What Types of Local Stories Cause Engagement?

9 Types of Local Stories That Cause EngagementMarch 2013

-The importance of headlines

-Web writing

-Your daily workflow Visual

Storytelling -Finding images,

videos and stories

-Your Facebook page

-Identifying and tracking your

community

Previously on #NPRKnight…

#NPRKnight Highlights

Briana O’Higgins, KMUW

#NPRKnight Highlights

#NPRKnight Highlights

#NPRKnight Highlights

-Distribution: Sharing your stories as a

station or an individual.

-Reporting: Finding story ideas from your

social media community.

-Creation: Creating stories that people

will share.

#NPRKnight social media

What is it about certain local stories that make them more

engaging than others?

9 Types of Local Stories That Cause Engagement

• These nine categories are the result of an analysis of content over a three-month period.

• There is overlap – some local stories live in multiple categories.

• Headlines, local relevancy and digital commitment all play roles in engaging content.

• This is a framework for creating content.

9 Types of Local Stories

That Cause Engagement

Place Explainers

Place Explainers

Facebook stats

Shares: 188Likes: 277Comments: 73

KPLU

“Because dogs will never ask you for $300 designer jeans.”

Place Explainers

Facebook stats

Shares: 80Likes: 114Comments: 58

KUT

“Sun, affordable housing (compared to Brooklyn, NY), and UT”

Crowd Pleasers

Crowd Pleasers

Facebook stats

Shares: 334Likes: 564Comments: 63

KPLU

“Go Seattle!”

Crowd Pleasers

Facebook stats

Shares: 25Likes: 76Comments: 7

“Way to go CA”

KQED

Curiosity Stimulators

Curiosity Stimulators

Facebook stats

Shares: 109Likes: 105Comments: 13

“WOAH and where? SOMERVILLE”

WBUR

Curiosity Stimulators

Facebook stats

Shares: 249Likes: 364Comments: 68

KPLU

“We live in a strange strange town”

News Explainers

News Explainers

Facebook stats

Shares: 556Likes: 316Comments: 20

“This is a great help in explaining the proposals…”

KQED

News Explainers

Facebook stats

Shares: 233Likes: 184Comments: 31

“Explaining SF's natural air conditioning...”

KQED

Major Breaking News

Major Breaking News

Facebook stats

Shares: 87Likes: 17Comments: 24

KPLU

“4 blocks from my work. Really makes you think about a lot.”

Major Breaking News

Facebook stats

Shares: 543Likes: 298Comments: 45

“The wind is gradually intensifying here in Lowell. Very scary.”

WBUR

Feel-Good Smilers

Feel-Good Smilers

Facebook stats

Shares: 123Likes: 289Comments: 7

KPLU

“Awwww!”

Feel-Good Smilers

Facebook stats

Shares: 238Likes: 245Comments: 25

“nom nom nom nom nom”

WBUR

Topical Buzzers

Topical Buzzers

Facebook stats

Shares: 110Likes: 479Comments: 40

“Good job, Mayor Menino!”

WBUR

Topical Buzzers

Facebook stats

Shares: 37Likes: 131Comments: 8

KPLU

“I have never seen the market so packed!”

Provocative Controversies

Provocative Controversies

Facebook stats

Shares: 60Likes: 33Comments: 94

KPLU

“I feel enraged...”

Provocative Controversies

Facebook stats

Shares: 41Likes: 20Comments: 43“This is just

disgusting, and dangerous … This is sick.”

KUT

Awe-Inspiring Visuals

Awe-Inspiring Visuals

Facebook stats

Shares: 67Likes: 214Comments: 21

KPCC

“so cool!!!!”

Awe-Inspiring Visuals

Facebook stats

Shares: 202Likes: 160Comments: 11

KPLU

“This is strangely mesmerizing. Worth a watch for sure.”

The 9 Types of Local Stories

That Cause Engagement

Place Explainers

Crowd Pleasers

Curiosity Stimulators News Explainers

Major Breaking News

Feel-Good Smilers

Topical Buzzers

Provocative Controversies Awe-Inspiring Visuals

Find More Here:http://bit.ly/9-

types

The story:A storm is headed

toward Boston

Place Explainers

Crowd Pleasers

Curiosity Stimulators News Explainers

Major Breaking News

Feel-Good Smilers

Topical Buzzers

Provocative Controversies Awe-Inspiring Visuals

The 5 worst storms in Boston history

Place Explainers

Crowd Pleasers

Curiosity Stimulators News Explainers

Major Breaking News

Feel-Good Smilers

Topical Buzzers

Provocative Controversies Awe-Inspiring Visuals

Everything you need to know about the storm

hitting BostonPlace Explainers

Crowd Pleasers

Curiosity Stimulators News Explainers

Major Breaking News

Feel-Good Smilers

Topical Buzzers

Provocative Controversies Awe-Inspiring Visuals

10 breathtaking photos

of the storm in BostonPlace Explainers

Crowd Pleasers

Curiosity Stimulators News Explainers

Major Breaking News

Feel-Good Smilers

Topical Buzzers

Provocative Controversies Awe-Inspiring Visuals

Now you go: Your state has

passed a 10 cent bag tax

Place Explainers

Crowd Pleasers

Curiosity Stimulators News Explainers

Major Breaking News

Feel-Good Smilers

Topical Buzzers

Provocative Controversies Awe-Inspiring Visuals

This week’s assignment

Pick one real local story and write a headline that is one of the 9 types of

stories. If you can, try to do this assignment with

your story idea from week 2 of social media training.

E-mail it to: dseditorial@npr.org

Find More Here:http://bit.ly/9-

types

Questions?

Photos Courtesy of Creative Commons Flickr users: Gold41, Dianax, Nirufe, Roeyahram, inaction,

Daves-F-Stop, DennisBarnes, Sprochello, Cessums, byronv2