/04/20/lots-of-embeddable-tools-most-free/)
http://wordpress.niles-hs.k12.il.us/10th-period/inside-look-at-niles-west-theatres-xanadu/
http://wordpress.niles-hs.k12.il.us/homepage/homecoming-2011-a-week-in-review/
Collaboration with other departments"The site uses a variety of media..."
• Art (graphics, editorial cartoons)• Photo (digital photography)• Broadcasting (morning announcements, video
packages)• Yearbook (photos, news space)• Literary Magazine (online, link)• English classes (read and comment)• RECRUITMENT
http://wordpress.niles-hs.k12.il.us/videos/?media_id=130
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