COMMUNITY BLOGGING INNER CIRCLE 2012 GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION.

COMMUNITY BLOGGING INNER CIRCLE

2012GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION

Today’s agenda

Overview of community blog strategyQuick review of Inner Circle 2012 community blog expectationsQuick review of community blog recommendationsTips and best practices: Allison CooperTips and best practices: Mindy CarlTips and best practices: Jeanette KendallTips and best practices: Wendy LedbetterTop 10 GateHouse blogs for 2011Managing the expectationsResources

Inner Circle

Inner Circle in 2012

Constant updatesPhoto galleriesVideoCommunity bloggingSocial mediaReader involvementPlatform-appropriate publishingCommunity Partner or Public Service Journalism

Inner Circle

Why change for 2012?

Project Apple- Grow digital audience and revenue- Stabilize printServe mobile audience.Continue to tell stories in multiple platforms.Reach audience wherever they are.

Community blogging expectations

Goal: Develop a group of community bloggers who are experts in specific fields in an effort to build a robust network of community voices online.

Expectations • 1-2 staff members: 2 community bloggers• 3-5 staff: 2 community bloggers• 6-19 staff: 3 community bloggers• 19+: 6 community bloggers

Every blog should be updated at least twice every seven days.

Community blogging strategy

Why community blogging?

Position your news organization at the hub of community conversation online.Offer additional resources for your readers.Possibility for reverse publishing.

Community blogging recommendations

How do we recruit bloggers?

Use your website (carousel), Facebook, Twitter, newspaper to find existing or new bloggers (we have copy and an image for you to use).Search on Google, WordPress and Blogspot for existing bloggers in your area.Approach prospective bloggers in your community who you think would add a valuable perspective.

Community blogging recommendations

Ideas for community bloggers

Community leaders or organization PR people: Hospital, chamber, park district, religious leaders, arts council, veterans organizations, ag extension office, local clubs.Family therapists or parents.Pet owners, humane society director.People with specialized knowledge: master gardener, chef, established foodies, history buff.Local athletes, such as tennis pro, golf pro, etc.High school organizations: Band, newspaper, etc.

Community blogging recommendations

Ideas for community bloggers

A blog with more than one participant can work well

The blog needs to be updated twice a week, no matter how many bloggers it has

Use smart, local syndication

Community blogging recommendations

How do I choose good bloggers?

Choose topics that will resonate with your town.If you choose an existing blogger, you’ll have a good sense of content.Ask for samples of blog posts for new bloggers.Avoid business promotions.Avoid caustic, negative bloggers.Make sure people know they must publish at least twice a week.Seek people you’ve worked with before (regular submitters, columnists, etc.)

Community blogging recommendations

Resources

Tip sheet for bloggersNon-paid freelance contractPromotional material for recruiting bloggersInstructions for newsrooms on setting up blogsInstructions for bloggers on how to post a Zope blogInstructions on stats for blogs

Community blogging recommendations

What do I do when I recruit a blogger?

For an established blogger, submit a ticket, and we’ll help set up feed.For a new blogger, we’ll create a blog section in Zope.

Managing the blog expectations

5 tips to managing your community bloggers

Ask for samplesLook for trusted partnersOffer feedbackShare analyticsHave more than the minimum.

Tips and best practices

Alison Cooper, Managing Editor, Messenger Post

How many community bloggers do you currently have?How did you recruit them?What was your most successful recruiting method?Which ones, if any, didn’t work?What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Tips and best practices

Mindy Carls, Editor, Orion Gazette, Cambridge Chronicle

How many community bloggers do you currently have?How did you recruit them?What was your most successful recruiting method?Which ones, if any, didn’t work?What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Tips and best practices

Jeanette Kendall, Executive Editor, Times Newspapers

How many community bloggers do you currently have?How did you recruit them?What was your most successful recruiting method?Which ones, if any, didn’t work?What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Tips and best practices

Wendy Ledbetter, Editor, Daily Siftings Herald

How many community bloggers do you currently have?How did you recruit them?What was your most successful recruiting method?Which ones, if any, didn’t work?What has it been like managing your community bloggers?

Top 10 GateHouse blogs for 2011

1. Off the Clock – SJ-R.com (group arts and entertainment blog)2. Blogness on the Edge of Town – WickedLocal.com (All about The Boss) 3. Illini Talk – SJ-R.com (sports blog) 4. Fresh Brownies- CantonRep.com (sports blog focused on Cleveland

Browns) 5. Newton TAB blog – WickedLocal.com (newsroom blog)6. Somerville Blog – Wickedlocal.com (newsroom blog)7. The Front Page Blog – PatriotLedger.com (newsroom blog)8. Mass Market – PatriotLedger.com (business news blog)9. The Wicked Local Blog – WickedLocal.com (humorous take on local

news)10. The Beer Nut - MetroWestDailyNews.com (all about beer)

Contact us

Let us know if you have any questions

Jean Hodges, [email protected] Corbitt, [email protected]

Resources

Inner Circle 2012 handbook on Ghnewsroom.comGateHouse News Service

COMMUNITY BLOGGING

INNER CIRCLE2012GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION